Astion Pharma recently completed a phase I development program for the drug, ASF-1096, for the treatment of the serious skin disease, cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The results from the phase I program are very favorable, Astion said, and the phase II studies with patients are already so far advanced that the company expects to begin phase III development in the next six to twelve months. That is about six months earlier than expected.
The consortium of owners has decided to provide additional capital to the dermatology-focused company so that the planning of phase III can be started up immediately, Astion added.
One of the other development programs which the company expects to move into phase III around the turn of the year is ASF-1057 for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. ASF-1057 is currently undergoing phase II studies in patients in France and the UK.