The global prevalence of psoriasis ranges between 0.09% to 11.14 %. Psoriasis affects >120 million worldwide, with no cure till date.
The global psoriasis treatment market reached $20.19 billion in 2019 and is estimated to hit $40.58 billion by 2027.
Can we hope to find a cure for Psoriasis in the near future?
Several noticeable pharmaceutical companies are in the race to develop advanced treatment modalities for Psoriasis.
Mylan, Pfizer, Arcutis Biotherapeutic, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Can-Fite Biopharma, Santalis Pharmaceuticals, Sienna Pharmaceuticals, MetrioPharm etc. are some companies with more than 20 drugs in the registration or preregistration phase, around 90 molecules in different clinical trial phases and around 15 drugs in their pre-clinical phase.
Psoriasis pipeline drugs: What are they? How do they work?
Majority of these psoriasis pipeline drugs are biologics and oral drug candidates. The mechanisms of actions involved in these drugs are Immunosuppressing action, inhibition of interleukin-12, interleukin-23, TNF-alpha, IL-17F proteins and Aryl Hydrocarbon receptor antagonists.
Due to the highly challenging nature of this disease, research has been expanding rapidly and there has been a significant rise in in the understanding and application of peptides as therapeutics for skin conditions.
Can ISSAR be a game changer in this race?
ISSAR’S IS-217 (Anti-Psoriatic molecule) is a novel, non-biological, non-steroidal, synthetic, decapeptide anti-psoriatic molecule with a dual mechanism of action: Anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory. IS-217 targets the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and IL 17/23. It binds to the VEGF, thereby blocking the binding of VEGF to its receptor (VEGFR2), exhibiting anti-angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory action.
The molecule is currently developed for both systemic and topical administration with promising preclinical efficacy in Psoriasis models. ISSAR has completed majority of the IND-enabling studies and targeted IND applications for IS-217 in 2020.
ISSAR is hoping to change the lives of many with their first in class drug for psoriasis with proven scientific expertise and robust data on synthesis and formulation to support the manufacturing and scaling process.