Aclaris to cut nearly half of workforce amid pipeline revamp

20 Dec 2023
firstwordpharma.com
Phase 2Clinical ResultClinical Trial Failure
In a corporate update issued Tuesday, Aclaris Therapeutics announced plans to reduce its total workforce of 105 employees by 46%, in a bid to lower costs. The layoffs, which will begin immediately, are expected to be substantially complete by June 30.
The downsizing comes on the heels of the company’s decision to axe the development of its oral small-molecule MK2 inhibitorMK2 inhibitor zunsemetinib (ATI-450) in rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa earlier this year, after it failing mid-stage studies. "We are taking steps to reduce our spending and streamline our organisation which we expect to meaningfully preserve capital," remarked CEO Douglas Manion.
Pipeline overhaul
Aclaris, however, announced intentions to repurpose zunsemetinib for potential use in treating pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer, owing to its more advanced clinical development package compared with their second MK2 inhibitorMK2 inhibitor ATI-2231. The company is also reassessing the strategy for its oral covalent ITK/JAK3 inhibitor ATI-2138, considering the evolving competitive landscape in ulcerative colitis, while it plans to expedite several discovery programmes from its KINect drug discovery platform.
Aclaris also showcased results of the Phase IIa trial of ATI-1777, a topical JAK 1/3 inhibitor in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. In the study, a 2% formulation applied twice daily demonstrated significant improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index over 4 weeks with minimal systemic exposure. Meanwhile, a Phase IIb trial is further exploring the twice-daily regimen across a range of concentrations - 0.5%, 1%, and 2% - as well as a 2% formulation applied once daily, with top-line results expected in January. Manion stated that Aclaris would seek a commercialisation partner for the asset if the trial yields postive outcomes.
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