Clovertex Target of the Month (06/25): KIT

Clovertex’s June Target of the Month is KIT, highlighted by Sanofi’s acquisition of Blueprint Medicines earlier this month. KIT, also known as CD117, is a receptor tyrosine kinase essential for regulating cell growth, survival, and differentiation; its activating mutations drive diseases such as systemic mastocytosis and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

Sanofi’s $129 per share all‑cash deal valued at approximately $9.1 billion upfront not only secures Ayvakit (avapritinib), the only approved treatment for advanced and indolent systemic mastocytosis, but also brings in promising next-generation KIT-targeted assets like elenestinib and BLU‑808. This transaction bolsters Sanofi’s immunology and rare disease franchises, lessening its reliance on Dupixent while expanding its portfolio with precision therapies that target KIT-driven conditions.

The Protein Imager rendering displays the Cryo-EM Structure of Ectodomain of full-length KIT(T417I,delta418-419)-SCF dimers (PDB entry 8DFQ).  

About Clovertex

Clovertex is an industry leader specializing in meeting the scientific IT needs of pharmaceutical companies, with a robust focus on cloud-based or on-premises cryo-EM processing. As an Advanced Tier Services Partner with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Clovertex leverages its comprehensive expertise to architect, build, automate, and manage software applications designed to meet specific research needs. Our all-encompassing solutions are meticulously tailored to streamline the complex processes associated with pharmaceutical research, underscoring our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. By integrating state-of-the-art technology with deep scientific understanding, Clovertex paves the way in optimizing the intersection of information technology and pharmaceutical development.

Useful links

1. Sanofi to acquire Blueprint Medicines, expanding portfolio in rare immunological disease and adding early-stage pipeline in immunology

2. Clovertex website