Patent of the Week - 9/22/2010

In patent 7795288 assigned to Novartis a series of Flt-3 inhibitors are disclosed. The most potent analogs are Thiazolophenylamine, as shown in the figure, but a different series of pyrazolephenylamines are described as well. The compounds seem to be pursued as antineoplastic agents. The application also refers that its use is for warm blooded animals including humans, which may mean the veterinary potential of the compounds may covered as well. The patent talks about their use as stand alone agents or in combination with agents that target a variety of targets. 
FLT3 plays an important role in malignant hematopoiesis. Mutations in the FLT3 receptor can be detected in approximately 20 to 30% of acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) and are associated with a distinctly poor clinical outcome for patients. Several companies are pursuing FLT3 inhibitors , including several in late-phase clinical trials in combination with chemotherapy.