Several p38α inhibitors have been developed and evaluated in RA. However, despite pre-clinical data showing promise, the compounds have been shown to have little therapeutic efficacy. Previous studies have suggested this may be a result of inhibitors blocking the role of p38 in limiting inflammation. Previous studies by the same authors have shown that the targeting of MKK3 or MKK 6, which are the upstream activators of p38, may be superior to p38 blockade as the anti-inflammatory effects ...

Alternative p38 MAPKs Are Essential for Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Arthritis and Rheumatology Vol66, No. 5, May2014 pp 1208-1217

MAPK family proteins are regulatory proteins, affecting processes such as synthesis and release of proinflammatory molecules which contribute to the pathogenesis of RA. In particular, the p38 MAPK protein family is central to proinflammatory cytokine production. There are four member of the p38 group; p38α, p38β, p38γ and p38δ. This study sought to evaluate p38γ and p38δ deficiency in mice CIA model. In p38γ-/- or p38δ-/- mice, the percentage of mic...

October 2013

The role of p38-MAPK inhibitors in treating RA is the subject of some debate. Li et al. therefore performed the first meta-analysis of the current data to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these compounds. The authors identified 3 papers, covering 4 RCTs, for analysis and the results showed that p38-MAPK inhibition achieves a better level of ACR20 improvement vs. placebo, but showed no meaningful difference in ACR50, DAS28 or CRP levels past week 12. Due to the inadequate number and quality of...

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August 2013

This phase2 trial assessed the efficacy of GLPG0259, a first-in-class ATP-competitive inhibitor of MAPKAPK5. The trail involved 31 patients with active RA and an inadequate response MTX. Patients received either 50 mg/day GLPG0259 with MTX or a placebo with MTX (patients randomised 2:1) for 12 weeks with the primary efficacy variable being ACR 20 response at week 12. Analysis showed that 5 patients (26.3%) in the GLPG0259 group and 3 patients (27.3%) in the placebo group achieved ACR 20 at 12 we...

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