Spleen tyrosine kinase (syk) is a novel pharmaceutical target for treatment of allergic, autoimmune and neoplastic disorders. Syk is a 72 kD cytosolic (intracellular) non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase that was discovered more than 15 years ago as a key mediator of immunereceptor signalling in a host of inflammatory cells, including B-cells, mast cells, macrophages and neutrophils. The upstream position of syk in the cell signalling pathway makes inhibitors of syk kinase more advantageous relative to drugs that inhibit a single downstream event. Inhbitors of syk kinase have reached clinical phase II in several inflammatory, autoimmune and oncologic indications. Clinical proof of concept has been obtained in two of them. The side effect profile of syk kinase inhibition so far has not been prohibitive for further development despite treatment duration of up to 30 weeks.

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