Publications

The inhibition of the JAK/STAT pathway has proven to be a powerful therapeutic tool in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The authors review the role of the JAK/STAT pathway in human disease, including the role of mutations in defective function of this pathway. They discuss the rationale behind JAK inhibition and review the two JAK inhibitors currently approved by the FDA for clinical use; tofacitinib, for the treatment of RA, and ruxolitinib, for the treatment of polycythaemia vera and myelofibrosis. As well as its use in myeloproliferative diseases, ruxolitinib is also in development for the treatment of RA and has shown promising results in a phase IIa trial. The authors provide an overview on the other JAK inhibitors currently in clinical trials across several disease areas, and speculate on the future potential of targeting STAT, or specific mutated forms of JAK.