Alys Pharmaceuticals Inc. has launched with a focus in the field of immuno-dermatology. Supported by $100 million in financing from Medicxi, Alys was formed through the aggregation of six asset-centric Medicxi companies: Aldena Therapeutics Inc., Graegis Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Granular Therapeutics Ltd., Klirna Biotech Sàrl, Nira Biosciences Inc. and Vimela Therapeutics Inc.

Attovia Therapeutics Inc. has announced the closing of the $30 million second tranche of its $60 million series A financing.

Guangzhou Fermion Technology Co. Ltd. has received IND approval by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its TYK2 JH2 inhibitor, FZ-007-119.

DP Technology Ltd. has nominated DPT-0218, a novel small molecule targeting Kv1.3, as a preclinical candidate for the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and atopic dermatitis.

Dermasensor Inc. received U.S. FDA clearance for its non-invasive skin cancer evaluation device that provides quantitative identification of all skin cancer types at the point of care and within seconds. The point-and-click device is designed to facilitate detection of skin cancers by primary care physicians (PCPs) and speed the time to diagnosis and treatment.

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.

Onquality Pharmaceuticals LLC has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for OQL-025 to treat epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor-induced acneiform rash, a common toxicity affecting patients treated with EGFR inhibitor therapy for various cancers.

Kymera Therapeutics Inc. has unveiled two new first-in-class oral degrader programs for immune-mediated diseases: KT-621, a STAT6 degrader, and KT-294, a TYK2 degrader.