For millions living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the path to effective treatment is often a frustrating cycle of trial and error. Typically beginning with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate, the goal is low disease activity. Yet RA’s heterogeneity means many patients cycle through various therapies—biologic DMARDs like anti-TNF agents, JAK inhibitors, IL-6 receptor antagonists,…
How DeepCure taps reinforcement learning for first-in-class therapies
Boston-based DeepCure may be an AI-focused biotech, but it sets itself apart by focusing its AI-powered platform on historically challenging drug targets that have eluded traditional approaches. “While AI in drug discovery is often viewed as a means to accelerate and reduce costs, our focus at DeepCure is on achieving true novelty in drug development…
Nipocalimab shows promise in RA subgroups in phase 2a IRIS-RA study
Johnson & Johnson’s nipocalimab, which works by targeting the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), has the potential to treat an array of autoimmune conditions. But the antibody recently hit a snag in the first-ever clinical study of an FcRn inhibitor in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), missing its primary endpoint. The development has sparked debate within the rheumatology…
Sandoz’s Hyrimoz to challenge AbbVie’s Humira dominance
The generic and biosimilar company Sandoz, a Novartis (NYSE:SIX) subsidiary, has received FDA approval for its Humira biosimilar Hyrimoz (adalimumab-adaz) injection. AbbVie’s (NYSE:ABBV) megablockbuster Humira is a biologic medication with indications for an array of autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and psoriasis. Sandoz’s biosimilar will likely be priced significantly lower than Humira’s. This…
FDA approves Olumiant for treating some hospitalized COVID-19 patients
The JAK inhibitor Olumiant (baricitinib) from Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) and Lilly (NYSE:LLY) has scored FDA approval to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients who need help breathing. In particular, the new indication covers adult patients needing supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Olumiant first won FDA approval in 2018 for treating moderately-to-severely active…
Tremfya shows promise in reducing fatigue in PsA patients
Janssen’s Tremfya (guselkumab) was associated with reduced fatigue in two Phase 3 clinical trials involving 1,120 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), according to an article published in Arthritis Research & Therapy. The study found that PsA patients who received 100 mg of guselkumab every four weeks or every eight weeks had clinically meaningful and sustained improvements…
Olumiant offers hope to patients with rheumatoid arthritis
FDA has indicated Lilly‘s OLUMIANT (baricitinib) to treat adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. In particular, the agency has recommended the drug for patients with an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapies. In June, Lilly and its partner Incyte announced that the drug appeared to reduce…