Corvus reports hopeful data on eczema drug trial

Published 13/01/2025, 13:38
Corvus reports hopeful data on eczema drug trial

BURLINGAME, Calif. - Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:CRVS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a market capitalization of $342 million, today revealed interim results from its ongoing Phase 1 trial of soquelitinib, a drug intended for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a strong balance sheet with more cash than debt, though it's currently trading above its Fair Value. The trial, which is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, has shown promising safety and efficacy profiles in its early stages.

The trial has completed 28 days of follow-up for 10 patients in its second cohort, who received a 200 mg daily dose of soquelitinib. These interim results suggest significant improvements in the treatment group compared to the placebo, with 26% of patients in the soquelitinib group achieving an Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) score of 0 or 1, and 37% reaching an Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score of 75. No patients in the placebo group met these endpoints after four weeks.

Dr. Richard A. Miller, co-founder, president, and CEO of Corvus, expressed optimism about the trial's outlook, noting the drug's potential for convenience due to its oral administration and novel mechanism of action. The company anticipates completing enrollment and reporting full results from all four study cohorts in the second quarter of 2025.

The Phase 1 trial aims to enroll 64 patients who have not responded to previous treatments. It explores various dosing regimens, with the primary endpoints being safety and tolerability, and secondary endpoints measuring efficacy through improvements in EASI scores and IGA. The market has shown strong interest in Corvus's development pipeline, with the stock rising 160% over the past six months, though it has recently experienced an 11.6% decline in the past week. InvestingPro subscribers can access 8 additional ProTips and comprehensive financial analysis for deeper insights into the company's performance.

Soquelitinib is also being assessed in a Phase 3 registration trial for relapsed peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) and other clinical programs, leveraging its ability to modulate immune system signaling pathways.

Atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, is a chronic condition that can cause significant discomfort and has a prevalence of up to 20% in children and 10% in adults. Current treatments range from topical and oral therapies to systemic injectable biologic therapies.

Corvus Pharmaceuticals focuses on pioneering ITK inhibition as a new approach to immunotherapy for cancer and immune diseases. The company's lead candidate, soquelitinib, is designed to selectively inhibit ITK, an enzyme crucial for T cell and natural killer (NK) cell function.

The information presented here is based on a press release statement from Corvus Pharmaceuticals. Analysts maintain a bullish outlook on the stock, with price targets ranging from $11 to $24, significantly above the current trading price of $5.33. For detailed analysis and expert insights, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available exclusively on InvestingPro, covering this and 1,400+ other US equities.

In other recent news, Corvus Pharmaceuticals has been making significant strides in its drug development programs. Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities maintained its Outperform rating on Corvus shares, expressing confidence in the efficacy and safety profile of the company's drug soquelitinib, currently in Phase 1 trials for atopic dermatitis. The drug also shows promise in Phase 3 trials for lymphoma treatment.

Oppenheimer also reiterated an Outperform rating on Corvus shares, following encouraging interim results from the Phase 1 study of soquelitinib. The study revealed notable patient responses at 28 and 58 days, significantly outperforming the placebo group.

Moreover, the company reported positive interim results from its Phase 1 trial of soquelitinib for treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, suggesting potential for the drug's application in other immune diseases. The data from the first cohort revealed a significant drop in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores for those treated with soquelitinib compared to the placebo group.

In addition, preclinical data on soquelitinib, Corvus's leading ITK inhibitor program, demonstrated its potential to modify tumor immunity. This research suggests that soquelitinib could offer a new method for cancer immunotherapy.

Finally, the company reported a net loss of $40.2 million due to increased R&D expenses, largely attributed to the trials of soquelitinib. However, Corvus maintains a strong cash position of $41.7 million, with the potential for an additional $54 million from warrants. These recent developments reflect the company's ongoing efforts in drug development and financial stability.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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