UpdatesPlus - Atopic Dermatitis - an analysis of recent advances

UpdatesPlus-Atopic Dermatitis has now been launched. The inaugural issue evaluates recently released commercial, clinical and scientific advances including:

• We evaluate recent commercial data on topical calcineurin inhibitors as Valeant grows its share of the US market to 48% share of this segment, although Astellas' Protopic remains the market leader, at least until loss of exclusivity later this year
• We also discuss Valeant's M&A activity as the company continues to drive dermatology franchise expansion through a period of acquisitions
• The AAD has released a new series of atopic dermatitis guidelines - we summarize these and identify areas of potential importance to R&D activity
  
• Significant activity has been seen around PDE4 inhibitors, including Anacor's initiation of Phase 3 AN2728 studies as well as data release on Eisai's E6005.  While we question the level of efficacy seen for E6005, Eisai has reported some elegant data directly measuring sensory afferent discharge and related scratching activity.  In contrast to AN2728 and E6005 which are topical, Celgene is developing apremilast as an oral PDE4i for atopic dermatitis.  We report on the start of Phase 2 studies
• Dupilumab, Sanofi/Regeneron's IL-4Ralpha mAb is also highlighted - we describe Phase 2a data as the companies prepare to announce Phase 2b data and open a Phase 3 program (we will issue an alert on this as soon as information is available)
  
• In our "new target" section we look at potentially important proof of concept data on H4 antagonists.  Janssen has published promising data on a now discontinued H4 antagonist.  The company has a second candidate in development for rheumatoid arthritis without the structural issues that are proposed to have lead to the AEs of the initial compound.  This back up could cross over into atopic dermatitis.  Likewise, Ziarco Pharma is the new kid on the block.  Managed by ex-Pfizer personnel the company has raised capital to take its H4 antagonist into the clinic for atopic dermatitis
• Another molecular target with promise is CX3CR1.  Blockade has been shown to be efficacious in models of atopic dermatitis, possibly offering benefit against co-morbid airway hyperreactivity.  Antagonists have yet to enter the clinic although AstraZeneca is developing this class for immunology including multiple sclerosis
  

In addition, we provide a fully up to date atopic dermatitis pipeline and clinical timeline.  To receive the entire 33 page report please contact fiona.watts@leaddiscovery.co.uk