WEHI-9625 is a tricyclic sulfone, first-in-class inhibitor of apoptosis with an EC50 of 69 nM. WEHI-9625 binds to VDAC2 and promotes its ability to inhibit apoptosis driven by mouse BAK. WEHI-9625 is completely inactive against both human BAK and the closely related apoptosis effector BAX[1].
WEHI-9625 (0-10 µM; Mcl1-/-Bax-/- MEFs cells) treatment could prevent cell death mediated by BAK and potently inhibits BIM BH3-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in Bax-/-, but not Bak-/-, cells[1].
WEHI-9625 demonstrates that blocking apoptosis at an early stage was both advantageous and pharmacologically tractable[1].
[1]. van Delft MF, et al. A small molecule interacts with VDAC2 to block mouse BAK-driven apoptosis. Nat Chem Biol. 2019 Oct 7.