A novel selective spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor SKI-O-703 (cevidoplenib) ameliorates lupus nephritis and serum-induced arthritis in murine models

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) plays a pivotal role in the activation of B cells and innate inflammatory cells by transducing immune receptor-triggered signals. Dysregulated activity of Syk is implicated in the development of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, but the effect of Syk inhibition on such diseases remains to be fully evaluated. We have developed a novel selective Syk inhibitor, SKI-O-592, and its orally bioavailable salt form, SKI-O-703 (cevidoplenib). To examine the efficacy of SKI-O-703 on the progression of SLE, New Zealand black/white mice at the autoimmunity-established phase were administrated orally with SKI-O-703 for 16 weeks. Levels of IgG autoantibody, proteinuria, and glomerulonephritis fell significantly, and this was associated with hypoactivation of follicular B cells via the germinal center. In a model of serum-transferred arthritis, SKI-O-703 significantly ameliorated synovitis, with fewer neutrophils and macrophages infiltrated into the synovial tissue. This effect was recapitulated when mice otherwise refractory to anti-TNF therapy were treated by TNF blockade combined with a suboptimal dose of SKI-O-703. These results demonstrate that the novel selective Syk inhibitor SKI-O-703 attenuates the progression of autoantibody-mediated autoimmune diseases by inhibiting both autoantibody-producing and autoantibody-sensing cells.