MoonLake's psoriatic arthritis drug meets key goals in late-stage trial

MoonLake Immunotherapeutics said on Monday its experimental drug met all main goals in a late-stage trial involving adults with an inflammatory disease who had not previously received biologic medicines.

In the study, 42.1% of patients with psoriatic arthritis receiving a 60 mg dose of sonelokimab — after an initial induction dose — achieved a significant improvement in symptoms by week 16, the company said.

• Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that can affect people who have psoriasis, a skin condition that causes itchy, scaly patches on the skin.
• The trial showed that 66.5% of patients achieved at least 20% improvement in psoriatic arthritis symptoms, while 41.2% reached minimal disease activity.
• Among patients with skin-related symptoms, 61% saw a major improvement in psoriasis, according to the company.
• Patients also reported improvements in physical function and quality of life, while a blinded review of safety data found no new safety concerns, MoonLake said.
• The current late-stage study will continue through 52 weeks, with full results expected in the first half of 2027.
• Sonelokimab, MoonLake's lead drug candidate, is also being evaluated for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic skin disease characterized by painful, boil-like lumps that form beneath the skin.
• MoonLake ended its second quarter with $537 million in cash and short-term investments, which it said should fund operations through mid-2028. It also has access to up to $400 million under a debt facility with Hercules Capital.