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news.Preclinical studies of Rigel's JAK3 inhibitors show that the compounds significantly reduce transplant rejection in animal models of heart transplant.
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These compounds effectively inhibit JAK3 (janus kinase 3) dependent lymphocyte proliferation and are highly selective in an array of off-target assays. The compounds were discovered and characterized by Rigel and the heart transplant models were conducted by researchers at Stanford.
“These promising preclinical results suggest that these drug candidates may provide a new, additional method of immunosuppression, and may result in a safer and more desirable protocol for preventing transplant rejection and treating other T cell-mediated diseases,” said Dr Donald Payan, executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Rigel.
Dr Payan went on to say that the company will file an investigational new drug application for one of its JAK3 inhibitors, and that it plans to develop the drug class in a variety of autoimmune diseases, in addition to transplant rejection.
According to the company, organ recipients receive life-long treatment with immunosuppressive drugs in order to prevent organ rejection. With the currently available pharmaceuticals, fewer than 50% have a functioning replacement organ after 10 years.