Corvus Publishes Data On Soquelitinib’s Tumor Immunity Potential

Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has published preclinical data on its lead ITK inhibitor program, soquelitinib. The study, featured in npj (Nature Portfolio of Journals) Drug Discovery, highlights soquelitinib's potential to enhance tumour immunity through a unique mechanism of action.

The publication, titled “Synthesis and characterisation of soquelitinib: a selective ITK inhibitor that modulates tumour immunity,” details how the drug suppresses Th2 and Th17 cytokine production while preserving Th1 cytokines. This selective modulation offers a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy, either as a standalone treatment or combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The findings also demonstrate soquelitinib's ability to boost the effector function of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and increase the memory of T cells with enhanced capabilities.

Richard A. Miller, M.D., co-founder, president, and chief executive officer of Corvus, said in a statement, “We continue to build awareness of the unique potential of soquelitinib and ITK inhibition as a novel therapy that modulates parallel signalling pathways in the immune system for the treatment of oncology and immune diseases. This publication in npj Drug Discovery highlights foundational work characterising key properties and mechanisms of soquelitinib conducted at Corvus and with academic collaborators, and we are excited to now be in clinical development for PTCL and atopic dermatitis, along with a broad range of additional opportunities for soquelitinib and our next-generation ITK inhibitors.”

The research, conducted in collaboration with scientists from Corvus and leading institutions such as the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Peking University, Stanford University, and Angel Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., is available on the Nature website and Corvus's Publications page.

Corvus is advancing soquelitinib and next-generation ITK inhibitors for oncology and immune disorders. Currently, the company is enrolling patients in a Phase 3 trial for relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) and a Phase 1 trial for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Plans are also underway to initiate a Phase 1 trial for solid tumours.