INTRODUCTION: Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) is a conserved CMGC serine/threonine kinase with an autophosphorylation-dependent activation mechanism. As a dosage-sensitive regulator of transcription, RNA splicing, cell-cycle progression, and signaling, DYRK1A is implicated in neurological, oncological, cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, and infectious diseases. These roles have driven drug discovery, from early probes to advanced clinical-stage inhibitors. AREAS COVERED: This review covers patent literature related to the discovery of DYRK1A inhibitors and degraders published from January 2020 to the review cutoff date. The literature search was conducted in WIPO, Reaxys, SciFinder, Lens.org, Espacenet, USPTO, and Google Patents. EXPERT OPINION: Recent patents indicate that DYRK1A inhibition is no longer a single pharmacological concept but an indication-driven strategy shaped by tissue access, delivery, and mechanistic pharmacodynamic biomarkers. The most credible programs prioritize functional pathway modulation and meaningful target engagement at therapeutically achievable exposure rather than maximal biochemical potency alone, with selectivity defined by disease biology rather than as an absolute requirement. Delivery-advantaged indications such as osteoarthritis and peripheral inflammatory disorders may provide the earliest clinical validation, whereas CNS programs will require brain-penetrant compounds with controlled, likely partial, target modulation. Degraders and macrocycles broaden the toolbox, but biomarker-guided translation remains the key determinant of success.
Abdallah et al. (Tue,) studied this question.