- Scinai announced positive results suggesting the therapeutic potential of its anti-IL-17 VHH antibodies (NanoAbs) in treating plaque psoriasis
- The preclinical study showed that the introduction of the NanoAbs downregulated the standard molecular markers S100A7, CXCL1, and CCL20, that are often overexpressed in plaque psoriasis
- The study also revealed that the outer skin layers regained their normal appearance
- The company aims to provide safe, efficacious, specific, and more convenient treatment for the large and underserved population of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis patients
- Scinai is conducting an ex-vivo study to evaluate the anti-IL-17 NanoAbs in a full human skin model induced for psoriasis and intends to begin in-vivo animal studies early next year
Scinai Immunotherapeutics (NASDAQ: SCNI), a biopharmaceutical and biotechnology company focused on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative inflammation and immunology (I&I) biological therapeutics, recently announced encouraging results from a preclinical study that suggest the therapeutic potential of the anti-interleukin 17 (“IL-17”) nanosized antibodies (“NanoAbs”) to relieve symptoms of plaque psoriasis (https://ibn.fm/mFsNO).
Plaque psoriasis is the most common psoriasis phenotype, affecting 80-90% of psoriatic patients (https://ibn.fm/oxKF7). It is caused by the excessive proliferation of keratinocytes (skin cells that, by secreting keratin, strengthen the skin, shield against UV penetration, and protect against microbial invasion), “the complex interaction of activated innate and adaptive immune cells (notably dendritic cells and T cells) that infiltrate the skin, and chronic inflammation” (https://ibn.fm/9zmdp). Several cytokines are at the center of the activation and subsequent infiltration of the immune cells; among these, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-23 are currently considered the most important therapeutic targets.
So far, companies like Novartis (NYSE: NVS) and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) have launched biological treatments, primarily monoclonal antibodies (“mAbs”), that target IL-17A, a member of the IL-17 family. On its part, Novartis developed and is commercializing Cosentyx(R), which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in 2015 (https://ibn.fm/cC55Q). As well, the FDA approved Eli Lilly’s Taltz(R) in 2016 (https://ibn.fm/W7cXR). More recently, UCB received European Commission approvals to market BIMZELX(R) for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis (https://ibn.fm/5hRJs).
“All the above-mentioned antibodies, indicated only for moderate to severe psoriasis patients, are administered by subcutaneous injection for systemic drug distribution and carry risk of considerable side effects. These drugs are also expensive as they require chronic, life-long, bi-weekly injections, each at a cost of several thousand dollars,” explained Scinai in a news release. “Mild psoriasis, which accounts for 50% of plaque psoriatic patients, unfortunately has no safe and affordable biological drug available.”
Having recently signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the development and commercialization of a novel anti-IL-17 antibody for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, starting with psoriasis (https://ibn.fm/0Fh04), Scinai is on a quest to provide safe, effective, and affordable treatment for patients with mild to moderate psoriasis. The company’s preclinical study, ergo, brings it closer to actualizing its vision.
As part of the study, researchers constructed a 3D biological skin model out of a scaffold mounted with various skin cells to generate layers that mimic the structure of human skin and induced it to express plaque psoriasis. They then introduced the anti-IL-17 NanoAbs into the model either subcutaneously or topically to test them as a potential treatment for the condition.
The preclinical study showed that the introduction of the NanoAbs downregulated the standard molecular markers, S100A7, CXCL1, and CCL20, that are often overexpressed in plaque psoriasis. Moreover, the study revealed that the stratum corneum (the outer skin layers) regained its normal appearance. These results, the company said, suggest the potential for a highly efficacious, specific, yet safer and more convenient treatment for the large and underserved population of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis patients.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, 125 million people worldwide have psoriasis, with more than 8 million of them living in the U.S. (https://ibn.fm/OJI4J). Among these patients, 51.8%, 35.8%, and 12.4% have mild, moderate, and severe disease, respectively, according to a study that sampled patients aged 25 to 64 years (https://ibn.fm/YEIbg). This means that more than 80% of patients with psoriasis present with mild to moderate severity (https://ibn.fm/jTMsU), with the majority having mild illness, yet the treatments are geared toward the minority.
Scinai aims to tap into this huge underserved market, providing efficacious psoriasis treatment that is designed to be conveniently administered locally to the dermis and engineered in a way that is expected to prevent systemic side effects. The company is conducting an ex-vivo study to evaluate the anti-IL-17 NanoAbs in a full human skin model induced for psoriasis. This new study seeks to evaluate the effective dose and schedule of treatment to guide in-vivo animal studies planned for early 2024.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Scinai.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SCNI are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SCNI
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