BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

Therapeutics: c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK); JNK1 (MAPK8)

August 18, 2016 7:00 AM UTC

Mouse studies suggest that inhibiting JNK could help treat atopic dermatitis. In a mouse model of atopic dermatitis, epidermal levels of JNK were higher than in normal mice. In cultured keratinocytes from the mouse model, the JNK1 inhibitor D-JNKI-1 decreased expression of inflammatory proteins compared with vehicle. Also in the model, the inhibitor decreased the numbers of mast cells in the dermis and skin inflammation. Next steps could include testing JNK inhibitors in additional models of atopic dermatitis.

Xigen S.A. and Auris Medical Holding AG have D-JNKI-1 (AM-111; XG-102) in Phase III testing for hearing loss. Xigen also has the compound in Phase III testing for pain and in Phase I testing for inflammation and stroke, and has the JNK inhibitor XG-104 in Phase II testing for dry eye...