Roche, BioCryst Advance Psoriasis Drug

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Roche initiated the first Phase II study to evaluate BCX-4208/R3421 in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. BCX-4208 is an inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), an enzyme essential for the proliferation of activated T cells. With its mechanism of action, BCX-4208 has the potential to address a range of autoimmune diseases as well as transplant rejection.

The Phase II double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is comprised of three arms, each enrolling 20 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Two arms will receive active drug in different dosage strengths, while patients in the third arm will receive placebo. Patients in all three arms will be dosed once daily for six weeks.

“We are excited that BCX-4208 is advancing into Phase II testing,” said Jon P. Stonehouse, chief executive officer of BioCryst. “The potential for a new oral therapy that is convenient, safe and effective would be an important addition to currently available treatment options for the many millions of patients who suffer from serious autoimmune conditions around the world. BCX-4208 is the lead compound in our second-generation PNP inhibitor program and the initiation of this trial represents a significant step towards demonstrating proof-of-concept with this promising approach in important disease areas.”