Corvus stock soars as oral eczema drug hits 75% response rate

Corvus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CRVS) shares skyrocketed more than 60% in early trading Tuesday after the company reported that its experimental oral therapy significantly cleared skin in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

The South San Francisco-based biotech announced positive results from Cohort 4 of its Phase 1 trial for soquelitinib, a first-in-class ITK inhibitor.

After eight weeks of treatment, 75% of patients receiving the 200 mg twice-daily dose achieved EASI 75 (a 75% improvement in eczema severity), compared to just 20% of the placebo group.

The data showed a "deepening of response" over time; while earlier cohorts were treated for only four weeks, the extended eight-week duration in Cohort 4 led to a statistically significant mean EASI reduction of 72% (p=0.035).

Notably, the trial included patients who were resistant to current blockbuster treatments like Dupixent (dupilumab) and JAK inhibitors.

Soquelitinib alo maintained a clean safety profile with no serious adverse events, contrasting with the "black box" warnings often associated with oral JAK inhibitors.