Limited efficacy of BMS-911543 in a murine model of Janus kinase 2 V617F myeloproliferative neoplasm

Activation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), frequently as a result of the JAK2V617F mutation, is a characteristic feature of the classical myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and myelofibrosis, and it is thought to be responsible for the constitutional symptoms associated with these diseases. BMS-911543 is a JAK2-selective inhibitor that induces apoptosis in JAK2-dependent cell lines and inhibits the growth of CD34+ progenitor cells from patients with JAK2V617F-positive MPN. To explore the clinical potential of this inhibitor, we tested BMS-911543 in a murine retroviral transduction-transplantation model of JAK2V617F MPN. Treatment was initiated at two dose levels (3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) when the hematocrit exceeded 70%. Following the first week, white blood cell counts were reduced to normal in the high-dose group and were maintained well below the levels in vehicle-treated mice throughout the study. However, BMS-911543 had no effect on red blood cell parameters. After 42 days of treatment, the proportion of JAK2V617F-positive cells in hematopoietic tissues was identical or slightly increased compared with controls. Plasma concentrations of interleukin 6, interleukin 15, and tumor necrosis factor α were elevated in MPN mice and reduced in the high-dose treatment group, whereas other cytokines were unchanged. Inhibitor activity after dosing was confirmed in a cell culture assay using the plasma of dosed mice and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 flow cytometry. Collectively, these results show that BMS-911543 has limited activity in this murine model of JAK2V617F-driven MPN and suggest that targeting JAK2 alone may be insufficient to achieve effective disease control.