S*BIO initiates Ph I JAK2 inhibitor trials in USA

Singapore-based S*BIO Pte has announced the initiation of multicenter Phase I clinical trials of SB1518, a potent and orally-active JAK2 inhibitor, in patients with leukemia and certain types of lymphoma. These first Phase I trials for SB1518 comprise ascending-dose studies conducted at several leading clinical sites in the USA. These are expected to enroll up to 60 patients and are designed to determine the maximum-tolerated dose and to assess the pharmacokinetics and overall safety profile of the drug.

SB1518 is a small-molecule, JAK2-selective kinase inhibitor which has high potency against both the wild-type JAK2 kinase and the JAK2 kinase with the V617F mutation. The V617F mutation is found in high frequencies in various myeloproliferative disorders such as idiopathic myelofibrosis. The compound might also provide an effective treatment for other hematological malignancies with mutations and re-arrangements in the JAK2 gene, the firm explained.