A novel PAK4 inhibitor suppresses pancreatic cancer growth and enhances the inhibitory effect of gemcitabine

•A newly developed inhibitor, PAKib suppresses the kinase activity of PAK4 specifically with IC50 around 500 nM.•PAKib inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in a syngeneic mouse model of pancreatic cancer.•PAKib stimulates the inhibitory effect of gemcitabine on pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in a syngeneic mouse model of pancreatic cancer.•PAKib suppresses pancreatic cancer cell growth via inducing apoptosis and cell death.