Opinion|Videos|February 27, 2025

Overview of BTK Inhibitors in Development for CSU Treatment

Panelists discuss how newer Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors being developed for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), particularly remibrutinib (in phase 3 trials) and rilzabrutinib (in phase 2), are designed to be more selective than earlier oncology-focused BTK inhibitors, potentially reducing off-target effects like bleeding, cardiovascular complications, and GI issues.

Video content above is prompted by the following:

  • Let’s talk a bit about the BTK inhibitors currently being developed and studied for the treatment of CSU:
  • Remibrutinib: phase 3 trials, with 12-, 24-, and 52-week data available; inhibits BTK in mast cells, basophils, and B cells
  • Rilzabrutinib: currently in phase 2 trials
  • How do the BTK inhibitors under development for CSU treatment differ from earlier generations of BTK inhibitors used in oncology and other autoimmune diseases?
  • Older BTK inhibitors have limited selectivity and irreversibly inhibit additional kinases, increasing potential for off-target adverse effects (AEs; bleeding effects, cardiotoxicity [hypertension, atrial fibrillation], gastrointestinal effects, and rash).
  • Remibrutinib binds to the inactive conformation of BTK and shows higher selectivity, limiting the potential for these off-target AEs

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