Ascletis drug cuts psoriasis severity by 48 9 per cent
Biopharmaceutical firm Ascletis achieved a 48 9 per cent placebo adjusted reduction in psoriasis severity scores during a 28 day clinical trial of its oral inhibitor ASC50 in the United States
Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX: 1672) has announced promising results from a clinical trial for its experimental drug ASC50 in treating mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase I trial was conducted in the U.S. and aimed to assess the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of a once-daily 200 mg dose of ASC50 over a 28-day period.
The key findings from the trial demonstrated that ASC50 significantly reduced the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score by 48.9% in patients with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. This reduction in PASI score was maintained 6 days and 15 days after the last dose, indicating strong efficacy.
Furthermore, the elimination half-life of ASC50 was found to be 6.5 days after the 28-day treatment, which suggests the possibility of once-weekly oral dosing. This once-daily dosing regimen was compared favorably to the published efficacy of secukinumab, a marketed interleukin-17A (IL-17A) antibody drug. The trial also revealed strong target engagement, as shown by elevated plasma IL-17A levels after 28-day dosing.
Safety was another strong point for ASC50, with all adverse events being mild (Grade 1) and transient, with no serious adverse events reported. There were no discontinuations due to adverse events, and no hepatic safety signals were detected. The drug's novel scaffold and oral administration also provide a differentiated option for patients, potentially offering a needle-free alternative to injectable antibody therapies.
Written by urgent.news from Vietnam Investment Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
