MEK inhibitors: a patent review 2008 – 2010

Introduction: MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitors target the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, which is important in cell growth, differentiation and development. The pathway has been implicated in the progression of a variety of diseases, in particular cancer, as well as in immune and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, organ transplant rejection, septic shock, asthma and viral infection.