JMH021

JMH021 is a selective small molecule inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) that serves as a pharmacological probe for investigating renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Developed by researchers at Hanyang University and Yonsei University, it was the first selective probe used to identify JNK3 as a pathogenic driver in noncanonical transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling. By inhibiting JNK3, JMH021 suppresses the phosphorylation of c-Jun and reduces the expression of profibrotic markers, thereby helping to restore podocyte function and alleviate glomerulosclerosis. While JMH021 provided the initial pharmacological validation for JNK3 as a therapeutic target in CKD, it has also served as a structural lead for the development of more potent optimized analogs such as 14bg.

Other names

imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-based JNK3 inhibitor