title: Inducible tyrosine kinase inhibitors: a review of the patent literature (2010 - 2013).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The non-receptor tyrosine kinase, inducible tyrosine kinase (Itk), plays an important role in thymus(T)-cell signalling and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Itk, and the other Tec family members, Rlk and Tec, are viewed as attractive drug targets for new agents for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Interest in Itk inhibitors is still modest compared to other kinases such as the Janus kinase (JAK) family or Syk.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article reviews the patent filings published from January 2010 to April 2014 that claim Itk inhibitors. It first considers those applications that claim selective, or apparently selective, Itk inhibitors. It then considers those applications that claim less-selective Itk inhibitors. The recent interest in irreversible Itk inhibitors is also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a difference of opinion as to the preferred utility for Itk inhibitors. Progress has been made in designing selective Itk inhibitors but little clinical progress. Until clinical data are available, it remains difficult to assess how well Itk inhibitors compare with JAK inhibitors as potential treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. However, animal data suggest that irreversible Itk inhibitors could be useful in treating asthma, whereas dual Itk inhibitors may have more utility in treating rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Norman Consulting , 18 Pink Lane, Burnham, Bucks, SL1 8JW , UK peter.norman2@btinternet.com.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
keywords: Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor; Tec inhibitor; asthma; inducible tyrosine kinase inhibitor; rheumatoid arthritis; thymus cell