A transatlantic collaboration between scientists at Sareum in Cambridge UK and colleagues at the US research institute SRI International, holds potential for a novel psoriasis therapy.

They have developed a novel molecule that significantly decreases psoriasis pathology in a disease model a breakthrough reported in the latest edition of the Journal of Immunology.

The potential psoriasis therapy targets members of the JAK family of kinase enzymes, which control the production of cytokines. Cytokines are signalling molecules produced by the immune system, usually in response to a danger such as invading pathogens.

Cytokines responsible for psoriasis are thought to be controlled by JAK family kinases TYK2 and JAK1. Autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis, can occur when the production of cytokines is not properly regulated and immune cells are overly activated.

In the psoriasis model system, the TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor molecule, known as SAR-20347, interrupted the psoriatic cascade of events and led to reduced activation of keratinocytes (skin cells that multiply excessively in psoriasis) and a reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.

Sareum and SRI International entered into a co-development agreement to develop TYK2 inhibitors for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in April 2013.

Sareum's CEO Dr Tim Mitchell, said: The work reported in this publication exemplifies the success of the collaboration and the quality of research by the scientists involved. I look forward to discussing these latest advances with potential licensing partners.

Annalisa D'Andrea, senior director of Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases in SRI's Biosciences Division, added: While we are still in the early stages of research, our success so far is encouraging, and we plan to pursue other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that might be treated by TYK2 inhibition.

We hope to expand our TYK2-inhibitor program to address other autoimmune diseases, such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

AIM-listed Sareum is a drug discovery and development company delivering targeted small molecule therapeutics, focusing on cancer and autoimmune disease, for licensing to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies at the pre-clinical or early clinical trials stage.

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Sareum in psoriasis drug breakthrough