1. Scrip
  2. >>New Products

Pfizer Gets First Approval Of Arena’s Etrasimod, In Ulcerative Colitis

 
• By Joseph Haas

Branded as Velsipity, the S1P modulator will compete directly against classmate Zeposia in UC and faces a crowded field of anti-TNFs and other types of therapy. Pfizer paid $6.7bn for Arena in 2021.

Pfizer new logo
Approval of Velsipity potentially gives Pfizer a successor to Xeljanz in IBD

With the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval on 13 October of Velsipity (etrasimod) for moderate to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC), Pfizer Inc. has an approved oral therapy to position in the inflammatory bowel disease arena as its JAK inhibitor, Xeljanz (tofacitinib), faces patent expiration in 2025, and the big pharma gets some validation of the $6.7bn price it paid for Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2021.

Key Takeaways

  • Pfizer obtained FDA approval of Velsipity, an S1P modulator, in the busy ulcerative colitis space, where it will compete directly with Bristol’s Zeposia.

Etrasimod, a daily, selective sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, was the centerpiece of the Pfizer’s takeout of Arena and is also...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from New Products

Santen Sees Potential In Myopia Market After Ryjunea Approval

 
• By Kevin Grogan

The low-dose atropine eye drop slowed the progression of pediatric myopia by 30%.

Atai/Beckley Merger Comes At A Transformative Time For Psychedelics

 
• By Kevin Grogan

All eyes are on the upcoming readout of BPL-003 for treatment-resistant depression.

Stock Watch: How GSK’s Nucala Info Drip Helped Share Price

 
• By Andy Smith

The information flow in the months before the approval of GSK’s Nucala in COPD provides an interesting case study, and brings to mind the cautionary tale of Alnylam’s Onpattro.

Sanofi Plays It Safer With Blueprint Buy After Bumpy 2025

 
• By Kevin Grogan

But the French major is still keen on early-stage M&A.

More from Scrip

Executives On The Move: Three New CEOs And CFOs Among This Week’s Changes

Recent moves in the industry include changes at the top at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and MC2 Therapeutics, plus MindMed acquires chief financial officer from Longboard Pharma.

Lyra Eyes US Filing For LYR-210 After Surprise ENLIGHTEN 2 Win

 
• By Sushmita Panda

In a turn of fortunes, Lyra Therapeutics has reported positive Phase III results for LYR-210 in chronic rhinosinusitis, boosting hopes for US approval. The company plans to submit an NDA and pursue further trials, but its cash position is precarious.

Deal Build-Up Amid Early ‘Deep’ Response For IGI’s Trispecific In Myeloma

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

IGI CEO tells Scrip about the “very encouraging” feedback at ASCO to promising early data for the firm's first-in-class investigational trispecific antibody in multiple myeloma. Is a licensing deal in the offing?