Manual of VIKAASA: An application capable of computing and graphing viability kernels for simple viability problems

This manual introduces and provides usage details for an application we have developed called VIKAASA, as well as the library of functions underlying it. VIKAASA runs in GNU Octave or MATLAB®, using the numerical computing and graphing capabilities of those packages to approximate, visualise and test viability kernels for viability problems involving a differential inclusion of two or more dynamic variables, a rectangular constraint set and a single scalar control

5‑(4,6-Dimorpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)­pyridin-2-amine (PQR309), a Potent, Brain-Penetrant, Orally Bioavailable, Pan-Class I PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor as Clinical Candidate in Oncology

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is deregulated in a wide variety of human tumors and triggers activation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Here we describe the preclinical characterization of compound <b>1</b> (PQR309, bimiralisib), a potent 4,6-dimorpholino-1,3,5-triazine-based pan-class I PI3K inhibitor, which targets mTOR kinase in a balanced fashion at higher concentrations. No off-target interactions were detected for <b>1</b> in a wide panel of protein kinase, enzyme, and receptor ligand assays. Moreover, <b>1</b> did not bind tubulin, which was observed for the structurally related <b>4</b> (BKM120, buparlisib). Compound <b>1</b> is orally available, crosses the blood–brain barrier, and displayed favorable pharmacokinetic parameters in mice, rats, and dogs. Compound <b>1</b> demonstrated efficiency in inhibiting proliferation in tumor cell lines and a rat xenograft model. This, together with the compound’s safety profile, identifies <b>1</b> as a clinical candidate with a broad application range in oncology, including treatment of brain tumors or CNS metastasis. Compound <b>1</b> is currently in phase II clinical trials for advanced solid tumors and refractory lymphoma