AX-158 receives clinical trial authorization for phase 2a psoriasis study in UK

Key takeaways:

• AX-158 is a once-daily investigational oral, small molecule immunomodulator for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
• Patient enrollment for the trial will begin by the end of 2023.

AX-158 has received clinical trial authorization from the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for a phase 2a psoriasis study, Artax Biopharma announced in a press release.

Following this authorization, initial patient enrollment for the trial will begin by the end of 2023.

“We are proud to announce the clinical progress of AX-158 and the potential that it may provide a novel treatment to patients managing psoriasis,” Joseph Lobacki, CEO of Artax Biopharma, said in the release. “Additionally, we are excited by the promise of AX-158 as a new standard of care in treating a broad range of autoimmune diseases.”

In the phase 2a, proof-of-concept study, researchers will evaluate the safety and tolerability of AX-158 vs. placebo in patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis.

AX-158 is an investigational oral, small molecule immunomodulator that can be taken once a day for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. According to the release, it has a novel, first-in-class mechanism that selectively modulates, or adjusts, T-cell responses and multiple disease-causing cytokines while avoiding immunosuppression.