BTX161 is a Thalidomide analogue. BTX161 is a potent CKIα degrader. In human AML cells, BTX161 mediates the CKIα degradation better than Lenalidomide as well as activates DNA damage response (DDR) and p53, and also stabilizes the p53 antagonist MDM2[1].

BTX161 (25 μM; 4 hours; MV4-11 cells) upregulates all the Wnt targets including MYC and did not affect MDM2 mRNA expression [1]. BTX161 (10 μM; 6 hours; MV4-11 cells), on its own, augmented p53 and MDM2 protein expression, yet in combination with THZ1, and particularly with both THZ1 and CDK9, further augmented p53 and induced maximal caspase 3 activation [1].