AZD4573 Is a Highly Selective CDK9 Inhibitor That Suppresses MCL-1 and Induces Apoptosis in Hematologic Cancer Cells

Selective targeting of CDK9 enables the indirect inhibition of MCL-1, providing a therapeutic option for MCL-1-dependent diseases. Accordingly, AZD4573 is currently being evaluated in a phase I clinical trial for patients with hematologic malignancies (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03263637).<i>See related commentary by Alcon et al., p. 761</i>.