Corvus’s Soquelitinib Shows Potential to Combat Lung Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis

Corvus Pharmaceuticals recently shared promising preclinical data showing that soquelitinib, their leading ITK inhibitor, could prevent lung damage and inflammation related to systemic sclerosis (SSc). This autoimmune condition, marked by severe inflammation, lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension, is often fatal due to complications in the lungs and blood vessels. Corvus’s research utilized a Fra-2 transgenic mouse model, which mirrors many of SSc's symptoms, and showed that soquelitinib effectively reduced lung fibrosis, vascular damage, and pulmonary hypertension.

Soquelitinib demonstrated a decrease in lung inflammation and fibrosis compared to untreated models, also improving right ventricular systolic blood pressure—a key factor in pulmonary hypertension. These benefits were echoed in a separate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model, where the drug again reduced lung scarring and Th2 helper T cell infiltration, suggesting broad anti-inflammatory potential.

Corvus is currently focused on advancing soquelitinib’s clinical trials for peripheral T-cell lymphoma and atopic dermatitis, but they are also considering future research partnerships to explore its applications for immune-mediated fibrotic diseases like SSc. Professor Yannick Allanore will present these findings at the upcoming American College of Rheumatology conference, underscoring soquelitinib’s potential as a significant treatment option for chronic, immune-mediated diseases.