On January 20, 2026, Corvus Pharmaceuticals saw its stock price nearly triple following the release of Phase 1 clinical trial data for soquelitinib. The experimental oral pill for atopic dermatitis (eczema) demonstrated efficacy that could potentially rival or exceed current market-leading treatments.
Clinical Efficacy and Benchmarking The small-scale 12-week trial yielded impressive results for patients with moderate-to-severe eczema:
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EASI 75 Achievement: 75% of participants receiving soquelitinib reached a 75% reduction in skin lesions.
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EASI 90 Achievement: 25% of patients achieved near-complete skin clearance.
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Safety Profile: The drug was well-tolerated, showing a favorable safety profile compared to existing oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which are often limited by safety warnings.
Novel Mechanism: ITK Inhibition Soquelitinib functions as an ITK (Interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase) inhibitor, blocking the signaling pathways that trigger inflammatory immune responses.
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As an oral alternative, it offers greater convenience than injectable biologics like Dupixent.
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By selectively targeting ITK, the drug aims to rebalance the immune system while avoiding the broader systemic risks associated with other oral therapies.
Market Impact and Future Outlook The positive readout significantly boosted investor confidence, also lifting shares of peers like Aclaris Therapeutics, which is developing similar technology. Corvus plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial by late March 2026, enrolling approximately 200 patients to further explore dose levels and the long-term durability of the treatment’s effects.