Small molecules for psoriasis

An alliance between two German companies - 4SC and SWITCH Biotech - has been set up to focus on the discovery of new compounds for the treatment of psoriasis.

Milder forms of psoriasis can often be controlled using topical steroids, vitamin D analogues and emollients, with more severe forms of the disease requiring intervention with potent immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporine or tacrolimus. More recently, injectable biologic agents like Biogen's Avonex (alefacept) have reached the market for use in the more severe cases of psoriasis, and these are providing dramatic improvements in psoriasis patients.

The alliance between 4SC and SWITCH Biotech​,however, is hoping to simplify the treatment of psoriasis with the identification of novel, small molecule compounds that can be administered orally or topically.

SWITCH Biotech has identified and validated a new target for the treatment of psoriasis and, under the terms of the agreement, 4SC​ will apply its proprietary virtual high-throughput screening technology (4SCan) to test a pool of approximately 3.3 million small organic molecules against it.

The most promising molecules will be selected and SWITCH Biotech will test their level of activity in biological assays, and then 4SC will enhance the drug leads into development candidates by means of medicinal chemistry optimisation. SWITCH Biotech will be responsible for the clinical development of any resulting drug candidates.

The financial terms of the deal provide 4SC with R&D funding for its contribution in the discovery and development of active compounds, milestone payments and royalties should any products reach the market.