Clinical trial results for Innocare Pharma Limited (ASX: 688428) show its investigational drug has successfully achieved its primary objective in a mid-stage study.

The company announced that the Phase II portion of its adaptive Phase II/III clinical study for soficitinib (ICP-332) in treating non-segmental vitiligo (NSV) has met the primary endpoint, delivering positive top-line results.

Soficitinib is a novel, highly selective oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor developed by Innocare. The TYK2 enzyme is a member of the Janus kinase (JAK) family and plays a critical role in signaling pathways downstream of interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23 family cytokine receptors and type I interferon (IFN) receptors.

These signaling pathways are involved in regulating the function of various immune cells, including T helper 17 (Th17) cells, T helper 1 (Th1) cells, B cells, and myeloid cells. They are implicated in the development and progression of several autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and atopic dermatitis.