Takeda's $4 Billion Autoimmune Pill Shows Promising Results in Mid-Stage Study.

Takeda Pharmaceutical has revealed the first data from its $4bn autoimmune disease pill, which it acquired from Nimbus Therapeutics last month. The drug blocks a key lever in the immune system that Takeda believes has the potential to treat numerous autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In an intermediate-stage clinical study of 259 people with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, the highest dose of the daily pill completely cleared itchy and painful patches of skin in one-third of the patients after 12 weeks. Takeda will start an advanced study of the drug in psoriasis later this year, and is planning intermediate stage studies for lupus, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.