China-based InnoCare Pharma (HKG: 9969) announced that the first subject has been dosed in a clinical study for ICP-488, its TYK2 JH2 allosteric inhibitor. The drug is being developed for autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Mechanism of Action
ICP-488 is a potent and selective inhibitor of tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2). By binding the JH2 domain with high specificity, it blocks the signal transduction of inflammatory cytokines like IL-23, IL-12, and type 1 IFN, inhibiting the pathological process of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Competitive Landscape
Other TYK2 inhibitors in development include Bristol-Myers Squibb’s deucravacitinib (BMS-986165), Pfizer’s PF-06826647, Theravance/Janssen’s TD-1473, and BeiGene’s BGB-23339. BMS-986165 is currently under review for marketing in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.-Fineline Info & Tech
