Top-line results from Moonlake Immunotherapeutics AG’s phase II study of sonelokimab treating active psoriatic arthritis encouraged the company but discouraged investors.
Interleukin-17 (IL-17), a cytokine produced by T helper 17 (Th17) cells, is a key player in host inflammation and immune dysfunction leading to autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or asthma, among others.
In a deal worth $2.4 billion in cash, Eli Lilly and Co. agreed to acquire Dice Therapeutics Inc., gaining a franchise of oral IL-17 inhibitors for chronic autoimmune diseases.
Positive phase I data from Dice Therapeutics Inc. with DC-806 in psoriasis sent shares (NASDAQ:DICE) on a wild ride, closing at $40, up $15.35, or 62%, on Oct. 11, 2022, and bolstered the case for oral drugs in psoriasis – an increasingly busy indication where discouraged patients often find themselves switching between therapies.
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.
As the PDUFA date looms for Bristol Myers Squibb Co. with its candidate, deucravacitinib, for psoriasis, others – notably Dice Therapeutics Inc. – strive for new solutions to the skin disease, which has remained problematic for many patients despite approvals of multiple drugs in various classes.
Acelyrin Inc. closed a $250 million series B round and, at the same time, unveiled a licensing deal with Affibody AB, involving an interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor, izokibep, which it is now testing in a pivotal trial in uveitis. Solna, Sweden-based Affibody is getting $25 million up front and could earn up to $280 million more in regulatory and sales-based milestones, as well as tiered royalties, ranging from high single digits to low double digits in percentage terms.
Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has raised $100 million in a series C financing to move its IL-17 inhibitor to phase II trials in the U.S. and China.
Novartis AG is closing in on a label expansion for its blockbuster inflammatory disease drug, Cosentyx (secukinumab), after announcing supportive phase III results in children with two subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
LONDON – C4X Discovery Holdings plc has out-licensed its preclinical oral interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitor to Sanofi SA in a potential €414 million (US$493.4 million) deal. Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi is paying €7 million up front and a further €11 in short-term preclinical milestones, with the balance to follow on reaching development, regulatory and commercialization milestones.