Aclaris Therapeutics Announces Positive Results from Phase 1 Multiple Ascending Dose Trial of ATI-2138, an Investigational Oral Covalent ITK/JAK3 Inhibitor

– Preliminary Data Support Progression to Phase 2a Proof of Concept Trials in T cell-mediated Autoimmune Diseases –

WAYNE, Pa., Sept. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drug candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases, today announced positive results from ATI-2138-PKPD-102, a Phase 1 Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) trial of the investigational compound ATI-2138.

Preliminary data from the MAD trial demonstrated:

• that ATI-2138 was generally well tolerated at all doses tested in the trial;
• that ATI-2138 had dose proportional pharmacokinetics (PK); and
• a dose-dependent inhibition of both ITK and JAK3 exploratory pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers, with near maximal inhibition achieved at the 30 mg total daily dose.
  

Based on these results, Aclaris will progress this program into a Phase 2a proof of concept study in patients with ulcerative colitis, its previously announced intended first clinical development target, and anticipates initiation of the trial in early 2024. Aclaris is also exploring the potential of conducting a second proof of concept trial in an additional T cell-mediated autoimmune disease.

ATI-2138-PKPD-102 was a two-week Phase 1 MAD trial to investigate the safety, tolerability, PK and PD of ATI-2138 in healthy volunteers. The study enrolled 60 healthy subjects across 6 dosing cohorts ranging from 10 to 80 mg of total daily doses, with 8 active/2 placebo controlled per arm. No serious adverse events were reported. The most common adverse events in subjects treated with ATI-2138, and the only events occurring in more than 1 subject, were headache (assessed as mild, 2 subjects on 5 mg BID, 1 on 40 mg BID) and diarrhea (assessed as mild, 2 subjects on 5 mg BID).

“The advancement of ATI-2138 to proof-of-concept stage of development marks yet another example of the strength of our world class discovery group and the KINect platform,” stated Doug Manion, M.D., Aclaris’ Chief Executive Officer. “It is a rarity for a biotech company of our size to be armed with a productive discovery engine and expertise that rivals larger pharmaceutical companies.”

Continued Manion, “With so much unmet medical need remaining in immuno-inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis, it is gratifying for all of us at Aclaris to progress the development of ATI-2138 for patients who remain underserved by the existing treatment options for the disease. Additionally, we look forward to the data from our two most advanced programs – zunsemetinib (ATI-450) in rheumatoid arthritis and ATI-1777 in atopic dermatitis – expected later this year.”