Targeting the DFG-In Kinase Conformation: A New Trend Emerging from a Patent Analysis

Aberrant kinase signaling leads to a multitude of disease states. The clinical and commercial success of agents typified by imatinib or dasatinib in the treatment of hematological malignancies has further validated kinase inhibition as a useful clinical strategy. This increased interest in kinases as therapeutic targets is evidenced by the rapidly increasing number of patent applications and peer-reviewed articles. This article discusses recent Patent that describe small molecules targeting the DFG-in active kinase conformation, by the so-called 'Type I½' inhibitor, against a small set of clinically relevant targets such as B-Raf, p38α, Jak2 and EphB4. Preclinical and clinical data are also highlighted for the most promising new molecular entities.