Science Spotlight: Novartis’ inhibitor for NRAS-mutant cancers 

A  Novartis AG (SIX:NOVN; NYSE:NVS) research team identified a druggable component of the mutant NRAS complex and discovered small molecules that disrupt the interaction. The findings add to the toolbox for drugging activating mutations in RAS family members beyond KRAS.

In the Nature paper, screening for genetic dependencies associated with common RAS hotspot mutations, including the NRAS Q61R mutation, led to the adaptor protein SHOC2. The researchers found structural evidence of SHOC2 in complex with NRAS Q61R and screened for small molecule SHOC2 binders that inhibited the interaction...