HK inno.N said it would develop an ointment with a JAK inhibitor mechanism to treat atopic dermatitis (AD).

At an investor relations meeting on Wednesday, the Kosdaq-listed firm unveiled the status of major pipelines. In particular, the company introduced a new drug candidate IN-A002 in the JAK-1 inhibitor class to treat autoimmune diseases.

“We’re planning a clinical trial of a transdermal agent for AD indication,” HK inno.N said.

In Korea, authorized JAK inhibitors for AD include Eli Lilly’s Olumiant (baricitinib), AbbVie’s Rinvoq (upadacitinib), and Pfizer’s Cibinqo (abrocitinib). They all come in tablets.  

For cell therapy development, HK inno.N also said it recently signed agreements for CDMO and joint research with AbClon, GC Cell, and GI Cell. The company added that it would operate a cell-gene therapy center in Hanam and secure pipelines for CAR-T and CAR-NK cell treatments.

HK inno.N also disclosed business plans for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment K-CAB (tegoprazan), a new potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB).

According to the company, outpatient prescriptions of K-CAB recorded 81.7 billion won ($57.1 million) between January and August this year.

“It is the only P-CAB product in Korea that has an indication for the treatment of non-erosive GERD. So, the prescription scope will continue to expand,” an official at HK inno.N said. “We plan to roll out the low-dose (25mg) product, which obtained the nod as maintenance therapy after GERD treatment, in early 2023.”

The company expected that K-CAB would win approval in Central and Southern America and Southeast Asian countries this year, aiming to release the drug in 100 countries by 2028.

When it starts to receiving royalties following the drug release in China in the fourth quarter, the company will start reporting global performances of K-CAB.

In the U.S., partner company Braintree Laboratories will conduct the next study of tegoprazan, following HK inno.N’s announcement of the phase 1 U.S. study results in April.