Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc (ENTA)

[DewDiligence]

ENTA’s new non-virology program is in immunology:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/enanta-pharmaceuticals-updates-research-development-120000343.html

Today, Enanta announced its expansion into immunology with its first program in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), a severely debilitating, chronic inflammatory skin disease. CSU is estimated to affect 0.5% to 1% of the global population, and there is a substantial unmet need for an efficacious oral agent. Currently, approximately half of patients are not controlled with antihistamines, and a minority of those patients are treated with one indicated biologic.

Enanta’s approach is to treat CSU by depleting mast cells through KIT inhibition, addressing a primary driver of the disease. The company has developed novel, potent and selective oral inhibitors of KIT, which are now being optimized in preclinical development. Enanta’s prototype inhibitors potently inhibit activity in both binding and cellular function assays and are highly selective for KIT versus other kinases. These inhibitors also demonstrate strong in vitro and in vivo ADME* properties.

More details on ENTA's JPM webcast next week.

*Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.