The ultra-rare skin disease X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XLHED) can be a heavy burden for children, affecting structures in the skin including sweat glands, respiratory glands, and hair as well as teeth. Though lacking a specific treatment to date, a pivotal clinical trial planned by the Geneva-based nonprofit Esperare Foundation and Pierre Fabre SA could now help bring one about.
Two Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, Abbvie Inc.'s Rinvoq (upadacitinib) and Pfizer Inc.'s Cibinqo (abrocitinib), have won U.S. FDA approvals for the treatment of people with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Reviews of both products for the indication were delayed due to FDA concerns about class risks. Accordingly, each is labeled with a boxed warning regarding risks of serious infection, mortality, malignancy, major adverse cardiovascular events and thrombosis.
Privately held Leo Pharma Inc. has worked its way through a complete response letter issued in April to see the FDA approve Adbry (tralokinumab-ldrm) for treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults. The CRL noted FDA requests for additional data related to the device component, a prefilled syringe of tralokinumab, but it did not request new efficacy or safety data related to the drug product formulation. In April and on Dec. 28, the company did not provide details on the device-related data that were requested.
A few months after disclosing its merger with Chiasma Inc., Amryt plc rolled out second quarter financials pleasing to Wall Street, where considerable interest has begun to manifest in the company’s epidermolysis bullosa program with Filsuvez, also known as Oleogel-S10.
With its topical gel for primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating) in adults and children 9 years of age and older, Brickell Biotech Inc. is gearing up to challenge Journey Medical Corp.’s Qbrexza (glycopyrronium), an anticholinergic agent contained in a single-use, pre-moistened, medicated cloth.
New and updated preclinical and clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress, including: Abbvie, Arcutis, BMS, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Leo, Novartis, Rapt, Sanofi.
Denmark’s Union Therapeutics A/S has begun a strategic collaboration with Innovent Biologics Inc. over orismilast, a next-generation oral PDE4 inhibitor for inflammatory dermatology conditions that could compete directly with Amgen Inc.’s psoriasis blockbuster, Otezla (apremilast). At the same time, the company is looking for partners in the medium term to develop the drug in the rest of the world as it bids to take on Amgen and other dermatology players such as Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
What one analyst characterized as “a little bit of an exotic or at least unusual statistical analysis on the phase II primary endpoint” may have dampened enthusiasm somewhat for Evelo Biosciences Inc.’s results in mild and moderate psoriasis with EDP-1815, but the firm is advancing the compound to registration studies.
Sanofi SA’s high-profile phase III blow-up Sept. 9 with the oral BTK inhibitor rilzabrutinib in pemphigus brought fresh attention to the group of rare diseases – which cause blisters on the skin and mucous membranes throughout the body – and to players pushing for a new treatment.
Shares of Forte Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:FBRX) touched a 52-week low, diving 82.3% to close at $5.06 on Sept. 3 after its sole candidate, FB-401, failed to make a statistically significant difference in improving the severity of atopic dermatitis. The result, contrasting starkly with a smaller positive trial, led CEO Paul Wagner to announce the company would quit development of the FDA fast-tracked asset, licensed from the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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