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Essentials Signaling by Gas6 through Tyro3/Axl/Mer receptors is essential for stable platelet aggregation. UNC2025 is a small molecule inhibitor of the Mer tyrosine kinase. UNC2025 decreases platelet activation in vitro and thrombus formation in vivo. UNC2025's anti-platelet effect is synergistic with inhibition of the ADP receptor, P2Y 12 ., Summary: Background Growth arrest-specific protein 6 signals through the TAM (TYRO-3-AXL-MERTK) receptor family, mediating platelet activation and thrombus formation via activation of the aggregate-stabilizing α II b β 3 integrin. Objective To describe the antithrombotic effects mediated by UNC2025, a small-molecule MERTK tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Methods MERTK phosphorylation and downstream signaling were assessed by immunoblotting. Light transmission aggregometry, flow cytometry and microfluidic analysis were used to evaluate the impact of MERTK inhibition on platelet activation and stability of aggregates in vitro. The effects of MERTK inhibition on arterial and venous thrombosis, platelet accumulation at microvascular injury sites and tail bleeding times were determined with murine models. The effects of combined treatment with ADP-P2Y 1&12 pathway antagonists and UNC2025 were also evaluated. Results and Conclusions Treatment with UNC2025 inhibited MERTK phosphorylation and downstream activation of AKT and SRC, decreased platelet activation, and protected animals from pulmonary embolism and arterial thrombosis without increasing bleeding times. The antiplatelet effect of UNC2025 was enhanced in combination with ADP-P2Y 1&12 pathway antagonists, and a greater than additive effect was observed when these two agents with different mechanisms of inhibition were coadministered. TAM kinase signaling represents a potential therapeutic target, as inhibition of this axis, especially in combination with ADP-P2Y pathway antagonism, mediates decreased platelet activation, aggregate stability, and thrombus formation, with less hemorrhagic potential than current treatment strategies. The data presented here also demonstrate antithrombotic activity mediated by UNC2025, a novel translational agent, and support the development of TAM kinase inhibitors for clinical applications., (© 2017 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.)

The role of Mer kinase in regulating the second phase of platelet activation generates an opportunity to use Mer inhibitors for preventing thrombosis with diminished likelihood for bleeding as compared to current therapies. Toward this end, we have discovered a novel, Mer kinase specific substituted-pyrimidine scaffold using a structure-based drug design and a pseudo ring replacement strategy. The cocrystal structure of Mer with two compounds (7 and 22) possessing distinct activity have been determined. Subsequent SAR studies identified compound 23 (UNC2881) as a lead compound for in vivo evaluation. When applied to live cells, 23 inhibits steady-state Mer kinase phosphorylation with an IC50 value of 22 nM. Treatment with 23 is also sufficient to block EGF-mediated stimulation of a chimeric receptor containing the intracellular domain of Mer fused to the extracellular domain of EGFR. In addition, 23 potently inhibits collagen-induced platelet aggregation, suggesting that this class of inhibitors may have utility for prevention and/or treatment of pathologic thrombosis.