selective ITK inhibitor

Selective ITK inhibitor is an oral small molecule kinase inhibitor under development by Aclaris Therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune and atopic diseases. It targets Interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase (ITK), a member of the Tec family of tyrosine kinases that is predominantly expressed in T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. ITK plays a pivotal role in the T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathway, where it regulates the activation of phospholipase C-gamma-1 (PLC-γ1), leading to calcium mobilization and the subsequent production of key inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-17. By selectively inhibiting ITK, this therapeutic candidate aims to suppress T-cell-mediated inflammation while potentially avoiding the broader off-target effects associated with multi-kinase inhibitors. The program is currently in the preclinical stage of development.

Other names

ITK inhibitor