Medicxi is spinning six of its early stage companies into an immuno-dermatology specialist and turbocharging development with a $100 million seed round.
Allakos Inc. terminated all development of its lead drug, anti-Siglec-8 antibody lirentelimab (AK-002), and is cutting its workforce in half, following phase II failures for atopic dermatitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria. The San Carlos, Calif.-based company will now focus on phase I trials for anti-Siglec-6 antibody AK-006 as part of a restructuring that stretches the runway into mid-2026. Shares (NASDAQ:ALLK) sank by 60.2%, down $1.80, to close at $1.19 on Jan. 16.
Argenx SE CEO Tim Van Hauwermeiren said that, with subcutaneous efgartigimod (efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) in pemphigus, the company is “facing a situation where, even with a strong scientific hypothesis and well-executed trial, we encountered the unknown-unknown,” and the phase III experiment failed. “We are committed to doubling down” on the execution of the firm’s business plan, he added.
The data package for Filsuvez (birch triterpenes), a topical gel aimed at treating partial thickness wounds, satisfied U.S. reviewers the second time around. Chiesi Group said the FDA approved the treatment Dec. 19 for use in patients 6 months and older with rare blistering skin diseases junctional epidermolysis bullosa and dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
Pharvaris NV’s phase II top-line data from the Chapter-1 trial testing oral bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist deucrictibant in hereditary angioedema (HAE) wowed Wall Street and sparked speculation regarding where the drug might fit in the increasingly competitive landscape.
Connect Biopharma Holdings Ltd. has been seeking a partner for its atopic dermatitis candidate rademikibart, and it appears to have found the perfect partner in Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, which gains exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize rademikibart in China in a deal worth $120 million plus royalties.
Having rolled out less-than-stellar phase II data with oral TYK2 inhibitor VTX-958 in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, Ventyx Biosciences Inc. faces Wall Street speculation regarding the odds for the ongoing effort in Crohn’s disease (CD), due for an interim analysis in the first quarter of next year.
The atopic dermatitis space gained another player in Triveni Bio Inc., which pulled down a $92 million series A financing co-led by Atlas Venture and Cormorant Asset Management to pay for a proof-of-concept study with lead program, TRIV-509, and boost the Waltham, Mass.-based firm’s broader pipeline.
In what TD Cowen analyst Joseph Thome called an “upside surprise,” Anaptysbio Inc. reported positive top-line data from its phase III Gemini-1 study of imsidolimab, a monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit the interleukin-36 receptor, in patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), positioning the firm for a potentially productive out-licensing deal.
Acelyrin Inc.’s shares tumbled after its interleukin-17A inhibitor, izokibep, failed to reachstatistical significance in part B of a phase IIb/III trial inmoderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), but the company remains undeterred with its plans to advance the drug for the inflammatory skin condition.
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