Belumosudil for graft versus host disease

Belumosudil is in clinical development for the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). cGVHD is an immune-mediated, inflammatory disease with potential fibrotic manifestations in which immune cells from the graft attack the recipient cells after a haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). cGVHD is characterised by inflammation and fibrotic processes which can lead to chronic disability when affecting multiple organs including joints or extensive areas of the skin. cGvHD is associated with poor quality of life and significant morbidity and mortality. Many sufferers require several lines of treatment consisting primarily of immunosuppressants, and due to intolerable side effects and low efficacy, additional therapies are required to manage this unmet need.
Belumosudil is a selective inhibitor of a signalling pathway that controls inflammatory responses, thereby reducing inflammation. By affecting several other regulatory pathways, belumosudil can also reduce the formation of fibrosis. By reducing the two main characteristics of cGVHD, belumosudil, administered orally, has the potential to offer an additional third-line or greater treatment for patients with cGvHD who have received at least two prior lines of systemic therapy.