InnoCare Pharma announces that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase II/III clinical trial of its novel TYK2 inhibitor, Soficitinib, for the treatment of patients with non-segmental vitiligo in China.
Soficitinib is being developed for the treatment of various T-cell related autoimmune disorders, including vitiligo, atopic dermatitis (AD), and prurigo nodularis. TYK2 is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and a member of the JAK kinase family. It plays a key role in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and is critically involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.
Vitiligo happens when skin melanocytes are destroyed, leading to loss of pigment, and leaving white patches on the skin. It is a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment. The goals of therapy include disease stabilization, repigmentation, and maintenance treatment to prevent recurrence of depigmentation.
“Vitiligo imposes significant psychological and social burdens on patients,” says Dr. Jasmine Cui, Co-founder, Chairwoman, and CEO of InnoCare, in a news release. “Many patients experience decreased self-confidence, social barriers, and other challenges. There remains a lack of effective treatments, highlighting substantial unmet medical needs. We will accelerate the clinical development of soficitinib and look forward to bringing benefits to patients with vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases as early as possible.”
In addition to vitiligo, the clinical development of soficitinib for other autoimmune diseases is also progressing, including the Phase III registrational trial for atopic dermatitis, the Company notes.
