Scinai Immunotherapeutics Announces Positive Regulatory Feedback from the PEI on the path for Phase 1/2a in Plaque Psoriasis with its anti-IL-17 nanoAb

Core Viewpoint - Scinai Immunotherapeutics received positive regulatory feedback from the Paul Erlich Institute (PEI) regarding its anti-IL-17A/F nanoAb (SCN-1) drug development program for treating mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, which is expected to lead to significant time and cost savings in the clinical trial process [10][11][21]. Drug Development Program - The company plans to initiate a preclinical toxicology study in preparation for a first-in-human clinical trial of SCN-1, anticipated to start in late 2025 [3][14]. - The PEI accepted the company's proposal to conduct toxicology studies in pigs instead of Non-Human Primates, which will save time and costs [19]. Clinical Trial Design - The Phase 1/2a clinical trial will evaluate both safety and efficacy, comparing SCN-1 to a placebo in patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, skipping the need for testing in healthy volunteers [12][17]. - The trial is expected to include approximately 24 patients and commence in the second half of 2025, with results anticipated in 2026 [17][19]. Market Need and Product Advantages - There are about 13 million patients diagnosed with plaque psoriasis in major markets, with 50% suffering from mild disease and 28% from moderate disease [13]. - Current treatments for mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, such as corticosteroids and phototherapy, require frequent applications and have low patient adherence due to local side effects [13]. - Scinai's nanoAb is designed for localized, intradermal delivery, offering a less demanding treatment regimen with reduced risks of local and systemic side effects compared to existing therapies [4][11]. Regulatory Feedback - The PEI's guidance is considered acceptable for the Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier (IMPD) filing with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), akin to a pre-IND meeting with the FDA [10]. - The PEI acknowledged the well-developed manufacturing process and acceptable specifications presented by the company [19].