Insilico has announced that it is starting a phase 3 clinical trial for rentosertib, a drug that could be a first-in-class oral small-molecule inhibitor for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Rentosertib was discovered and designed by Pharma.AI, Insilico’s AI platform for aging biology. The novel target was prioritized by the company’s AI-powered biology engine, Biology42: PandaOmics. The novel small molecule was then generated and optimized by the generative chemistry platform, Chemistry42, which predicts and improves outcomes for clinical trials.
The decision to advance the drug into late-stage development is based on positive results from a phase 2a trial. In the study, 60 mg of rentosertib taken once daily showed an improvement in forced vital capacity of more than 98.4 mL at 12 weeks. The phase 3 trial will evaluate its efficacy and safety in 320 patients over 52 weeks.
Back in March, Eli Lilly entered into an agreement with Insilico to gain an exclusive worldwide license for a portfolio of programs. The potential $2.75 billion deal gives Lilly development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights for what could become best-in-class medications for various indications in numerous therapeutic areas. Lilly is also choosing targets for R&D programs that will use Insilico’s Pharma.AI platform.