TAK-279 was developed by Nimbus Therapeutics and owned by Takeda.

Takeda’s TYK2 inhibitor TAK-279 performed well in a Phase 2b study of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

TAK-279 was developed by Nimbus Therapeutics and owned by Takeda.

The new findings were presented at the 2023 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in New Orleans by April Armstrong, M.D., MPH, Associate Dean and Professor of Dermatology at the University of Southern California.

In the study, 259 patients were randomized (1:1:1:1:1 ratio) to receive one of four doses of TAK-279 once-daily, or placebo for 12 weeks.  A significantly greater proportion of TAK-279 patients achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)  75 (44%, 68%, 67%; 5mg, 15mg, 30mg, respectively) versus placebo (6%), the study showed. 

A significantly greater proportion of TAK-279 patients achieved PASI 90 (21%, 45%, 46%; 5mg, 15mg, 30mg, respectively) versus placebo (0%), and PASI 100 (10%, 15%, 33%; 5mg, 15mg, 30mg, respectively) versus placebo (0% at 30mg). Moreover, a greater proportion of TAK-279 patients achieved Physician Global Assessment (PGA) scores of 0/1 (27%, 49%, 52%; 5mg, 15mg, 30mg, respectively) or 0 (10%, 15%, 33%; 5mg, 15mg, 30mg, respectively) versus placebo (4% and 0%, respectively) at 12 weeks. 

There were no statistically significant differences in PASI or PGA response rates seen in the TAK-279 2mg arm (18%, 2%, 10%, 2%; PASI 75, PASI 100, PGA 0/1, PGA 0, respectively) compared to placebo, the study showed.

The frequency of adverse events was 53-62 percent in the treatment arms and 44 percent in the placebo arm. Most events were mild to moderate in severity. Changes in laboratory parameters were consistent with known effects of allosteric TYK2 inhibition, the researchers reported.