Today, a brief rundown of news from AbbVie and Skyhawk Therapeutics, as well as updates from Arcutis Biotherapeutics and Zevra Therapeutics that you may have missed.
AbbVie on Wednesday named Roopal Thakkar as its chief scientific officer and head of research and development. Thakkar, who joined Abbott in 2003 and continued on to AbbVie after its spinout, will succeed Tom Hudson, who’s retiring after eight years at the company, including five as CSO. A physician, Thakkar previously led AbbVie’s regulatory affairs and last year became its chief medical officer for global therapeutics. — Ned Pagliarulo
An experimental RNA-targeting drug from Skyhawk Therapeutics significantly reduced huntingtin protein in a small trial of healthy volunteers, providing evidence for the biotechnology company to start testing the drug in people with Huntington’s disease. Mutant huntingtin protein accumulates in neurons, causing their dysfunction and leading to the brain disorder. Skyhawk’s drug is designed to reduce levels of huntingtin as well as another protein, PMS1, that’s linked to Huntington’s pathology. Results from the next arm of the study are expected in the second quarter next year. — Ned Pagliarulo
Arcutis Biotherapeutics on Tuesday received Food and Drug Administration approval for its atopic dermatitis cream Zoryve in adults and children 6 years and older. Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema, causing bothersome itching. Zoryve is a once-daily, steroid-free cream and the third formulation of Arcutis’ drug ingredient roflumilast to secure FDA approval. The company expects the cream to be available via wholesaler and dermatology pharmacy channels later this month. — Delilah Alvarado
Zevra Therapeutics on Tuesday said the FDA will convene on Aug. 2 with one of its advisory committees to review the company’s approval application for arimoclomol, a drug it’s developing for the rare inherited condition Niemann-Pick disease Type C. Arimoclomol was previously rejected by the FDA, but Zevra resubmitted it late last year. An original decision date of June was later pushed back to Sept. 21. — Delilah Alvarado