China-based Innovent Biologics, Inc. (HKG: 1801) has announced encouraging results from the multi-center, open Phase II study of its picankibart, a recombinant anti-interleukin 23p19 subunit (IL-23p19) antibody injection. The study focused on psoriasis patients with a poor response to prior biologic treatments, primarily IL-17 antibodies. After 16 weeks of treatment with picankibart, 64.6% of patients achieved skin lesion clearance or near clearance, as measured by static physician global assessment scores of 0/1. The drug also showed a favorable efficacy and safety profile.
Picankibart works by specifically binding to the IL-23p19 subunit, preventing IL-23 from binding to cell surface receptors and playing a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The company’s first market filing for picankibart was accepted for review in China last month, targeting the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.- Flcube.com
