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Biotech / Medical : Indications -- Psoriasis/Chronic Inflammation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Icebrg who wrote (393)	4/4/2003 4:05:36 AM
From: Icebrg	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 631

From a SSB report on Biogen Message 18795913 * Clinical results from Phase II study of LFA-1 antagonist in Mid-2003 psoriasis at IPS in July * Initiation of Phase III study of LFA-1 antagonist in psoriasis H2 2003 This is a small-molecule developed in a 50/50 partnership between Biogen and Icos. The latter being the owner of the molecule. The development seems to enjoy a certain amount of momentum. (I.e. going into phase III already this year would represent a dramatic acceleration of the program). A lot - if not everything - does of course hinge on the results from the phase II trial which should be presented in July. If these are good - this might very well be a development worth keeping an eye on. The mode of action should be similar to the one employed by DNA/XOMA's Raptiva, although there is at this point no way (at least for me) to evaluate which of these two treatment options that gives the best effects. If everything is about equal the small molecule will win. And a final if. If results from the phase II are good enough to warrant a straight jump into a phase III trial, ICOS - supposed to get the US marketing approval for Cialis during the year - should be starting to look like a tempting munch for big pharma. Market cap is a measly 1,2 billion US. Lilly, who is Icos Cialis partner, might be tempted. They have a collaboration with ISIS on the psoriasis indication, but not much more than that, as far as I can see. Some very minute "data" on IC747 from ICOS website: "IC747 is an orally administered LFA-1 antagonist, being development as a treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis in collaboration with Biogen Inc. LFA-1, a cell adhesion molecule selectively expressed on leukocytes, plays a major role in the activation and trafficking of T lymphocytes in the tissue at sites of inflammation. In the last decade a large body of preclinical data has accumulated to establish the importance of LFA-1 as a biological target, particularly in chronic, T-cell driven inflammatory conditions like psoriasis. ICOS scientists have expanded their understanding of how LFA-1 is regulated and have demonstrated that IC747 binds to LFA-1 and inhibits T lymphocyte activation. In August 2002, a Phase 2a clinical trial was initiated primarily to assess pharmacokinetics and tolerability of IC747 in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis." Erik