title: c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitors: a patent review (2010 - 2014).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are involved in the emergence and progression of diverse pathologies such as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders as well as inflammation and cancer. In recent years, several highly selective pan-JNK inhibitors have been characterized and three chemical entities targeting JNKs have been investigated in clinical trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review summarizes patents claiming inhibitors of all JNK isoforms published between 2010 and 2014. Although primarily focusing on the patent literature, relevant peer-reviewed publications related to the covered patents have also been included. Moreover, key patents claiming novel applications of previously published chemical entities are reviewed. The article highlights a total of 28 patents from nine pharmaceutical companies and academic research groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although some selective pan-JNK inhibitors with reasonable in vivo profiles are now available, little is known about the isoform selectivity required for each particular indication and the development of isoform-selective JNK inhibitors still represents a challenge in JNK drug discovery. Moreover, isoform-selective tool compounds are a prerequisite to a comprehensive understanding of the biology of each JNK isoform. Potential approaches towards such compounds include the design of type-II and type-I(1)/2 binders, which are absent in the current JNK inhibitor portfolios, as well as the design of novel allosteric inhibitors. Furthermore, covalent inhibition, which already led to the first high-quality probe for JNKs, might be further exploited for gaining selectivity and in vivo efficacy. With regard to a potential therapeutic application, the recently proposed concept of covalent reversible inhibitors is expected to be attractive.
authors.affiliation: University of Tuebingen, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Auf der Morgenstelle 8, D-72076 Tuebingen , Germany stefan.laufer@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gehringer
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muth
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Stefan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Laufer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010330:Patents as Topic; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Huntington’s disease; JNK1; JNK2; JNK3; MAPK kinases; Parkinson’s disease; c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitors; cancer; cardiovascular disorders; chemical probes; dual leucine zipper kinase; inflammation; isoform selectivity; metabolic disorders; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4; neurodegenerative disorders; p38 MAP kinase; stroke