Recently, the multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial of oral LW402 tablets for the evaluation of efficacy and safety in patients with non-segmental vitiligo has successfully enrolled its first patient. Sponsored by LWBP, this trial is led by Professor Leihong Xiang from Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University.
Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune skin disease. Its core mechanism involves IFN-γ activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which in turn mediates the attack of autoreactive CD8+ T cells on melanocytes, leading to well-defined white patches on the skin or hair. Current treatments mainly include topical corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy, but these have limitations such as slow onset, incomplete repigmentation, and high relapse rates after discontinuation.
JAK inhibitors block the JAK-STAT pathway, inhibit the activation of autoreactive T cells and the survival of tissue-resident memory T cells, and have been shown in multiple studies to achieve clinical repigmentation.
As a new-generation, highly selective oral JAK1 inhibitor, LW402 is expected to provide an effective and safe oral systemic treatment option for vitiligo patients.
About LW402
LW402 is a next-generation highly selective JAK1 inhibitor independently developed by LWBP, intended for the treatment of multiple autoimmune diseases including atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, vitiligo and etc. Existing clinical data demonstrate that LW402 has a rapid onset of action, with significant improvements in patient inflammation-related efficacy endpoints observed as early as one week. There was no statistical difference in the total incidence of adverse events among the placebo and treatment groups, supporting excellent efficacy and safety profiles with long-term use features.
LW402 has been granted invention patents in China and under the PCT, with the related intellectual property rights covering major countries and regions worldwide, including China, North America, the European Union, and Asia-Pacific.
About LWBP
Founded in 2012, Longwood Biopharmaceuticals is an innovative drug R&D company led by world-renowned experts in chemical drug R&D. The company is committed to the independent R&D of internationally leading innovative drugs with global intellectual property rights, focusing on addressing unmet clinical needs. It concentrates on the R&D and industrialization of innovative drugs in fields such as immune antiviral, immune anti-tumor, and autoimmune diseases, and has launched multiple independently developed small-molecule innovative drug projects (FIC), with several products entering the clinical trial stage. The clinical evaluation indicators of its core products have reached internationally leading levels, and they are expected to become major breakthrough achievements in relevant fields.