LG Chem said on the 23rd that its gout drug candidate tigulixostat has entered phase 3 trials in China. Gout, named for pain so severe that even a breeze hurts, is an inflammatory disease caused when uric acid in the blood fails to be properly excreted and accumulates excessively. Sudden attacks of pain are characteristic.
Tigulixostat is a therapy that inhibits the production of uric acid. Earlier, LG Chem transferred the technology in 2022 to the Chinese corporations Innovent Biologics. Innovent Biologics holds exclusive rights for development and commercialization in China.
Innovent Biologics has begun dosing after recruiting 600 patients for the phase 3 trial. It will be evaluated against febuxostat, an existing therapy. The company plans to analyze long-term safety over one year. In phase 2 results previously conducted by Innovent Biologics, tigulixostat showed greater uric acid–lowering effects than febuxostat at all doses. Safety was also favorable.
According to the company, more than 25 million people in China have gout. The prevalence rate is 3.2%. A LG Chem official said, "We have begun in earnest the final stage for commercialization."