Biocryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. caught some industry observers by surprise early in 2022 when it upped its peak sales estimate for Orladeyo (berotralstat), its oral therapy for prevention of hereditary angioedema attacks, from $500 million to $1 billion. But blockbuster status appears more attainable following the latest setback from a potential competitor, as safety concerns prompted Kalvista Pharmaceuticals Inc. management to ax its phase II study testing KVD-824 in prevention of HAE attacks.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common inflammatory skin disorder with a complex etiology. On the other hand, autophagy is an essential process by which cells break down undesired components to maintain their homeostasis.
Incyte Corp. has agreed to acquire Villaris Therapeutics Inc., the developer of a monoclonal antibody for vitiligo that aims to treat a larger proportion of the skin than an available topical cream, for $70 million up front, plus up to $310 million in potential development and regulatory milestone payments. The deal includes up to $1.05 billion in commercial milestones on net sales of auremolimab, a preclinical MAb that works against IL-15Rβ and is expected to reach the clinic in 2023.
E-nitiate Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has raised ¥100 million (US$14.4 million) in a series A round to speed up the clinical trials of its lead assets, QY-201 and QY-101, and expand the pipeline. “Our strategy is to focus on the ‘blue ocean’ of the dermatosis market,” said Shi Jun, chief medical officer at E-nitiate Biopharma. “The first step is to enter China’s autoimmune skin diseases market.”
Novartis AG rolled out positive phase III data Sept. 13 with Cosentyx (secukinumab), its interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor for hidradenitis suppurativa, offering more evidence for the approach taken up by a handful of biopharma firms.
Bearish investors dwelling on a single grade 4 liver enzyme elevation seemed to be the cause for Intellia Therapeutics Inc.’s sinking stock Sept. 16, despite the company reporting impressive, though early stage, data for its leading systemically administered CRISPR candidates targeting hereditary angioedema (HAE) and amyloid transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis.
E-nitiate Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has raised ¥100 million (US$14.4 million) in a series A round to speed up the clinical trials of its lead assets, QY-201 and QY-101, and expand the pipeline. “Our strategy is to focus on the ‘blue ocean’ of the dermatosis market,” said Shi Jun, chief medical officer at E-nitiate Biopharma. “The first step is to enter China’s autoimmune skin diseases market.”
Researchers from Shaperon Inc. presented positive preclinical data for their clinical-stage candidate, sodium taurodeoxycholate (HY-209), demonstrating its therapeutic potential for atopic dermatitis.
Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (BMS) dodged a black-box warning on the label of just-approved Sotyktu (deucravacitinib), but hurdles lie ahead for the first-in-class, oral, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor. Designed to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, Sotyktu is priced as $75,000 per year, and will become available during September, BMS said.
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