Takeda is on the brink of a major breakthrough with its experimental drug for plaque psoriasis, TAK-279. Following a successful Phase IIb study that met its primary and secondary endpoints, the TYK2 inhibitor is set to move into Phase III trials later this year. This is an exciting step forward in the fight against psoriasis, and could lead to much-needed relief for patients.
TAK-279, a new treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, has achieved remarkable results in a recent clinical trial. Data released Saturday revealed that patients in the 5mg, 15mg, and 30mg dosing arms had significantly higher success rates in reaching Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 at 12 weeks compared to those who received only placebo. These results demonstrate the potential of TAK-279 to revolutionize the treatment of psoriasis.
At this year’s American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in New Orleans, data was presented that shed light on why Takeda paid a whopping $4 billion for the oral TYK2 inhibitor from Nimbus Therapeutics. The acquisition further cements Takeda’s commitment to developing innovative treatments for dermatological diseases.
Nimbus believes that this psoriasis medicine could be the top of its class, with its powerful potential to provide relief from symptoms.
Last September, Bristol Myers Squibb’s oral TYK2 inhibitor, Sotyktu (deucravacitinib), was given the greenlight by the FDA for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Now, a new drug is set to challenge its position as the gold standard — and it could be a game-changer for psoriasis sufferers.
The FDA has been taking steps to regulate Janus protein tyrosine kinase (JAK) inhibitor drugs, recently warning that all such medications approved for treating chronic inflammatory conditions can bring an increased risk of serious heart-related events, cancer, blood clots, and even death. A new study underscores the importance of this caution, finding that JAK inhibitors can have a negative impact on long-term health outcomes.
In December, the agency raised red flags concerning the safety of JAK inhibitors, a drug class which includes AbbVie’s Rinvoq (upadacitinib), a potential successor to its record-breaking Humira. As a result, new safety warnings were issued for the drug class, leaving many to wonder about the repercussions.
Takeda is confident that TAK-279 will revolutionize the JAK inhibitor industry, providing a much-needed solution to current issues.
Takeda has announced promising results from a new study of its investigational drug, TAK-279. This highly selective inhibitor of TYK2 spares other members of the Janus kinase (JAK) family, which should minimize the risk of JAK-related toxicities. According to Andy Plump, president of R&D at Takeda, “These results are encouraging and suggest that TAK-279 has potential to be an effective treatment option.”