Inhibitors of JAK-family kinases: an update on the patent literature 2013-2015, part 2.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Janus kinases (JAKs) are a family of four enzymes; JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) that are critical in cytokine signalling and are strongly linked to both cancer and inflammatory diseases. There are currently two launched JAK inhibitors for the treatment of human conditions: tofacitinib for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ruxolitinib for myeloproliferative neoplasms including intermediate or high risk myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera.Areas covered: This review covers patents claiming activity against one or more JAK family members in the period 2013–2015 inclusive, and covers 95 patents from 42 applicants, split over two parts. The authors have ordered recent patents according to the primary applicant’s name, with part 2 covering J through Z.Expert opinion: Inhibition of JAK-family kinases is an area of growing interest, catalysed by the maturity of data on marketed inhibitors ruxolitinib and tofacitinib in late stage clinical trials. Many applicants are pursuing trad...