Innovaderm Research

Indero chose to expand into rheumatology because many inflammatory and autoimmune conditions that affect the skin also impact the musculoskeletal system.\n Montreal-based CRO Innovaderm Research has rebranded immediately to Indero, the latest change in an effort to become dually focused on both rheumatology and dermatology.As Innovaderm, Indero has 25 years of experience in clinical dermatology research, the company said in a March 7 release. The firm chose to expand into rheumatology because many inflammatory and autoimmune conditions that affect the skin also impact the musculoskeletal system, according to the release.“Our dual-focus, interdisciplinary approach allows us to support clinical studies for a wide range of rheumatology and dermatology conditions,” Indero CEO Jeff Smith said in the release. “The immune-mediated nature of both disease areas means that we are perfectly positioned to support clinical research across these specialties.” Smith took over the chief executive role from founder Robert Bissonnette, M.D., last month as part of Indero’s plan to specialize in both dermatology and rheumatology. Smith started his career at German pharma Bayer and then spent 12 years at gastrointestinal-focused CRO Alimentiv, including six and a half years as its CEO.Smith’s appointment followed the hiring of Ina Zschocke, Ph.D., as executive vice president of European operations and strategy in November 2024. Zschocke previously founded a dermatology CRO of her own called SCIderm.Indero operates in North America, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, according to its website.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Protagonist Therapeutics have announced new data from a late-stage programme of their investigational targeted oral peptide in plaque psoriasis. Results from the phase 3 ICONIC-LEAD study presented at this year’s American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) annual meeting showed that the candidate, icotrokinra (JNJ-2113), was associated with significant skin clearance in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe cases of the immune-mediated skin disease. More than 125 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with plaque psoriasis, which causes inflamed, scaly plaques. These can occur anywhere on the body and may be itchy or painful. Icotrokinra is designed to selectively block the IL-23 receptor, which plays a vital role in the pathogenic T-cell activation of the condition and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. In ICONIC-LEAD, 65% of patients receiving once daily icotrokinra achieved an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of zero or one (clear or almost clear skin) and 50% achieved at least a 90% improvement on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90), compared to 8% and 4% of those randomised to receive placebo, respectively, at week 16. Continued skin clearance improvement was also reported at week 24, with 74% of icotrokinra-treated patients achieving an IGA score of zero or one and 65% reaching PASI 90. Additionally, 46% of patients receiving icotrokinra achieved IGA zero and 40% reached PASI 100 at week 24. ICONIC-LEAD study investigator, Robert Bissonnette, Innovaderm Research, said: “These study results are promising, and show the potential for treatment with icotrokinra to offer patients the unique combination of complete skin clearance and a favourable safety profile in a once daily pill.” The companies also shared promising results from the phase 3 ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 and 2 studies, which are evaluating icotrokinra against both placebo and deucravacitinib in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque plaque psoriasis, and announced the initiation “the first-ever head-to-head study in plaque psoriasis seeking to demonstrate the superiority of an oral pill… compared to an injectable biologic”. Icotrokinra was jointly discovered and is being developed under a licence and collaboration agreement between Protagonist and J&J. J&J has exclusive worldwide rights to develop the candidate in mid-stage clinical trials and beyond, and to commercialise compounds derived from the research conducted in accordance with the agreement against a broad range of indications.

LEO Pharma’s investigational JAK-inhibitor cream has demonstrated improvements in chronic hand eczema (CHE), according to late-stage results recently published in The Lancet . Hand eczema (HE) is the most common skin disorder of the hands and CHE, which affects a substantial number of patients, is defined as HE that lasts for more than three months or relapses at least twice within a year. Alongside physical symptoms such as fluctuating itch and pain, CHE has been shown to cause psychological and functional burdens that impact quality of life, with approximately 70% of patients who live with severe cases of the condition reporting problems performing everyday activities. The phase 3 DELTA 1 and DELTA 2 trials have been comparing the safety and efficacy of delgocitinib cream to vehicle cream in adults with moderate-to-severe cases of the condition who had inadequate response to, or were not advised, topical corticosteroids. The primary endpoint, Investigator’s Global Assessment for chronic hand eczema treatment success at week 16, was met in both studies. All secondary endpoints were also achieved, including a reduction in itch and pain scores of at least four points, as measured by the Hand Eczema Symptom Diary from baseline to week 16, as well as 75% and 90% improvements from baseline on the Hand Eczema Severity Index in the same treatment period. Lead author Dr Robert Bissonnette, Innovaderm Research, said: “Historically, CHE has been under researched, so the publication of the DELTA 1 and 2 trials in The Lancet is a positive step towards highlighting the condition and, in turn, indicates the increased quality and rate of research in the space. “Publication of milestones like this have a valuable role in our efforts to improve the day-to-day reality of those living with CHE.” The announcement comes just over two weeks after LEO Pharma UK and Ireland announced the results of a survey on the burdens of CHE. The research, which was designed with input from Allergy UK and a multi-disciplinary taskforce, showed that 50% of the 152 patients surveyed said they have experienced anxiety or anger due to their CHE, while 70% reported that their condition impacts their existing relationships or their ability to build new ones.