With a promising IL-36 inhibitor for atopic dermatitis (AD, or eczema) at the phase II stage, Turn Therapeutics Inc. has gained $75 million in post-public commitments and meanwhile is pursuing a grassroots strategy to keep the coffers in balance.
The sparsity of mid-to-late stage prospects in atopic dermatitis (AD, or eczema) – which has proved an especially challenging indication – plus some newsmaking fizzles in the space have caused developers to probe new targets with particular intensity. Most popular approaches thus far involve IL-4, IL-13, thymic stromal lymphopoietin and JAK. Developers have stumbled for varying reasons such as high placebo response rates, safety or lack of clinical proof of concept. Among the potential AD rescuers is Nektar Therapeutics Inc. with rezpegaldesleukin (rezpeg), which takes aim at IL-2.
Maxion Therapeutics Ltd. is poised to extend the therapeutic reach of antibodies into the vast field of G-protein coupled receptors and ion channel targets, after raising $72 million in a series A round.
Investors wanted more from Incyte Corp.’s top-line results in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) from its pivotal phase III Stop-HS trial program with oral small-molecule JAK1 inhibitor povorcitinib in adults with moderate to severe disease. Shares of the Wilmington, Del.-based firm (NASDAQ:INCY) closed March 17 at $62.01, down $5.85, after the company made public that Stop-HS1 and Stop-HS2 met the primary endpoint at both tested doses (45 mg and 75 mg)
Term sheets are being drawn up with potential pharma partners after Torqur AG reported positive interim results from an ongoing phase II trial of bimiralisib topical gel in the treatment of actinic keratosis.
Analysts were pleasantly surprised by the positive phase III data reported for Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd./Amgen Inc.’s rocatinlimab, a T-cell rebalancing therapy, in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have uncovered a key mechanism underlying the treatment resistance of melanoma with the BRAF V600E mutation through pathways involved in focal adhesion and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. These two processes remodel the tumor cell environment in melanoma through the RAF/MEK cell signaling pathway. However, the combined use of FAK inhibitors with a RAF-MEK clamp overcame this resistance.
The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal products for Human Use (CHMP) is standing by its opinion on Leqembi (lecanemab) after the European .mission pushed back against a recommendation in November 2024 that the Alzheimer’s disease drug be approved
Cosette Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced plans to acquire Adelaide, Australia-based Mayne Pharma Pty Ltd. for AU$672 million (US$430 million) to grow its women’s health and dermatology franchise in the U.S. Under terms, Cosette, of Bridgewater, N.J., will acquire 100% of Mayne’s shares at AU$7.40 per share in cash. The price represents a 37% premium to Mayne’s closing share price on Feb. 20. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.
The closely watched chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU, or hives) space chalked more early stage KIT inhibitor data as Third Harmonic Bio Inc. rolled out results from the phase I single and multiple ascending-dose trial with THB-335 in healthy volunteers, along with plans to move the oral candidate into phase II development by the middle of 2025.
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