The results were also impressive for other patients. Nearly half of the high-dose patients were cured of his 90% of psoriasis. Also, 75% of his psoriasis was cured in his two-thirds of patients, compared to 6% of the patients who received a placebo. Takeda announced the results on Saturday morning and plans to present them at a medical conference for dermatologists in New Orleans over the weekend.
The drug was not without side effects. Mild or moderate adverse events occurred in 53% to 62% of patients receiving Takeda medicines, depending on dose, and 44% of placebo recipients experienced side effects. The company didn’t provide details in a press statement, but Plump said the drug’s most common side effects are an increased risk of mild respiratory viral infections, including COVID-19, and acne. increase.
Takeda plans to begin advanced drug research in psoriasis later this year, with intermediate-stage studies in lupus, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, Plump said. We look forward to the results of mid-term trials of the drug in psoriatic arthritis, and if they are positive, a larger trial could begin next year.
With the exception of cancer drugs that are routinely evaluated against multiple types of tumors, it is unusual to test a single drug across five diseases simultaneously. But that list is just the beginning. Plump says his company has compiled up to 20 autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that the pill could potentially treat because it selectively blocks key proteins that trigger immune responses.
“This could be one of the most widely-cited mechanisms outside of oncology of any oral drug ever developed,” Plump said. “In 10 years, looking back, I would say this was a bargain.”
Nimbus designed the drug to target a protein known as TYK2 that helps immune cells go into high gear when they sense danger signs. Its response helps fight infections, but it can be detrimental when overactivated in autoimmune or inflammatory diseases.
Interestingly, individuals born with genetic mutations that block TYK2 are less likely to develop these diseases. This observation has sparked a race among pharmaceutical companies to replicate these benefits in pills. This task has proven difficult because blocking closely related proteins can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and cancer.
Last summer, Bristol-Myers Squibb became the first to receive approval for a TYK2 inhibitor. The pharmaceutical giant’s Sotyktu is marketed as a treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and the company plans to test it in several more conditions.
Nimbus, a small biotech company with about 80 employees, knew it had room for improvement. The company claims the compound inhibits her TYK2 and is far superior to just sparring its cousin, suggesting it may be more effective and less risky.
The results Takeda saw from the interim trial were finally revealed this weekend, leading the company to announce its intention to acquire the drug in December. $100 million and potentially another $2 billion in potential milestone payments.
For approval, larger studies are needed to better compare the safety and efficacy of this drug with Sotyktu. Plump is confident in Takeda’s future. “It’s a very competitive space. So our intention is to go all out,” he said. This is our number one priority. ”
Ryan Cross can be reached at [email protected]. follow him on twitter @RLCscienceboss.
