Torii Pharma’s Corectim Ointment Features in Japan’s NHI Drug Price List

The Japanese drug manufacturer’s plans to launch the world’s first non-steroidal JAK inhibitor against atopic dermatitis in the country gets a huge boost with this development.

On April 22, Japan-based Torii Pharma announced that the price of its Corectim ointment 0.5%, generically known as delgocitinib made its way to the Japanese National Health Insurance (NHI) drug price list. The drug was designed to suppress the overactivation of immune responses and is the first non-steroidal Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for external use.

Torii pharma is a subsidiary of Japan’s biggest tobacco group, JT company. Torii bears a rich history of drug merchandise and manufacturing that could be traced back to 1872. After its merger with JT company in 1999, it worked further on developing drugs against skin, renal, and allergic diseases. It has especially contributed to the allergen immunotherapy space and has launched several drugs recently. Cedartolen was the first approved sublingual (applied under the tongue) immunotherapy medication in Japan for Japanese Cedar Pollinosis.

Earlier in January, it had received manufacturing and marketing approval for launching Corectim ointment as a treatment for atopic dermatitis in Japan on the 24th of June. By inhibiting JAK function, the drug suppresses the immune response regulated by the kinase, thereby treating overactivation. In studies with patients over 16 years of age, the drug was found to exhibit percentage change of the mEASI score (extent area and severity of atopic dermatitis) from baseline, the primary endpoint of efficacy. A Phase 3 trial that tests the ointment in patients within the age of 2-16 is currently ongoing.

Due to its nature as a pan-JAK inhibitor, besides atopic dermatitis, the drug is also evaluated for treating autoimmune disorders such as discoid lupus erythematosus, eczema, hypersensitivity, and inverse psoriasis in studies conducted worldwide. For instance, it is currently undergoing Phase 2 trial for discoid lupus erythematosus in Germany, with the collaboration of LEO pharma.

Related Article: Regeneron & Sanofi’s Phase 3 Dupixent Data on Children Under Regulatory Review

References

1. https://www.torii.co.jp/en/release/2020/20200422_E1.pdf
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40265-020-01291-2
3. https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800035951

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