A review of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple sclerosis

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors are an emerging class of therapeutics in multiple sclerosis (MS). BTK is expressed in B-cells and myeloid cells, key progenitors of which include dendritic cells, microglia and macrophages, integral effectors of MS pathogenesis, along with mast cells, establ...

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Main Authors: Laura Airas, Robert A. Bermel, Tanuja Chitnis, Hans-Peter Hartung, Jin Nakahara, Olaf Stuve, Mitzi J. Williams, Bernd C. Kieseier, Heinz Wiendl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-04-01
Series:Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864241233041
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author Laura Airas
Robert A. Bermel
Tanuja Chitnis
Hans-Peter Hartung
Jin Nakahara
Olaf Stuve
Mitzi J. Williams
Bernd C. Kieseier
Heinz Wiendl
author_facet Laura Airas
Robert A. Bermel
Tanuja Chitnis
Hans-Peter Hartung
Jin Nakahara
Olaf Stuve
Mitzi J. Williams
Bernd C. Kieseier
Heinz Wiendl
author_sort Laura Airas
collection DOAJ
description Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors are an emerging class of therapeutics in multiple sclerosis (MS). BTK is expressed in B-cells and myeloid cells, key progenitors of which include dendritic cells, microglia and macrophages, integral effectors of MS pathogenesis, along with mast cells, establishing the relevance of BTK inhibitors to diverse autoimmune conditions. First-generation BTK inhibitors are currently utilized in the treatment of B-cell malignancies and show efficacy in B-cell modulation. B-cell depleting therapies have shown success as disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in MS, highlighting the potential of BTK inhibitors for this indication; however, first-generation BTK inhibitors exhibit a challenging safety profile that is unsuitable for chronic use, as required for MS DMTs. A second generation of highly selective BTK inhibitors has shown efficacy in modulating MS-relevant mechanisms of pathogenesis in preclinical as well as clinical studies. Six of these BTK inhibitors are undergoing clinical development for MS, three of which are also under investigation for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Phase II trials of selected BTK inhibitors for MS showed reductions in new gadolinium-enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging scans; however, the safety profile is yet to be ascertained in chronic use. Understanding of the safety profile is developing by combining safety insights from the ongoing phase II and III trials of second-generation BTK inhibitors for MS, CSU, RA and SLE. This narrative review investigates the potential of BTK inhibitors as an MS DMT, the improved selectivity of second-generation inhibitors, comparative safety insights established thus far through clinical development programmes and proposed implications in female reproductive health and in long-term administration.
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spelling doaj.art-e3efcb2e0b04417cb13665a1b24168942024-04-18T01:03:30ZengSAGE PublishingTherapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders1756-28642024-04-011710.1177/17562864241233041A review of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple sclerosisLaura AirasRobert A. BermelTanuja ChitnisHans-Peter HartungJin NakaharaOlaf StuveMitzi J. WilliamsBernd C. KieseierHeinz WiendlBruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors are an emerging class of therapeutics in multiple sclerosis (MS). BTK is expressed in B-cells and myeloid cells, key progenitors of which include dendritic cells, microglia and macrophages, integral effectors of MS pathogenesis, along with mast cells, establishing the relevance of BTK inhibitors to diverse autoimmune conditions. First-generation BTK inhibitors are currently utilized in the treatment of B-cell malignancies and show efficacy in B-cell modulation. B-cell depleting therapies have shown success as disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in MS, highlighting the potential of BTK inhibitors for this indication; however, first-generation BTK inhibitors exhibit a challenging safety profile that is unsuitable for chronic use, as required for MS DMTs. A second generation of highly selective BTK inhibitors has shown efficacy in modulating MS-relevant mechanisms of pathogenesis in preclinical as well as clinical studies. Six of these BTK inhibitors are undergoing clinical development for MS, three of which are also under investigation for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Phase II trials of selected BTK inhibitors for MS showed reductions in new gadolinium-enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging scans; however, the safety profile is yet to be ascertained in chronic use. Understanding of the safety profile is developing by combining safety insights from the ongoing phase II and III trials of second-generation BTK inhibitors for MS, CSU, RA and SLE. This narrative review investigates the potential of BTK inhibitors as an MS DMT, the improved selectivity of second-generation inhibitors, comparative safety insights established thus far through clinical development programmes and proposed implications in female reproductive health and in long-term administration.https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864241233041
spellingShingle Laura Airas
Robert A. Bermel
Tanuja Chitnis
Hans-Peter Hartung
Jin Nakahara
Olaf Stuve
Mitzi J. Williams
Bernd C. Kieseier
Heinz Wiendl
A review of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple sclerosis
Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders
title A review of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple sclerosis
title_full A review of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple sclerosis
title_fullStr A review of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed A review of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple sclerosis
title_short A review of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple sclerosis
title_sort review of bruton s tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple sclerosis
url https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864241233041
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