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news.Brickell Biotech has secured the exclusive global rights to a series of novel retinoic acid–related orphan nuclear receptor gamma (RORγ) inhibitors from Orca Pharmaceuticals and New York University.
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The deal terms call for Brickell to carry out the continued research and development of the ROR? inhibitors with initial target on the topical treatment of psoriasis.
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that affects more than 9 million individuals in the US, about 3% of the country’s population.
ROR?, which plays an important role in the immune system, converts several immune cells into pro-inflammatory Th17 cells that produce cytokines, leading to inflammation in living organisms.
ROR? inhibitors can help reduce inflammatory conditions by decreasing the formation of Th17 cells and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, Brickell said.
Brickell Biotech president and chief scientific officer Patricia Walker said: "ROR? inhibition targets the pathway of a validated cytokine (IL-17) that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
"Monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-17 have recently shown significant efficacy in the treatment of psoriasis, and we are very encouraged about the opportunity to develop a topically applied, potent and selective small-molecule therapeutic targeting this pathway."
Data from Brickell’s Phase 2b clinical study in 190 subjects with axillary (underarm) hyperhidrosis is expected in early 2016.
Earlier this year, Brickell signed an exclusive license and development agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical for BBI-4000 novel, topical soft-anticholinergic.