Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by abnormal differentiation of keratinocytes and chronic inflammation where current treatments frequently are associated with severe side effects.
Leo Pharma A/S researchers have synthesized new interleukin-17 (IL-17) modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, radiographic ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis) and autoimmune diseases.
Di-cyclopropyl based interleukin-17A (IL-17A) production inhibitors have been reported in a Dice Alpha Inc. patent as potentially useful for the treatment of psoriasis, radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (ankylosing spondylitis), hidradenitis suppurativa, spondyloarthritis, psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis.
Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (formerly Biondvax Pharmaceuticals Ltd.) has released promising results from a preclinical study of Scinai’s anti‑IL‑17 nanosized VHH antibodies (NanoAbs) as a treatment for plaque psoriasis. The alpaca‑derived recombinant variable domain of heavy-chain-only antibodies are designed to be administered locally.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that maintains skin homeostasis in healthy skin and is expressed in keratinocytes, fibroblasts, mastocytes and melanocytes. In inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis, AhR deficit leads to marked skin inflammation, abnormal barrier function and increased cytokine release. Researchers from Sichuan University have reported the discovery and optimization of a new series of 2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one derivatives acting as AhR agonists that led to the identification of [I] as the lead compound, which showed an EC50 value of 0.015 µM against AhR.
Recludix Pharma Inc. has entered into a strategic collaboration with Sanofi SA to develop and commercialize first-in-class oral small-molecule STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6) inhibitors for patients with immunological and inflammatory diseases. STAT6 is believed to play a key role in multiple dermatological and respiratory diseases.
Heterobicyclic derivatives characterized as tyrosine-protein kinase ITK/TSK (EMT) inhibitors have been revealed in an Almirall SA patent. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, T-cell lymphoma, alopecia areata and vitiligo.