Leo & 4SC team up to eradicate psoriasis

[Fred]

Brave statements made by Leo Pharma and 4SC Discovery in their joint press release for an oral psoriasis treatment.

Quote:

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Leo Pharma a global pharmaceutical company specialising in dermatology, has entered into an exclusive research and license agreement with the German biotech company 4SC Discovery GmbH with the primary aim of jointly researching, developing and commercialising an oral treatment for inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis.

The collaboration has the potential to result in a novel and convenient break-through therapy for chronic skin conditions. The innovative compound, currently in the early development state, has already been proven in preclinical models to significantly reduce if not entirely eradicate symptoms of psoriasis.

Under the agreement, LEO Pharma will issue an upfront payment of EUR 1 million to 4SC Discovery and additional funding for research and development. LEO Pharma will receive an exclusive option to license the worldwide marketing and commercialisation rights of the compound for use in inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis and other therapeutic areas. Upon LEO Pharma exercising the option, 4SC Discovery will be eligible for a milestone payment of up to EUR 3 million and further payments upon achieving specific development milestones of up to EUR 92 million as well as up to double-digit royalties.

The deal marks the latest milestone in LEO Pharma’s ambitious growth strategy, which involves actively seeking new opportunities to expand the company pipeline for the benefit of patients.

Kim Kjoeller, Senior Vice President, Global Development, LEO Pharma, said: ”LEO Pharma is excited about the agreement with 4SC and the possibilities it offers patients. The compound has the potential to completely eradicate symptoms of psoriasis, liberating people from the burden of this chronic skin disease. LEO Pharma strives to constantly expand and improve treatment options for patients and this latest deal is the perfect example of our commitment to meeting patient needs with breakthrough novel therapies.”

For 4SC Discovery, the deal marks a key early-stage partnering deal with one of the company’s compounds from its research engine.

Dr. Daniel Vitt, Managing Director of 4SC Discovery GmbH and Chief Scientific Officer at 4SC AG, commented: “We are delighted to have won LEO Pharma, a global leader in skin diseases, as an ideal research and license partner for our highly innovative compound, which is based on the modulation of cytokines. Our goal is now to speed up and jointly develop a novel breakthrough therapy addressing the high medical need in chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. This partnership again demonstrates the great expertise and scientific potential of 4SC in the fields of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.”

Source: leo-pharma.com

Watch This Space.

[Caroline]

I am very curious.
I have 2 potential treatments in my vision.
And already wrote to someone for more info.

[Fred]

When I make a new thread about the latest news on psoriasis, I try to report it as it is on the relevant website where I found it. I may add some sort of explanation, but try to avoid making a personal statement so you can form your own opinion. But that doesn’t mean I always agree with what is stated, so this post is my own personal opinion on the first post in this thread and should not be read as a statement from Psoriasis Club.

While I think it’s great that drug manufacturers are working on new treatments to help us rid ourselves of psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, I do sometimes wonder if statements like “entirely eradicate symptoms of psoriasis” are just a ploy to keep us interested in their new products.

Why would Leo Pharma want a new pill that would eradicate psoriasis? Surely it wouldn’t be in their interest, as we would no longer need Dovonex and Dovobet which accounts for around 45% of its turnover.

Did Leo Pharma offer 1 Million for research and development of the new drug to help people with psoriasis, or was it more of a strategy to gain the rights to the worldwide marketing and stop 4SC Discovery going elsewhere.

Yes I know this post is sounding a bit like a conspiracy theory, but as a long term psoriasis patient I have started to wonder if the big drug companies would actually want a cure for psoriasis! As a person with psoriasis you certainly would want a cure for psoriasis, but put yourself in the position of the shareholders, and ask the same question, “Would you want a cure for psoriasis”?

A new oral treatment that can entirely eradicate psoriasis sounds just what we are all looking for, but once we are rid of this curse what will happen to all the drug companies involved in the treatment of psoriasis?

I’m grateful for all the research going on out there at the moment to find something to help us, and for the treatment I use, but statements like “Entirely Eradicate Psoriasis” I think are building up our hopes just a little too much.

Let’s look at it another way: If someone came up with something to entirely eradicate Fuel by using water, how far do you think it would go?

Like you I do hope one day we will see something that Entirely Eradicates Psoriasis, and I shall be watching the progress of this treatment unfold. And when a drug company entirely eradicates psoriasis, I will pop back here to eat my hat.

Dovobet And Dovonex (What's the difference ?)

I’m sure I just saw a Pig fly past the window.

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Psoriasis Club is totally self-funded and does not rely on sponsorship from any drug manufacturers.

[Caroline]

Pigs regularly fly past the window, there is nothing new to that....

[Hanna]

Never looked at it that way Fred, very interesting point indeed.
I have often heard more money is spent on researching into products to combat male baldness than cancer, for the reason that a company would make more money in that area than any other!!!!

[Fred]

Just checking who is on-line as all members can and I noticed a guest or bot was reading this thread.

Almost 10 years on, can I ask .................................... Are we there yet. 

[Caroline]

I haven’t seen anything coming out of Leo Pharma that comes close to a solution.

By the way what they probably mean is Kyntheum

And the statement is not that they were able to cure Psoriasis, but to eradicate the symptoms. Of course during the use of the medication.

[jiml]

Just checking who is on-line as all members can and I noticed a guest or bot was reading this thread.

Almost 10 years on, can I ask .................................... Are we there yet. 

im afraid not you are right its not in the big pharma's interest to market a cure