Here’s more on PFE’s JAK-3 inhibitor for autoimmune diseases. One remarkable thing about this drug is that is was discovered by… PFE! That’s right—it was not in-licensed—imagine that! The market for drugs to treat RA and related autoimmune conditions is colossal, so there may be ample room for the existing biologic blockbusters to grow even as new small molecules such as PFE’s drug enter the fray.
We talk a lot about the HCV market, and rightfully so, but I think the oral RA/autoimmune market warrants a lot of attention itself given the size and opportunity. PFE is furthest along with its JAK-3 inhibitor followed closely by INCY with its JAK-2 inhibitor and RIGL with its Syk inhibitor. RIGL will have Phase 2b results out next month. Also, ARRY is in Phase 2 trials with its MEK inhibitor for RA, with results due this summer. Much further down the road is PCYC with its Btk inhibitor, which has yet to enter clinical trials for autoimmune indications. I'm sure there are others that I just can't think of right now.
I believe that most of these compounds were developed internally with the exception of PCYC's Btk inhibitor, which was in-licensed from CRA in 2006. In fact, PCYC pretty much owes most of its current pipeline to the in-licensing deal with CRA.
I also think that, based on results to date, we will want to pay much more attention to the safety of these compounds as opposed to efficacy, as the compounds from PFE and RIGL have shown clear efficacy to-date in trials. However, each have their own lingering safety question marks.
If the results are positive from RIGL next month, I think it makes a lot of sense for PFE to partner with them, because they would be a clear front runner in this space as they'd have control of the two most advanced compounds. Also, PFE is already partnered with RIGL for an early stage inhaled Syk inhibitor targeting asthma. So, I wouldn't be surprised if it's PFE that ends up being RIGL's partner for R788, its oral RA drug, if trial results merit a partnership.
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