Targeting kinases: a new approach to treating inflammatory rheumatic diseases

► First oral kinase inhibitor drug approved by FDA for rheumatoid disease. ► Intense activity to expand the utility of JAK inhibitors in other auto-immune indications. ► Focus is on discovering inhibitors of the JAK family with different and more selective profiles. ► Progress is also being made with orally active Syk inhibitors. ► Last two to three years have been transformative for kinase inhibitors in auto-immune diseases.