WAYNE, PA — Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS) is making strategic moves, announcing several updates this week including promising trial results, a shift in drug development focus, and a significant workforce reduction.
The company recently published the results of a Phase 2a trial for its investigational drug ATI-1777 in the peer-reviewed journal JID Innovations. ATI-1777, a topical “soft” JAK 1/3 inhibitor, is being developed as a potential treatment for mild to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). The trial demonstrated meaningful improvement in the modified Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) over four weeks of treatment.
Encouraged by these findings, Aclaris has progressed ATI-1777 into a Phase 2b trial, designed to further explore the concentration range of the drug and evaluate its efficacy in patients with mild to severe AD. The company expects to report top-line results from this trial in January 2024.
“We are excited by the recent publication of our ATI-1777 Phase 2a trial,” stated Douglas Manion, M.D., Aclaris’ Chief Executive Officer. “If the results of the Phase 2b trial are positive, we intend to seek a commercialization partner for the asset.”
In a shift of strategic focus, Aclaris also announced plans to explore the use of zunsemetinib (ATI-450), its lead oral small molecule MK2 inhibitor, as a potential treatment for pancreatic and metastatic breast cancer, as well as in preventing bone loss in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Aclaris is also reassessing the development pathway for ATI-2138, its investigational oral covalent ITK/JAK3 inhibitor, due to the evolving competitive landscape within ulcerative colitis. Further guidance is anticipated in early 2024.
In addition, Aclaris plans to accelerate the advancement of several programs emerging from its proprietary KINect drug discovery platform, with the goal of generating investigational new drug applications in the near term.
However, these developments come with a caveat: Aclaris will reduce its workforce by approximately 46% to preserve capital. The reduction will begin immediately and is expected to be substantially complete by June 30, 2024.
“With the discontinuation of development of ATI-450 for immuno-inflammatory disease indications, we are taking steps to reduce our spending and streamline our organization which we expect to meaningfully preserve capital,” Manion added.
These moves illustrate Aclaris’ strategic realignment toward prospective treatments with promising trial results and away from more crowded markets. For investors, this suggests a keen focus on value creation and capital preservation, key considerations in an industry defined by high-risk, high-reward propositions.
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