Much has been made of the recent skyrocketing of Medicare spending on skin substitutes, but a new enforcement action by the U.S. Department of Justice might help to explain some of those spending increases.

Recludix Pharma Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA to advance REX-8756 (SAR-448755), an oral STAT6 inhibitor for inflammatory diseases, into phase I testing. REX-8756 is an oral, selective STAT6 inhibitor that employs a novel therapeutic approach by targeting STAT6’s SH2 domain.

Peptidream Inc. has announced progression of an oral dual IL-17A and IL-17F macrocyclic peptide inhibitor for psoriasis, with the program entering the company’s clinical development portfolio.