Aqilion, a Swedish biopharma company developing therapies for diseases driven by chronic inflammation and dysregulated immune responses, has reported positive results from a pharmacokinetic study evaluating its investigational treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
EoE is an allergic inflammatory disease of the oesophagus characterised by swallowing difficulties, the development of scar tissue and oesophageal strictures. To date, only two types of therapy have been approved for EoE: corticosteroids and biologic treatments targeting the interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 pathways.
Aqilion’s oral candidate, AQ280, is a JAK1 inhibitor offering a potential new therapeutic approach for EoE with a distinct mechanism of action. By inhibiting JAK1, a kinase enzyme involved in inflammatory signalling, AQ280 aims to suppress inflammatory processes, reducing symptoms and disease progression.
The ARIA-2 study assessed the pharmacokinetic profile of a novel, water-dissolvable tablet formulation of AQ280 designed to improve ease of administration for patients. The study compared the tablet’s pharmacokinetics with the capsule formulation previously evaluated in the phase 1 ARIA-1 study.
Following the positive results from ARIA-1 and ARIA-2, Aqilion is preparing to initiate phase 2a and 2b clinical trials in patients with EoE across Europe, Canada and the United States. AQ280 received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval earlier this year.
Sarah Fredriksson, CEO of Aqilion, said: “[With] the results from this pharmacokinetic bridging study, it is an important milestone to have the formulation ready with EoE patients in focus. Finalising ARIA-2 now means that we can fully focus on the phase 2 study.”