PF-07259955, a topical “soft” JAK inhibitor, had the shortest stay in the clinic. Pfizer began a phase 1 trial of the asset and another drug with the same mechanism of action, PF-07295324, in healthy volunteers in February. Having wrapped up the study in August, Pfizer has decided it can do without PF-07259955. The other soft JAK inhibitor, which is designed for minimal systemic exposure, remains in development.
Companies including Pfizer and Novartis have identified soft, topically administered JAK inhibitorsJAK inhibitors as a way to achieve strong therapeutic effects in the skin without causing the systemic effects associated with oral administration. Novartis dropped its asset, CEE321, earlier this year after seeing phase 1 data, but ongoing development of PF-07295324 means Pfizer remains in the race to challenge Incyte’s Opzelura.
Pfizer has also given the heave-ho to PF-07202954 in NASH with liver fibrosis. The drugmaker tested single and repeat doses of the DGAT2 inhibitorDGAT2 inhibitor in 12 healthy volunteers last year, enrolling far fewer than the 88 subjects that it initially targeted.
Finally, Pfizer formally discontinued the cardiovascular disease candidate PF-07265803. News that work on the program would end emerged in August when Pfizer revealed a phase 3 trial had failed an interim futility analysis.