TargeGen plans to initiate TG101348 trials early next year

Privately-held US biopharmaceutical company TargeGen says that it plans to initiate a trial of its developmental JAK2 inhibitor TG101348 in the treatment of myeloproliferative diseases early next year. Data from preclinical studies of the drug, which was recently filed with the Food and Drug Administration, is due to be presented at the American Society of Hematology conference in Atlanta later this month.

Mutations in the gene encoding JAK2, and specifically the V617F polymorphism, are implicated in the pathogeneisis of certain myeloproliferative diseases, including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytopenia and primary myelofibrosis. Such conditions are thought to affect around 400,000 patients worldwide.