Evolution of Telomerase Inhibitors: A Review on Key Patents from 2015 to 2023

Abstract

Telomerase (TERT) is a ribonucleoprotein that regulates telomere length and maintains chromosomal integrity. TERT is a widely expressed protein for replicative immortality in most malignant tumours. TERT is a protein produced by cancer cells that prevents telomere shortening by adding telomere sequences beyond the Hayflick limit, allowing them to divide in an uncontrolled manner. Inhibition of the TERT enzyme is a recognised therapy for treating cancer. The basic objective of the review is to collectively represent the current scenario of treating cancer by inhibiting TERT. With a focus on the recently patented TERT inhibitors and clinical trial data released between 2015 and 2023, this review highlights the work relevant to the development of TERT inhibitors. Furthermore, recent advancements in the clinical development of TERT inhibitors, along with prospective new combinations, are also discussed. The use of TERT inhibitors in cancer therapy has been granted with great interest and significant attention by researchers along with a promising outcome in terms of therapeutic value. Several clinical trial applications and their data gave strong evidence of the use of TERT inhibitors for cancer therapy which provided target therapies, vaccine therapies, nucleoside, non-nucleoside therapies, and so forth with reduced side effects and enhanced potency.