Takeda Rises After AI-Developed Psoriasis Pill Trial Success
(Bloomberg) — Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. rose the most in seven months on Friday after the drugmaker proved its oral psoriasis drug zasocitinib was safe and effective in late-stage trials, a milestone in its efforts to treat the incurable skin condition.
The stock rose as much as 4.3 percent in early Tokyo trading, notching its biggest intraday gain since May 13.
More than half of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis saw their condition disappear almost completely, and about 30% saw complete resolution after 16 weeks of treatment, compared with placebo or the current treatment apremilast, the company said Thursday.
Takeda plans to submit data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies starting in fiscal 2026.
Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc. “This represents best-in-class data and leaves a very positive impression,” equity analyst Hidemaru Yamaguchi said in a note to clients. “Expectations for the drug were not very high.”
If approved, zasocitinib would join a small but growing group of oral psoriasis treatments, a market long dominated by ointments and injectable antibody treatments, and stand out as one of the first drugs discovered with the help of artificial intelligence.
The algorithms significantly accelerated the identification of zasocitinib from a large pool of molecules for testing, according to Jeb Keiper, CEO of Nimbus Therapeutics LLC, which discovered the drug.
Takeda acquired zasocitinib, also known as TAK-279, from Boston-based Nimbus in 2023 for $4 billion upfront plus milestone payments of up to $2 billion. The therapy is part of Takeda’s strategy to cushion an expected sales decline when its blockbuster ulcerative colitis drug Entyvio faces generic competition.
At its peak, the drug will generate annual sales of ¥150 billion ($964 million) and value per share of ¥750, Citi’s Yamaguchi said.
The global psoriasis treatment market, worth $27 billion in 2024, is expected to nearly double to $58 billion by 2032, according to research firm Fortune Business Insights. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes a rash marked by itchy, scaly rashes and affects more than 125 million people worldwide.
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