arqt-20241231
UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
(Mark One)
☒ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024
OR
☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-39186
(805) 418-5006
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading Symbol Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 ARQT The Nasdaq Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of theAct: None
Indicate by a check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No☒
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐No☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the ExchangeAct.
Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 28, 2024, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $984,420,698, based on the closing price of the registrant's common stock as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market.
The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of February 19, 2025 was 118,638,235.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
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Index to Financial Statements
INDEX
PART I Page
Item 1. Business 5
Item 1A. Risk Factors 42
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 94
Item 1C. Cybersecurity 94
Item 2. Properties 96
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 96
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 96
PART II
Item 6. Reserved 98
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 111
Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 112
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 112
Item 9B. Other Information 115
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections 115
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 115
Item 11. Executive Compensation 115
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 115
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 116
Signatures
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Index to Financial Statements
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Business” contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “expect”, and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statementsinclude, but are not limited to, statements about:
•the success, cost, and timing of our plans to develop and commercialize immuno-dermatology drugs, including our current products, ZORYVE® (roflumilast) cream 0.3% (ZORYVE cream 0.3%), ZORYVE® topical foam (ZORYVE foam), ARQ-234, ARQ-252, and ARQ-255 for indications including plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, hand eczema, vitiligo, and alopecia areata;
•our ability to continue as a going concern and to obtain funding for our operations, including funding necessary to complete further development and commercialization of our products and product candidates;
•our ability to satisfy the conditions, covenants, and obligations under our amended loan and security agreement with SLR Investment Corp.;
•the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals;
•future agreements, if any, with third parties in connection with the commercialization of our products and product candidates, if approved for commercial uses;
•the success, cost, and timing of our product candidate development activities and planned clinical trials;
•the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products and product candidates, if approved for commercial uses;
•the potential market size and the size of the patient populations for our products and product candidates, if approved for commercial uses;
•the potential U.S. and Canadian market sales for our products and product candidates, if approved for commercial uses;
•our commercialization, marketing, and manufacturing capabilities and strategy;
•the success of competing therapies that are or may become available;
•our ability to attract and retain key management and technical personnel;
•our expectations regarding our ability to obtain, maintain, and enforce intellectual property protection for our products and product candidates; and
•our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, and needs for additional financing.
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These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those described in “Risk factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Moreover, we operate in a competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations, except as required by law.
You should read this Annual Report on Form 10-K we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect.
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Summary of Risk Factors
Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those described in Part I Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should carefully consider these risks and uncertainties when investing in our common stock. The principal risks and uncertainties affecting our business include the following:
•We are a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with three products approved for commercial sale. We have incurred significant losses since our inception, and could continue to incur losses, which, together with our limited history as a commercial-stage company, makes it difficult to assess our future viability;
•Due to the recent commercialization of products approved for commercial sale, as well as our development strategy and continued development of our pipeline of product candidates, our capital requirements are difficult to predict and may change. We may require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and a failure to obtain this capital if or when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce, or terminate certain operations or efforts;
•Our operating results may fluctuate significantly, which makes our future operating results difficult to predict and could cause our future operating results to fall below expectations;
•Our estimated market opportunities are subject to numerous uncertainties and may prove to be inaccurate. If we have overestimated the size of our market opportunities, our future growth may be limited;
•The terms of our loan and security agreement require us to meet certain operating and financial covenants, and place certain restrictions on our operating and financial flexibility. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, the terms of any new debt could further restrict our ability to operate our business;
•The sales, marketing, and distribution of ZORYVE or any future approved products may be unsuccessful or less successful than anticipated;
•Our business is dependent on the successful commercialization of ZORYVE and the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of our product candidates;
•Even if our product candidates receive marketing approval, they may fail to achieve market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payers, or others in the medical community necessary for commercial success;
•If we are unable to achieve and maintain third-party payer coverage and adequate levels of reimbursement for ZORYVE or any of our product candidates for which we receive regulatory approval, or any future products we may seek to commercialize, their commercial success may be severely hindered;
•Clinical drug development involves a lengthy and expensive process, with an uncertain outcome. We may incur additional costs or experience delays in completing, or ultimately be unable to complete, the development and commercialization of our product candidates;
•We may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates under applicable regulatory requirements. The denial or delay of any such approval would prevent or delay commercialization of our product candidates and adversely impact our potential to generate revenue, our business, and our results of operations;
•Topline or preliminary data from our clinical trials that we announce or publish from time to time may change as more patient data become available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data;
•Certain of the endpoints in our planned clinical trials rely on a subjective assessment of the effect of the product candidate in the subject by either the physician or subject, and may prove difficult to meet in subjects with more severe disease, which exposes us to a variety of risks for the successful completion of our clinical trials;
•Enrollment and retention of subjects in clinical trials is expensive and time-consuming and may result in additional costs and delays in our product development activities, or in the failure of such activities;
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•Serious adverse or unacceptable side effects may be identified during the development of our product candidates, which could prevent or delay regulatory approval and commercialization, increase our costs, or necessitate the abandonment or limitation of the development of some of our product candidates;
•We may need to increase the size of our organization, and we may experience difficulties in executing our growth strategy, managing any growth, and retaining talent;
•If we are not successful in acquiring, developing, and commercializing additional product candidates, our ability to expand our business and achieve our strategic objectives would be impaired;
•We face significant competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies targeting medical dermatological indications, and our operating results will suffer if we fail to compete effectively;
•Any collaboration arrangements that we have entered into or may enter into in the future may not be successful, which could adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize future product candidates;
•If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of ZORYVE or our current or future product candidates;
•We rely on third-party manufacturers to manufacture nonclinical, clinical, and commercial supplies of ZORYVE and our product candidates. The loss of these manufacturers or their sub-suppliers, or their failure to provide us with sufficient quantities at acceptable quality levels or prices, or at all, would materially and adversely affect our business;
•If our third-party manufacturers fail to comply with manufacturing or other regulations, our financial results and financial condition will be adversely affected;
•We rely on third parties to conduct our nonclinical studies and our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates;
•Risks related to our intellectual property could materially adversely impact our business, competitive position, financial condition, and results of operations;
•Risks related to government regulation of our industry and required approvals could materially adversely impact our business, competitive position, financial condition, and results of operations; and
•Future litigation could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
TRADEMARKS
The mark “Arcutis” and the Arcutis logo are our registered trademarks, and all product names are our common law trademarks. All other service marks, trademarks, and trade names appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and tradenames referred to herein appear without the ® and TM symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and tradenames.
MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains estimates, projections and other statistical data and information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for our product candidates. Some data and statistical information contained herein, including market size and opportunity figures for our product candidates, are based on management’s estimates and calculations, which are derived from our review and interpretation of the independent sources, our internal research, and knowledge of the industry and market in which we operate. Some data and statistical information are based on independent reports from third parties, including DR/Decision Resources, LLC, or Decision Resources Group, Global Data, and IQVIA, as well as reports that we commissioned from third parties. Decision Resources Group makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the data, or DR Materials, set forth herein and shall have, and accept, no liability of any kind, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise, to any third-party arising from or related to use of the DR Materials by us. Any use which we or a third-party makes of the DR Materials, or any reliance on it, or decisions to be made based on it, are the
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sole responsibilities of us and such third-party. In no way shall any data appearing in the DR Materials amount to any form of prediction of future events or circumstances and no such reliance may be inferred or implied.
This information, to the extent it contains estimates or projections, involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates or projections. Industry publications and other reports we have obtained from independent parties generally state that the data contained in these publications or other reports have been obtained in good faith or from sources considered to be reliable, but they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such data. The industry in which we operate is subject to risks and uncertainties due to a variety of factors, including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these publications and reports.
Part I
Item 1. BUSINESS
Overview
We are a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for dermatological diseases with high unmet medical needs. Our current portfolio is comprised of highly differentiated topical and systemic treatments with significant potential to treat immune-mediated dermatological diseases and conditions. We believe we have built a leading platform for dermatologic product development and commercialization. Our strategy is to focus on validated biological targets, and to use our drug development platform and deep dermatology expertise to develop and commercialize differentiated products that have the potential to address the major shortcomings of existing therapies in our targeted indications. We believe this strategy uniquely positions us to rapidly advance our goal of bridging the treatment innovation gap in dermatology, while maximizing our probability of technical success and financial resources.
We launched our lead product, ZORYVE® (roflumilast) cream 0.3% (ZORYVE cream 0.3%) in August 2022 after obtaining our initial U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, including psoriasis in the intertriginous areas (e.g. groin or axillae), in individuals 12 years of age or older. ZORYVE cream 0.3% is a once-daily topical formulation of roflumilast, a highly potent and selective phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor. ZORYVE cream 0.3% is approved for once-daily treatment of mild, moderate, and severe plaque psoriasis with no limitations on location or duration of use. In October 2023, we received FDA approval for an expanded indication in plaque psoriasis down to 6 years of age. We are currently working with the FDA to potentially further expand this indication in plaque psoriasis down to 2 years of age following the generation of additional clinical data. In April 2023, we had our first commercial launch outside of the United States following Health Canada approval of ZORYVE cream 0.3% for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in individuals 12 years or age or older.
In December 2023, we received FDA approval for ZORYVE® (roflumilast) topical foam 0.3% (ZORYVE foam) for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in individuals aged 9 years and older, with no limitation on severity, location, or duration of use. ZORYVE foam is a once-daily steroid-free foam and, as a PDE4 inhibitor, is the first drug approved for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis with a new mechanism of action in over two decades. ZORYVE foam became commercially available in the United States in late January 2024, and was approved by Health Canada in October 2024 and became commercially available in Canada in December 2024.
In addition to the approval of ZORYVE cream 0.3% for plaque psoriasis and ZORYVE foam for seborrheic dermatitis, we also received FDA approval for and commercially launched ZORYVE (roflumilast) cream 0.15% (ZORYVE cream 0.15%), (collectively, ZORYVE), in July 2024 for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older, with no limitation on location, body surface area treated, concomitant use, or duration of use specified in the approved labelling. ZORYVE cream 0.15% is a once-daily, steroid-free cream that provides rapid disease clearance and significant reduction in itch and has been specifically developed to be a treatment option for long-term disease control. We have also completed a Phase 3 trial of ZORYVE cream 0.05% in pediatric patients 2 to 5 years of age with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (INTEGUMENT-PED). Based on the positive results from the INTEGUMENT-PED study, and given our recent approval of ZORYVE cream 0.15% for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in individuals 6 years of age or older, we submitted a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for topical ZORYVE cream 0.05% for children 2 to 5 years of age in December 2024. We conducted INTEGUMENT-OLE, an open label extension study of the long-term safety of ZORYVE cream 0.15% in subjects 6 years of age or older and ZORYVE cream 0.05% in
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subjects between the ages 2 and 5 years, for which we reported positive results in September 2023 and August 2024, respectively.
Beyond seborrheic dermatitis, we are also developing ZORYVE foam for scalp and body psoriasis and have successfully completed our Phase 2b and pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials. We announced positive topline data in September 2022, with ZORYVE foam showing rapid disease clearance and significant reduction in itch. In the pivotal Phase 3 ARRECTOR study, at Week 8, 66% of individuals treated with ZORYVE foam achieved the co-primary efficacy endpoint of Scalp IGA Success, defined as a Scalp IGA score of “clear” or “almost clear” plus a 2-point improvement, and 46% of patients achieved the co-primary efficacy endpoint of Body IGA Success, defined as a Body IGA score of "clear" or "almost clear" plus a 2-point improvement. In addition, individuals treated with ZORYVE foam reported reductions in itch from baseline within 24 hours of first application. Based on the ARRECTOR results and a Phase 2b study, we submitted an sNDA to the FDA for a label expansion to include scalp and body psoriasis in adults and adolescents ages 12 and over, which was recently accepted by the FDA with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date in May 2025.
In July 2024, we entered into a co-promotion agreement with Kowa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Kowa) to leverage Kowa's primary care sales force to exclusively market and promote ZORYVE in the United States to primary care practitioners and pediatricians for all FDA-approved indications until at least July 2029. Under the terms of the agreement, Kowa will receive a commission from net sales attributed to Kowa. Promotion of ZORYVE in primary care and pediatrics under the Kowa agreement began in late September 2024.
In addition to ZORYVE, we are developing ARQ-255, a deep-penetrating topical formulation of ivarmacitinib, a potent and highly selective topical Janus kinase type 1 (JAK1) inhibitor, designed to preferentially deliver the drug deep into the hair follicle, the site of inflammation in alopecia areata, in order to potentially develop the first topical treatment for this disease. We completed enrollment in a Phase 1b study evaluating ARQ-255 for the treatment of alopecia areata and expect data in the first half of 2025.
In September 2022, we acquired Ducentis BioTherapeutics LTD (Ducentis) and its lead asset, DS-234 (now ARQ-234), a fusion protein that is a potent and highly selective checkpoint agonist of the CD200 Receptor (CD200R). Currently in the preclinical stage, we plan to develop ARQ-234 in atopic dermatitis, where we believe it could be a potentially highly complementary biologic treatment option to ZORYVE cream in that indication, if approved. ARQ-234 could potentially be used to treat other inflammatory conditions as well. We are working towards submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application during 2025.
Dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and alopecia areata affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide each year, impacting their quality of life, and physical, functional, and emotional well-being. There are many approved treatments for these conditions, but a large opportunity remains due to issues with existing treatments. Topical treatments are used for nearly all patients, but existing topicals are limited by one or more of the following: modest response rates, side effects, patient adherence, application site restrictions, and limits on duration of therapy. Topical corticosteroids (TCS), are commonly used as the first-line therapy for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. While many patients see improvements, long-term TCS treatment carries the risk of a variety of significant side effects. As a result, TCS are typically used intermittently for brief periods, which can lead to disease flares when patients stop TCS therapy. In psoriasis, vitamin D analogs are also used, but have lower response rates than TCS and are frequently irritating. Topical tapinarof was approved in May 2022 for the treatment of adults with plaque psoriasis and in December 2024 for adults and children with atopic dermatitis, but this non-steroidal agent also carries significant application site reactions. In atopic dermatitis, topical calcineurin inhibitors, or TCIs, and crisaborole (Eucrisa®), a topical non-steroidal PDE4 inhibitor, are used, but have lower response rates than TCS and are associated with application site burning. TCIs also have a boxed warning for cancer risk. Topical ruxolitinib (Opzelura®) was approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in September 2021, but carries an extensive boxed warning for numerous severe side effects, and is limited to short-term, intermittent use after failure of other treatments. In seborrheic dermatitis, in addition to TCS, topical antifungals are commonly used, but have limited efficacy.
Biologic and systemic therapies are also available for some diseases, but are typically indicated for a small percentage of the affected population. Biologics for psoriasis have shown impressive response rates but are only indicated for the minority of patients with moderate-to-severe forms of disease, are expensive, and often face reimbursement and access restrictions. Treatment with oral systemic therapies such as methotrexate and apremilast (Otezla®) has also been limited given modest symptomatic improvement and the frequency of adverse events. Additionally, many patients on biologic and systemic therapies still require adjunctive topical therapy to treat residual symptoms. In atopic dermatitis, biologic and systemic therapy continues to evolve, and we see opportunity
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to continue to advance the standard of care for patients, for example with regard to response rates and dosing frequency.
Given the limitations associated with existing treatments, we believe patients with inflammatory skin conditions and their dermatologists are dissatisfied with their current treatment options. We believe that there is a significant opportunity to leverage developments in other fields of medicine, particularly inflammation and immunology, to address the significant need for effective chronic treatments in immuno-dermatology. Our primary focus since our founding has been to address patients’ significant need for innovative topical treatments that directly target molecular mediators of disease, have the potential to show significant symptomatic improvement, maintain a low risk of toxicity or side effects, and are suitable for chronic use on all areas of the body. Based on market research and our internal estimates, we estimate there is an overall actively prescription treated patient market of approximately 17.0 million patients in the United States that are treated with topical therapies for plaque psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis in dermatology offices (approximately 8.4 million) and outside dermatology (approximately 8.6 million). Of the patients that are treated in dermatology offices, we estimate that approximately 3.7 million of these patients are covered by Medicare or Medicaid, while approximately 4.7 million are covered by private payers. Patients that are treated outside of dermatology offices are primarily treated by primary care providers and pediatricians, and the ratio of commercial to government insurance is similar.
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Our Portfolio and Pipeline
The following chart summarizes our product portfolio and pipeline:
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Our Strategy
Our strategy is to leverage innovations in inflammation and immunology to identify molecules against validated biological targets in dermatology, and to develop and commercialize best-in-class products based on those molecules that address significant unmet needs in immuno-dermatology:
Key elements of our strategy include:
•Commercialize ZORYVE cream 0.3% for the treatment of patients with plaque psoriasis and ZORYVE cream 0.15% for the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis. We commercially launched ZORYVE cream in August 2022 after obtaining FDA approval for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, including psoriasis in the intertriginous areas (e.g., groin or axillae), in individuals 12 years of age or older. On October 6, 2023, we announced FDA approval of our sNDA to expand the indication of ZORYVE cream for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, including psoriasis in intertriginous areas, to children ages 6 to 11 years of age. Following this approval, ZORYVE cream is indicated for use in patients 6 years of age and older. In atopic dermatitis, we commercially launched ZORYVE cream 0.15% in July 2024 for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older. We submitted a subsequent sNDA for ZORYVE cream 0.05% for 2-5 year olds in December 2024.
•Commercialize ZORYVE foam for the treatment of patients with seborrheic dermatitis and further expand our addressable market with the potential approval of the foam in scalp and body psoriasis. In December 2023, we received FDA approval for ZORYVE foam for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in individuals aged 9 years and older. ZORYVE foam became commercially available in late January 2024. We announced positive topline data from our Phase 3 scalp and body psoriasis trial in September 2022, and we submitted an sNDA to the FDA for a label expansion to include scalp and body psoriasis in adults and adolescents ages 12 and over, which was accepted by the FDA with a PDUFA target action date in May 2025.
•Exploit our integrated development and commercial organization to maximize the value of our products and product candidates. We have built a fully integrated commercial organization and a targeted specialty sales force for the commercialization of our products among dermatology specialists. Because of the concentrated prescriber base of the U.S. dermatology segment, we believe our infrastructure should be sufficient for us to commercialize our products to dermatology specialists. We have also partnered with Kowa to promote our approved ZORYVE in the United States to primary care practitioners and pediatricians. To further enhance the value of our product candidates, we have partnered with companies in Japan, China, and greater Asia to develop and commercialize ZORYVE, and may selectively seek additional partners to develop and commercialize our products in other markets.
•Execute our responsible pricing strategy and product access to enable rapid and high-quality insurance coverage and product access. We are committed to helping patients have access to our product, including setting a responsible price, working with payers to help ensure broad high-quality payer access, and supporting programs like our Arcutis CaresTM patient assistance program and the ZORYVE DirectTM patient access support program.
•Further expand our product portfolio through the development of ARQ-255 and ARQ-252. We are developing ARQ-255 and ARQ-252, both of which contain ivarmacitinib, a JAK1 inhibitor with a high relative selectivity to JAK1 over Janus kinase type 2 (JAK2), for the treatment of alopecia areata, chronic hand eczema, and vitiligo. Given their high relative selectivity to JAK1 over JAK2, we believe ARQ-255 and ARQ-252 have the potential to treat inflammatory diseases without causing the hematopoietic adverse effects associated with JAK2 inhibition, which in turn gives them the potential to be best-in-class treatment options, if approved. We recently completed enrollment in a Phase 1b study evaluating ARQ-255 for the treatment of alopecia areata and expect data in the first half of 2025. Reformulation efforts continue for ARQ-252.
•Develop ARQ-234 as a complimentary treatment to ZORYVE.We believe that ARQ-234, which we obtained through the acquisition of Ducentis in September 2022, has the potential to have a highly differentiated profile and could be a highly complimentary biologic treatment to ZORYVE for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, if approved. We believe our management team's experience in developing dermatological drugs, including biologics, will enable us to move ARQ-234 into the clinic and through the development process. ARQ-234 also has the potential to treat multiple other inflammatory diseases, which we may choose to pursue ourselves or through partnerships. Currently, we are working towards
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submitting an IND during 2025.
•Leverage our product development platform to continue innovating and developing novel new treatments for dermatological diseases. Our expertise in dermatological clinical development and commercialization allows us to identify areas of high unmet needs, and our product development platform may allow us to develop novel new treatments that address those needs, as it has already with ZORYVE cream, ZORYVE foam, and ARQ-255.
•Evaluate strategic opportunities to in-license or acquire best-in-class dermatology assets consistent with our core strategy. Leveraging our deep expertise in identifying promising drug candidates, we will continue to seek best-in-class assets, similar to ARQ-234, across treatment modalities directed against validated targets. We will continue to explore opportunities to in-license assets and develop them to address unmet medical needs in immunology and dermatology.
We believe one of our core strengths is our leading platform for dermatology product development. This platform, coupled with our deep expertise in dermatology clinical development and commercialization, is the engine that allows us to generate our highly differentiated product candidates. Our platform has already generated several significant innovations, including:
•Our innovative topical cream and foam formulations of ZORYVE (patented);
•The pharmacokinetic characteristics relating to improving delivery and extending half-life of both the cream and foam formulations of ZORYVE (patented);
•A novel topical cream without skin-drying surfactants (patent pending);
•A novel method for treating a fungal infection by administering a composition comprising roflumilast (patented);
•Our novel “4D” deep-penetrating formulation allowing topical delivery deeper in the dermis (patent pending); and
•A composition of roflumilast without a paraben preservative (patent pending).
ZORYVE Cream (ARQ-151)
Our lead product, ZORYVE cream, offers symptomatic improvement in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients similar to the combination of a high potency steroid and calcipotriene, a favorable tolerability profile, the ability to be used chronically, and little to none of the application site reactions associated with many existing topical treatments. ZORYVE cream is designed for simple once-a-day application for chronic use, does not burn or sting on application, and can be used on any part of the body, including sensitive or difficult-to-treat areas, such as the face and intertriginous regions. It quickly and easily rubs into the skin without leaving a greasy residue, does not stain clothing or bedding, or have an unpleasant smell. Roflumilast is a highly potent and selective PDE4 inhibitor that was approved by the FDA as an oral systemic treatment to reduce the risk of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2011. Roflumilast has demonstrated a potency advantage of approximately 25x to in excess of 300x compared to the active ingredients in the two other FDA-approved PDE4 inhibitors, Eucrisa, and Otezla.
We commercially launched ZORYVE cream 0.3% in August 2022 after obtaining FDA approval for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, including psoriasis in the intertriginous areas (e.g. groin or axillae), in individuals 12 years of age or older. ZORYVE cream 0.3% is approved for once-daily treatment of mild, moderate, and severe plaque psoriasis with no limitations on location or duration of use. In October 2023, we announced FDA approval of our sNDA to expand the indication of ZORYVE cream for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, including psoriasis in intertriginous areas (e.g., groin or axillae), to children ages 6 to 11 years of age. Following this approval, ZORYVE cream is indicated for use in patients 6 years of age and older. We aim to further expand the indication in plaque psoriasis down to 2 years of age following the generation of additional clinical data.
We are also commercially launched topical ZORYVE cream 0.15% in July 2024 after obtaining approval for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in individuals 6 years and older. We have developed a lower-dose-concentration, ZORYVE cream 0.05%, and have completed our Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies in this population. Based on positive data, we submitted an sNDA in December 2024.
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In July 2018, we executed a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca AB (AstraZeneca) for exclusive worldwide rights to roflumilast as a topical product in humans solely for dermatological indications. We have built our own intellectual property portfolio around topical uses of roflumilast, with issued and pending formulation, pharmacokinetic, and method-of-use patents in the United States and other jurisdictions from several distinct patent families, which should provide us with exclusivity for our product at least into 2037.
Plaque Psoriasis
Psoriasis Background
Psoriasis is an immune disease that occurs in about 3% of the U.S. population, representing approximately 9 million patients. About 90% of cases are plaque psoriasis, which is characterized by “plaques”, or raised, red areas of skin covered with a silver or white layer of dead skin cells referred to as “scale” (see figures below). Psoriatic plaques can appear on any area of the body, but most often appear on the scalp, knees, elbows, trunk, and limbs, and the plaques are often itchy and sometimes painful. Approximately 40% of plaque psoriasis patients have plaques on their scalp, about 15% have plaques in their intertriginous regions, approximately 10% have plaques on their face, and one in three has plaques on their elbows and knees. Each of these areas present a variety of treatment challenges which may be well suited to treatment with ZORYVE cream.
Psoriasis patients are generally characterized as mild, moderate, or severe, with approximately 75% experiencing a mild-to-moderate form of the disease and 25% experiencing a moderate-to-severe form of the disease. Pruritus (itching) is a particularly common and bothersome symptom for patients, which can be severe and impact sleep patterns. In addition, patients with plaque psoriasis can suffer substantial psychosocial impacts from their disease and have a 50% greater chance of depression than the general population.
Figures: Plaque Psoriasis
Source: DermNet (right)
Current Psoriasis Treatment Landscape
The vast majority of psoriasis patients are treated with topical therapies, of which there have been no novel treatments approved in over 20 years, until the recent approvals of ZORYVE cream and tapinarof. Despite their widespread use, other existing topical therapies all possess substantial shortcomings:
•Topical steroids are associated with a number of side effects, including, among others, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, skin atrophy (thinning), striae (stretch marks), and telangiectasia (spider veins). Some of these side effects are irreversible. Consequently, high potency topical steroids are not recommended for chronic use, and physicians generally will not prescribe them for treatment on the face or in the intertriginous regions.
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Figures: Steroid-induced striae (left) and Steroid-induced skin atrophy (right)
Source: DermNet (right)
•Vitamin D3 analogs provide substantially less symptomatic improvement than high potency steroids and are frequently irritating. While they can be used chronically, tolerability issues with their use can be a challenge, and physicians generally will not prescribe them for use on the face or in the intertriginous regions.
•Vitamin D3/steroid combinations offer better symptomatic improvement than either of the two individual components alone, but still carry a risk of HPA axis suppression, and are limited in their duration of use.
•Tapinarof is a non-steroidal topical aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist approved in May 2022 for adults with plaque psoriasis. In clinical trials, treatment with tapinarof was associated with folliculitis, contact dermatitis, burning, stinging, and itching.
Because high potency steroids and combinations containing high potency steroids provide robust symptomatic improvement for psoriasis patients, most physicians initiate treatment for nearly all patients with them. However, due to the limitations on duration of treatment to between 2 and 8 weeks, most physicians will switch the patient to a low- to mid-potency steroid or to a vitamin D analog to manage the patient’s psoriasis chronically. These “step down” options provide less symptomatic improvement and are often irritating. Also, rebound is a known challenge with steroids, where the recurrence of psoriasis after steroid discontinuation is more severe than it was prior to steroid treatment. As a result, patients are constantly cycling between effective short courses of high potency steroids and less effective “step down” maintenance treatments.
Treatment with biologics remains highly restricted. In the United States, less than 20% of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients (equivalent to 6% of all psoriasis patients) are on biologic therapy. The uptake of biologics has remained limited due to multiple factors, including the fact that they are indicated only for use in moderate-to-severe patients, their high cost and patient co-payments, reimbursement and access restrictions, perceived risk of side effects, and patient fear of injection.
Treatment with non-biologic systemic therapy, such as methotrexate or Otezla is also limited. According to Decision Resources Group, non-biologic systemic therapy represents approximately 8% of patients worldwide and 11% of patients in the United States. The use of methotrexate has declined due to concerns about side effects and mandatory routine monitoring. Otezla has a limited U.S. market share in part due to its high annual price relative to topical treatments, modest symptomatic improvement, and frequent adverse events.
Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic Dermatitis Background
Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema, affecting approximately 26 million people in the United States. Atopic dermatitis is the most common skin disease among children, with prevalence steadily increasing from 8% to 12% in the last two decades. Atopic dermatitis is characterized by a defect in the skin barrier, which allows allergens and other irritants to enter the skin, leading to an immune reaction and inflammation. This reaction produces a red, itchy rash, most frequently occurring on the face, arms and legs, and the rash can cover significant areas of the body (see figures below). The rash causes significant pruritus (itching), which can lead to damage caused by scratching or rubbing and perpetuating an ‘itch-scratch’ cycle.
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Figures: Atopic Dermatitis
Source: DermNet
Given the high proportion of pediatric patients, safety and tolerability of atopic dermatitis treatments is paramount. Atopic dermatitis imposes a substantial burden on the patient, parents, and family. Pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis can suffer from sleep disturbances, behavioral problems, irritability, crying, interference with normal childhood activities, and social functioning. Adults with atopic dermatitis also frequently suffer from sleep disturbances, emotional impacts, and impaired social functioning. Adults with atopic dermatitis also appear to be at a significantly increased risk of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation compared to the general population.
Current Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Landscape
The vast majority of atopic dermatitis patients are being treated with topical therapies, particularly low- to mid-potency topical steroids and TCIs, and these two classes of drugs constituted nearly all atopic dermatitis prescriptions in 2022. Despite their widespread use, existing topical therapies all possess substantial shortcomings:
•Topical steroids pose a particular concern in pediatric patients due to the risk of systemic absorption, and the consequent risk of HPA axis suppression, and potential developmental problems. Chronic use of topical steroids in atopic dermatitis patients is generally avoided. Many physicians are also reluctant to use steroids to treat atopic dermatitis on the face due to the increased risk of glaucoma and cataracts, or the diaper/groin region due to risk of skin thinning. There is also considerable concern among many parents about treating their children with steroids.
•Topical calcineurin inhibitors are generally seen as providing less symptomatic improvement than topical steroids and are also associated with some application site burning. In 2005 the FDA placed a boxed warning on the labels of both TCIs regarding a potential increased risk of cancers, especially lymphomas, associated with their use, which often creates significant parental resistance to their use.
•Eucrisa is a topical non-steroidal PDE4 inhibitor approved by the FDA in 2016. Despite initial interest among the physician community to adopt the product, its growth has been hampered by frequent occurrences of application site burning and stinging as well as disadvantaged reimbursement status compared to other atopic dermatitis treatments.
•Opzelura is a topical JAK inhibitor approved in September 2021 for the topical short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in non-immunocompromised adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable. The label carries an extensive boxed warning for serious infections, all-cause mortality, malignancy, major adverse cardiovascular events and thrombosis.
•Tapinarof is a non-steroidal topical aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist approved in May 2022 for adults with plaque psoriasis. In clinical trials, treatment with tapinarof was associated with folliculitis, contact dermatitis, burning, stinging, and itching.
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Treatment with biologics such as Dupixent®, as well as recently launched oral agents, remains highly restricted. In the United States, less than 5% of all atopic dermatitis patients are on biologic therapy. The uptake of biologics and systemic therapies is expected to grow, as the efficacy and dosing parameters of treatment options for moderate-to-severe disease states improve; however, similar to plaque psoriasis, we believe such use will ultimately remain limited due to multiple factors, including the fact that they are indicated only for use in moderate-to-severe patients, their high cost and patient co-payments, reimbursement and access restrictions, and patient fear of injection for biologics.
ZORYVE Cream Clinical Development
Plaque Psoriasis
We commercially launched ZORYVE cream in August 2022 after obtaining FDA approval for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, including psoriasis in the intertriginous areas (e.g. groin or axillae), in individuals 12 years of age or older. In October 2023, we received FDA approval for an expanded indication down to 6 years of age. We aim to further expand the indication in plaque psoriasis down to 2 years of age following the generation of additional clinical data. ZORYVE cream is approved for once-daily treatment of mild, moderate, and severe plaque psoriasis with no limitations on duration of use. Our NDA submission was supported by the positive data from the pivotal Phase 3 clinical studies, DERMIS-1 and DERMIS-2, and our long-term Phase 2b open label study. In all trials, ZORYVE cream was generally well-tolerated with a favorable safety and tolerability profile.
Key Completed Trials
DERMIS-1 and DERMIS-2 pivotal Phase 3 studies
The DERMIS-1 and DERMIS-2 studies were identical pivotal Phase 3 randomized, parallel, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, multi-national, multi-center studies in which subjects age 2 years and above with mild, moderate, or severe chronic plaque psoriasis involving between 2% and 20% body surface area received 8 weeks of (i) ZORYVE cream 0.3% once daily or (ii) matching vehicle once daily. DERMIS-1 enrolled 439 subjects and DERMIS-2 enrolled 442 subjects.
Results from the eight-week treatment period demonstrated statistically significant improvement compared to the matching vehicle on key efficacy endpoints. On the studies’ primary efficacy endpoint of percentage of subjects achieving Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) success, which was defined as a score of “clear” or “almost clear” plus a 2-grade improvement from baseline at Week 8, 42.4% of subjects treated with ZORYVE cream achieved IGA Success, compared to 6.1% of subjects treated with vehicle (p < 0.0001) in DERMIS-1, and 37.5% of subjects treated with ZORYVE cream achieved IGA Success, compared to 6.9% of subjects treated with vehicle (p<0.0001) in DERMIS-2. ZORYVE cream also demonstrated statistically significant improvements over vehicle on key secondary endpoints, including on Intertriginous IGA Success, Psoriasis Area Severity Index-75, reductions in itch as measured by the Worst Itch-Numerical Rating Scale, and patient perceptions of symptoms as measured by the Psoriasis Symptoms Diary (PSD).
ZORYVE cream was well-tolerated by the patient populations, with rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) low and similar to vehicle, with most TEAEs assessed as mild-to-moderate in severity. Of the subjects treated with ZORYVE cream, five subjects (1.7% of subjects) in DERMIS-1 and one subject (0.3% of subjects) in DERMIS-2 discontinued the study due to a TEAE. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events.
ARQ-151-202 (Long-Term Safety Study)
The long-term safety study was a Phase 2, multi-center, open label study of the long-term safety and efficacy of ZORYVE cream 0.3% in adult subjects with chronic plaque psoriasis involving up to 25% total body surface area (BSA), evaluated in two cohorts: subjects who completed the ARQ-151-201 Phase 2b, randomized, controlled trial; and previously untreated subjects. All subjects applied ZORYVE cream once daily for 52 weeks at home. Approximately half (164 out of 332) of the subjects entered this long-term study after completing treatment with ZORYVE cream 0.3% or 0.15% in the randomized Phase 2b study (ARQ-151-201) and therefore received up to 64 weeks of total treatment with ZORYVE cream (12 weeks in the randomized Phase 2b study and 52 weeks in the long-term safety study). Periodic clinic visits included assessments for clinical safety, application site reactions, and disease improvement or progression. The primary outcome measures of this long-term safety study were the occurrence of TEAEs and the occurrence of serious adverse events.
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In this open label study, ZORYVE cream 0.3% applied once daily for up to 52 weeks demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability over the long-term treatment period, consistent with what was seen in the randomized Phase 2b study, with only 3.6% of subjects experiencing a treatment-related adverse event during 52 weeks of treatment. Additionally, a durable treatment effect was maintained through 52 to 64 weeks as 57.1% (n=185) of ZORYVE cream-treated patients achieved an IGA score of clear or almost clear (IGA 0/1) at any time in study, and these participants had a median duration of IGA of clear or almost clear of more than 10 months (40.1 weeks). At week 52 of the long-term safety study, 44.8% of all subjects attained an IGA Success of clear or almost clear, with 34.8% of subjects in Cohort 1 and 39.5% of subjects in Cohort 2 achieving IGA Success, defined as a score of clear or almost clear plus a 2-grade improvement from baseline. Additionally, of the subjects in the 12-week randomized Phase 2b study who were treated with ZORYVE cream 0.3%, and who attained an IGA of clear or almost clear at 12 weeks in the first study, then continued on treatment in the long-term safety study, 66.7% had an IGA of clear or almost clear at the end of 64 weeks of treatment or their last visit. Of the 332 subjects in this study, 73.5% completed the full 52 weeks of open label treatment, with only 3.9% of subjects discontinuing the study due to an adverse event and less than 1% of subjects discontinuing due to lack of efficacy. There were no treatment related serious adverse events reported.
Atopic Dermatitis
We commercially launched ZORYVE cream 0.15% for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in adults and children down to age six in August 2024. Our NDA submission was based on three Phase 3 studies, as well as a Phase 2 dose-ranging study, and two Phase 1 pharmacokinetic studies. We have also developed ZORYVE cream 0.05% for the treatment of atopic dermatitis between the ages of 2 and 5 years of age. Based on positive data of our two Phase 3 studies in this age group, we submitted an sNDA in December 2024.
Key Completed Trials
INTEGUMENT-1 and INTEGUMENT-2 pivotal Phase 3 studies
Our atopic dermatitis Phase 3 program includes three 4-week pivotal studies and a 52-week open label extension study. The INterventional Trial EvaluatinG roflUMilast cream for the treatmENt of aTopic dermatitis (INTEGUMENT) 1 and 2 were multi-center, double-blind, vehicle-controlled Phase 3 studies, with more than 650 subjects in each study, ages 6 and above with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis. Subjects were randomized to receive once daily topical applications for 4 weeks of ZORYVE cream 0.15%, or vehicle. The primary endpoint was the proportion of all randomized subjects who attain IGA Success, defined as a validated Investigator Global Assessment – Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD) score of ‘clear’ or ‘almost clear’ plus a 2-grade improvement from Baseline at Week 4.
Both INTEGUMENT-1 and INTEGUMENT-2 met their primary endpoint. In INTEGUMENT-1, 32.0% of individuals treated with ZORYVE cream 0.15% achieved IGA Success, compared to 15.2% of individuals treated with vehicle (P<0.0001). In INTEGUMENT-2, 28.9% of individuals treated with ZORYVE cream 0.15% achieved IGA Success at Week 4 compared to 12.0% of individuals treated with vehicle (P<0.0001). ZORYVE cream also demonstrated rapid and statistically significant improvements compared to vehicle on key secondary endpoints, including, in INTEGUMENT-1, 43.2% of individuals treated with ZORYVE cream 0.15% achieving a 75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75) at Week 4 compared to 22.0% treated with vehicle (P<0.0001). In INTEGUMENT-2, 42.0% of individuals treated with ZORYVE cream 0.15% achieved an EASI-75 at Week 4 compared to 19.7% treated with vehicle (P<0.0001).
In an additional secondary endpoint, INTEGUMENT-1 evaluated reduction in itch in individuals 12 years of age and older, with 33.6% of individuals treated with ZORYVE cream achieving a 4-point reduction in Worst Itch Numeric Scale (WI-NRS) at Week 4 (vs. 20.7% for vehicle-treated subjects [p<0.01]). For INTEGUMENT-2, 30.2% of individuals treated with ZORYVE cream achieving a four-point reduction in WI-NRS at Week 4 (vs. 12.4% for vehicle-treated subjects, [P<0.01]). In addition, individuals treated with ZORYVE cream reported reductions in itch from baseline as early as 48 hours from first application. ZORYVE cream 0.15% was well tolerated in both studies. The incidence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) was low in both active treatment and vehicle arms, with most TEAEs assessed as mild-to-moderate severity. Overall, incidence of adverse events were low, with no adverse event occurring in more than 3.5% of subjects in either arm for either INTEGUMENT-1 or INTEGUMENT-2. The most frequent adverse events (≥1%) included COVID-19, application site pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, nasopharyngitis, and upper respiratory tract infection. Over 90% of patients who were randomized to ZORYVE cream in both studies completed the full 4 weeks, and there were few discontinuations due to adverse events.
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INTEGUMENT-PED Trial
In September 2023, we announced positive topline data from INTEGUMENT-PED trial. This pivotal trial investigated ZORYVE cream 0.05% as a potential treatment for children 2 to 5 years of age with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis. The trial was a Phase 3, randomized, parallel group, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial in which subjects ages 2 to 5 with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis involving 3% or greater body surface area received 4 weeks of (i) ZORYVE cream 0.05% once daily or (ii) vehicle once daily. A total of 652 children were enrolled in INTEGUMENT-PED.
Results from the four-week treatment period demonstrated statistically significant improvements compared to matching vehicle. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving IGA success, which is vIGA-AD score of "clear" or "almost clear" plus a 2-grade improvement from baseline, at Week 4. In the trial, 25.4% of patients treated with ZORYVE cream 0.05% achieved IGA success, compared to 10.7% of patients treated with vehicle (p < 0.0001), with significant improvements observed as early as Week 1.
ZORYVE cream 0.05% also demonstrated statistically significant improvements compared to vehicle on key secondary endpoints, which included EASI-75, the percentage of patients achieving IGA success at Weeks 1 and 2, and the percentage of patients achieving a vIGA-AD score of “clear” or “almost clear” at Weeks 1 and 2, with significant improvements observed for these endpoints as early as Week 1. In the trial, 39.4% of patients treated with ZORYVE cream 0.05% achieved EASI 75 at Week 4, compared to 20.6% of patients treated with vehicle (p < 0.0001). In addition, 21.2% of patients achieved IGA success at Week 2, compared to 6.8% of patients treated with vehicle (p < 0.0001), and 9.4% of patients achieved IGA success at Week 1, compared to 0.9% of patients treated with vehicle (p < 0.0001). In the trial, 35.3% of patients treated with ZORYVE cream 0.05% with an itch score of at least four at baseline achieved a four-point reduction in itch score compared to baseline, as measured by the WI-NRS, compared to 18.0% of patients treated with vehicle (p = 0.0002).
ZORYVE cream 0.05% was well-tolerated, with rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) low across the active treatment and vehicle arms. Overall, adverse events were uncommon, with no adverse event occurring in more than 4.1% of subjects in the trial. The only adverse event occurring in >3% of subjects in either arm was upper respiratory tract infection, and the most frequent adverse events (>2%) included upper respiratory tract infection, pyrexia, diarrhea, vomiting, and, in the vehicle arm only, atopic dermatitis.
Of the patients treated with ZORYVE cream 0.05% in the trial, 410 (93.8% of patients) completed the full 4 weeks, and there were few discontinuations due to adverse events in both the ZORYVE cream 0.05% group and vehicle group. Five patients treated with ZORYVE cream 0.05% (1.1% of patients treated with ZORYVE cream 0.05%) and four patients in the vehicle group (1.9% of patients treated with vehicle) discontinued the trial due to an adverse event. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events.
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INTEGUMENT OLE (long range study)
In addition, our “INterventional Trial EvaluatinG roflUMilast cream for the treatmENt of aTopic dermatitis Open Label Extension” (INTEGUMENT-OLE) study is a Phase 3, multicenter, open label extension study that has enrolled 1220 subjects who have completed INTEGUMENT-1, -2, or -PED. The study examines the long-term safety of ZORYVE cream 0.15% in subjects 6 years of age and older with atopic dermatitis and ZORYVE cream 0.05% in subjects 2 to 5 years of age with atopic dermatitis. The primary objective of the study is to assess the long-term safety based on the occurrence of adverse events and serious adverse events. Individuals that completed INTEGUMENT-1 and -2 are eligible to enroll for either 24 or 52 weeks of additional treatment, representing 28 or 56 weeks of treatment in aggregate.
In September 2023, we announced positive interim results from this ongoing study regarding subjects 6 years of age and older with atopic dermatitis. A total of 657 subjects had been enrolled in INTEGUMENT-OLE at such time. After 4 weeks of treatment, subjects who achieved a vIGA-AD score of “clear” transitioned to twice weekly maintenance dosing, after which any subjects who reached a vIGA-AD score of “mild” would resume once-daily dosing. Subjects could also resume once-daily dosing if signs or symptoms were not adequately controlled with maintenance dosing despite maintaining a vIGA-AD score of “almost clear.” More than two-thirds of participants who transitioned to maintenance dosing remained on the twice weekly maintenance dosing schedule for more than half of their time in the trial.
Results from the study demonstrated long-term safety and a tolerability profile consistent with data from our INTEGUMENT-1 and -2 trials, with no new safety signals observed up to 56 weeks of treatment. Rates of TEAEs were generally consistent with INTEGUMENT-1 and -2, with 241 subjects (36.7% of subjects) experiencing any TEAE and 31 subjects (4.7% of subjects) experiencing treatment-related TEAEs. No adverse event occurred in more than 4.6% of subjects. The only adverse events occurring in >2% of subjects included COVID-19, upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis and headache, and 21 subjects (3.2% of subjects) discontinued the study due to adverse events. There were eight subjects (1.2% of subjects) with serious adverse events and no treatment-related serious adverse events.
ZORYVE cream 0.15% also performed well on secondary endpoints, including IGA success, which was defined as a vIGA-AD score of "clear" or "almost clear" plus a 2-grade improvement from baseline in INTEGUMENT-1 or -2, and EASI-75. For example, 46.1% and 51.0% of patients treated with ZORYVE cream 0.15% achieved IGA success in Week 28 and 56, respectively, compared to 41.5% and 44.6%, respectively, of patients treated with vehicle. In addition, 61.5% and 66.2% of patients treated with ZORYVE cream 0.15% achieved EASI-75 at Week 28 and 56, respectively, compared to 60.9% and 64.6%, respectively, of patients treated with vehicle.
In August 2024, we announced positive results for subjects 2 to 5 years old. In the study, ZORYVE cream 0.05% was well-tolerated, with no new safety signals observed during treatment of up to 56 weeks in duration. Efficacy results were not only maintained but also improved over time, with 71.9% of participants who rolled over from the roflumilast cream 0.05% treatment arm in INTEGUMENT-PED achieving EASI 75 after 56 weeks. Overall incidence of adverse events was low, with most being mild to moderate in nature. The most frequently reported adverse events (≥3%) included: upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, pyrexia, influenza, COVID-19, and otitis media.
We believe these results demonstrate the durability of treatment and the potential for improvement in patient symptoms over time.
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ZORYVE Foam (ARQ-154)
We are also developing a foam formulation of topical ZORYVE for the treatment of scalp and body psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. ZORYVE foam contains the same highly potent and selective PDE4 inhibitor in ZORYVE cream, and is nearly identical to ZORYVE cream, with all ingredients in the foam being the same as those in the cream, other than reduced oil content and the addition of a propellant in the can to create the foam. ZORYVE foam is a light foam that has been designed to deliver the drug to the scalp while not leaving a greasy residue or disturbing hair style. The foam breaks easily upon agitation, creating a thin solution that can be rubbed easily into the scalp. Additionally, the product does not melt on the fingers prior to application. ZORYVE foam will not stain clothing or bedding and does not have an unpleasant smell. ZORYVE foam is designed for simple once-a-day application and neither burns nor stings on application.
In December 2023, we received FDA approval for ZORYVE foam for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in individuals aged 9 years and older, with no limitation on severity, location, or duration of use. ZORYVE foam has been shown to provide rapid disease clearance and significant reduction in itch in clinical studies. In a pivotal Phase 3 study, 80% of individuals treated with ZORYVE foam achieved the primary efficacy endpoint of IGA Success, defined as an IGA score of “clear” or “almost clear” plus a 2-point improvement at Week 8. and just over 50% of individuals achieved an IGA score of clear at Week 8. In addition, individuals treated with ZORYVE foam reported reductions in itch from baseline within 48 hours of first application. ZORYVE foam is a once-daily steroid-free foam and the first drug approved for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis with a new mechanism of action in over two decades. ZORYVE foam became commercially available in late January 2024.
We have successfully completed our pivotal Phase 3 study of ZORYVE foam in scalp and body psoriasis (ARRECTOR), demonstrating promising efficacy and tolerability results. We announced positive topline data in September 2022, and have submitted our sNDA with a PDUFA in May 2025. We believe that ZORYVE foam could offer physicians and patients a highly differentiated clinical profile that is ideally suited to address unmet needs in the topical treatment of seborrheic dermatitis and potentially scalp and body psoriasis.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic Dermatitis Background
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disease that is estimated to occur in more than 10 million people in the United States. The disease causes red patches covered with large, greasy, flaking yellow-gray scales, and is frequently itchy. It appears most often on the scalp, face (especially on the nose, eyebrows, ears, and eyelids), upper chest, and back as depicted in the figures below. While the pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis is not well understood, it is an inflammatory disease of the skin distinct from atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, it shares some features such as a skin barrier defect with atopic dermatitis and some inflammatory pathways in common with psoriasis. Seborrheic dermatitis is associated with an over-abundance of Malassezia, a naturally occurring yeast found on normal skin but found in excess numbers on skin with seborrheic dermatitis where it may exacerbate the underlying skin inflammation that leads to the signs and symptoms well characterized in the disease. Seborrheic dermatitis can occur in adults, adolescents and infants, and in infants is commonly referred to as “cradle cap”.
Figures: Seborrheic Dermatitis
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Current Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment Landscape
There are a number of widely used treatments for seborrheic dermatitis, including antifungal agents, lower potency steroids, and immunomodulators.
•Topical steroids, mostly low- to mid-potency, are often prescribed for patients suffering from seborrheic dermatitis because of the inflammatory component of the disease. Due to the risks associated with steroid use, particularly on the face, physicians try to limit duration or avoid steroid therapy.
•TCIs are also sometimes used off-label for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. These agents appear to provide symptomatic improvement in seborrheic dermatitis due to their anti-inflammatory effects. As previously noted, TCIs carry a boxed warning for the potential increased risk of cancers, especially lymphomas, associated with their use, and physicians generally try to avoid long-term use in patients suffering from seborrheic dermatitis. Additionally, TCIs only provide symptomatic improvement in seborrheic dermatitis in areas of skin that are very thin and where the drug can penetrate (i.e., largely the periocular areas only).
•Antifungal agents, particularly azoles such as ketoconazole, are the cornerstone of therapy for seborrheic dermatitis. These agents are available in a variety of topical formulations, and oral antifungals are occasionally used in very severe cases. Antifungals in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis are generally well-tolerated, although some patients experience irritant contact dermatitis, a burning or itching sensation, or dryness.
While physicians have a number of relatively inexpensive treatment options that provide symptomatic improvement for seborrheic dermatitis, the greatest unmet need relates to inadequate response to existing therapies in some patients, particularly in patients with more severe disease. Physicians report that up to one-third of severe patients suffering from seborrheic dermatitis, and a smaller percentage of mild- and moderate-severity patients, have an inadequate response to current seborrheic dermatitis treatments. Additionally, physicians are wary of using steroids on the face due to the risk of skin thinning, spider veins, folliculitis, and unnatural hair growth. Physicians are especially wary of using steroids near the eyes due to the potential increased risk of cataracts and glaucoma. Finally, many physicians are reluctant to treat chronically with steroids and TCIs, the main anti-inflammatory agents used in treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.
We believe ZORYVE foam may present a unique dual mechanism of action to treat patients with seborrheic dermatitis. Based on clinical data to date across indications, ZORYVE has demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, a recent nonclinical study demonstrated that ZORYVE foam may also possess anti-fungal effects, specifically against Malassezia, the fungus implicated in seborrheic dermatitis. Because the pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis potentially includes both a fungal overgrowth component and an inflammatory component, ZORYVE foam’s putative dual mechanism of action may provide symptomatic improvement for patients not achieving suitable responses from currently available therapies. In addition to the opportunity in treatment resistant patients, we believe ZORYVE foam may be an option for some patients as a first-line therapy, especially patients with involvement of the face where other therapies are contraindicated.
Scalp Psoriasis
Scalp Psoriasis Background
Scalp psoriasis is a manifestation of plaque psoriasis that occurs in nearly half of all psoriasis patients, characterized by plaques in the hair-bearing area of the scalp and sometimes extending to the forehead, back of the neck, or behind or inside the ears as depicted in the figures below. These psoriatic plaques are identical to plaques on other body areas, however topical treatment of these plaques is complicated by the difficulty of delivering topical drugs under hair-bearing areas. As with psoriatic plaques on other parts of the body, psoriasis on the scalp is often itchy and is sometimes painful. Scalp psoriasis can also be associated with hair loss, likely due to damage to the hair from excessive scratching, rubbing, or combing of the affected area.
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Figures: Scalp Psoriasis
Source: DermNet (left)
Current Scalp Psoriasis Treatment Landscape
Scalp psoriasis treatments are similar to plaque psoriasis treatments, given that the plaques are identical to the plaques in other body areas. Topical treatments for scalp psoriasis include TCS, vitamin D analogs, or the combination, in a topical formulation suitable for hair-bearing areas, such as shampoos, solutions, or foams. However, many of the current topical formulations for hair-bearing areas are poorly formulated and are not well-received by patients. Existing topical treatments for the scalp also suffer from the same efficacy, safety, tolerability, and patient acceptability issues as existing creams and ointments. While both biologics and systemic treatments will improve scalp psoriasis, they suffer from the same limitations on their use as in plaque psoriasis.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Key Completed Trials
STRATUM pivotal Phase 3 Study
The "STudy of Roflumilast foam Applied Topically for the redUction of seborrheic derMatitis" (STRATUM) was a Phase 3, parallel group, double blind, vehicle-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of ZORYVE foam 0.3% administered once-daily. A total of 457 subjects ages 9 and older with moderate to severe seborrheic dermatitis were enrolled in the study and randomized 2:1 to ZORYVE foam or vehicle. A significant percentage of patients had seborrheic dermatitis in more than one location on their body and more than half of patients had facial seborrheic dermatitis, including a subset with seborrheic dermatitis on their eyelids. The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of subjects achieving IGA Success, defined as an IGA score of “clear” or “almost clear” plus a 2-point improvement at Week 8.
The study met the primary endpoint, with 79.5% of individuals treated with ZORYVE foam achieving IGA Success at Week 8, compared to 58.0% of patients treated with vehicle (P<0.0001). Improvement with ZORYVE foam was seen early, with ZORYVE separating statistically from vehicle on IGA Success at Week 2. In addition, 50.6% of patients treated with ZORYVE foam achieved an IGA score of clear at Week 8, compared to 28.2% of patients treated with vehicle (p < 0.0001). ZORYVE foam also demonstrated statistically significant improvements compared to vehicle on key secondary endpoints, including itch as measured by Worst Itch-Numerical Rating Score (WI-NRS). 62.8% of patients with a Worst Itch-Numerical Rating Score of 4 or higher at baseline treated with ZORYVE foam achieved a 4-point or greater reduction in itch at Week 8, compared to patients treated with vehicle (p = 0.0001). Individuals treated with ZORYVE foam reported a 28% improvement in itch from baseline as early as 48 hours after the first application, compared to 13% of patients treated with vehicle (p=0.0024).
ZORYVE foam was well-tolerated. The incidence of TEAEs was low and similar between active treatment and vehicle, with most TEAEs assessed as mild-to-moderate severity. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events. Overall, the most common adverse events in the study population (over 1%) included nasopharyngitis, nausea and headache.
ARQ-154-214 (Long-Term Safety)
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Study ARQ-154-214 was a multi-center, open label Phase 2 long-term safety study of ZORYVE foam 0.3% applied once daily in subjects with seborrheic dermatitis. This study included subjects who were treated previously in the Phase 2 trial (ARQ-154-203), as well as subjects naive to treatment with ZORYVE foam. Periodic clinic visits assessed clinical safety, application site reactions, and disease improvement, or progression. The study demonstrated sustained durability of results for up to 52 additional weeks of treatment, as well as a favorable safety and tolerability profile consistent with earlier Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies in seborrheic dermatitis.
Scalp Psoriasis
Key Completed Trials
ARRECTOR pivotal Phase 3 Study
The “ARandomized tRial Employing topiCal roflumilasT foam to treat scalp psORiasis” (ARRECTOR) study was a parallel group, double blind, vehicle-controlled pivotal Phase 3 study of the safety and efficacy of ZORYVE foam 0.3% or a matching vehicle administered once-daily in subjects with scalp and body psoriasis ages 12 and older. A total of 432 subjects were enrolled in the study and randomized 2:1 to ZORYVE foam or vehicle. The co-primary endpoints of the study were the proportion of subjects achieving scalp IGA (S-IGA) success and the proportion of subjects achieving body IGA (B-IGA) success, with IGA success on both endpoints defined as an IGA score of ‘clear’ or ‘almost clear’ plus a 2-point improvement from baseline after 8 weeks.
The study met both co-primary endpoints and all secondary endpoints. Specifically, 67.3% of individuals treated with ZORYVE foam achieved S-IGA Success at Week 8, compared to 28.1% of individuals treated with vehicle (P<0.0001), and 46.5% of individuals treated with ZORYVE foam achieved B-IGA Success at Week 8, compared to 20.8% of individuals treated with vehicle (P<0.0001). ZORYVE foam also demonstrated statistically significant improvements compared to vehicle on all secondary endpoints, including scalp itch as measured by Scalp Itch Numeric Rating Scale (SI-NRS) and overall itch as measured by Worst Itch-Numerical Rating Score (WI-NRS).
ZORYVE foam was well-tolerated, with the incidence of TEAEs low and generally similar to vehicle, with most TEAEs assessed as mild-to-moderate severity. Overall, the most common adverse events in the study population (over 2%) included headache, diarrhea, and COVID-19. In the study, 89.0% of patients who were treated with ZORYVE foam completed the full 8 weeks, and few subjects discontinued the study due to adverse events (2.5% of subjects treated with ZORYVE foam and 1.3% of the subjects in the vehicle group).
ARQ-234
In September 2022, we acquired Ducentis and its lead asset, DS-234 (now ARQ-234), a fusion protein that is a potent and highly selective checkpoint agonist of the CD200 Receptor (CD200R). CD200R is an immune-regulatory receptor that is thought to be an important immunological checkpoint with a pivotal role in the maintenance of immune tolerance. Checkpoint agonism is an emerging immunomodulatory approach that works to amplify pathways that inhibit over-active immune cells and suppress unwanted immune responses. ARQ-234 binds to CD200R and has the potential to restore immune homeostasis by inducing inhibitory signaling on immune cells that regulate inflammation.
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CD200R has been validated as a target in atopic dermatitis, with preclinical data for ARQ-234 and clinical data for a similar molecule under development by another company each providing evidence of a robust and durable therapeutic response, even after discontinuation of treatment. Ducentis completed preclinical comparisons of ARQ-234 against the clinically-validated CD200R antibody. The data compare favorably across key metrics including potency, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics and indicated potential differentiation from the clinically-validated CD200R antibody with an improved ability to modulate the CD200R pathway, a longer half-life, and a higher steady state volume of distribution. We plan to develop ARQ-234 in atopic dermatitis, where it could be a potentially highly complementary treatment option to ZORYVE cream in that indication, if approved. We believe the acquisition of this preclinical asset is a transformative opportunity for Arcutis and, in leveraging our team's deep dermatology expertise and broad biologics experience, that our leadership and operational team will enable us to move ARQ-234 into the clinic and through the development process. We are working towards submitting an IND in 2025.
ARQ-255
We are developing ARQ-255, an innovative topical formulation of ivarmacitinib, a potent and highly selective small molecule inhibitor of JAK1, for the treatment of alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to incorrectly attack the body’s own cells, specifically the hair follicles, leading to loss of hair—usually in patches—on the scalp, face, or sometimes other areas of the body. While oral JAK inhibitors have shown symptomatic improvement in the treatment of alopecia areata and baricitinib is FDA approved for this indication, multiple topically applied JAK inhibitors have failed to demonstrate symptomatic improvement in alopecia areata. It is our belief that this discrepancy is due to the site of inflammation driving alopecia areata, deep in the skin at the base (bulb) of the hair follicle. While oral JAK inhibitor administration can achieve required levels of drug at the site of inflammation, conventional topical applications are unlikely to deliver concentrations of JAK inhibitors to the site of inflammation adequate to treat alopecia areata. We have developed a unique drug delivery technology that we refer to as Deep Dermal Drug Delivery (“4D” technology), which we believe may allow us to topically deliver sufficient concentrations of ivarmactinib deep down the hair follicle to the site of inflammation, to potentially treat alopecia areata via topical administration. Additionally, in a nonclinical study, ivarmactinib proved to be highly selective to JAK1 over JAK2. We believe that due to its high selectivity for JAK1 over JAK2, ARQ-255 has the potential to treat inflammatory diseases without causing the hematopoietic adverse effects associated with JAK2 inhibition.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata Background
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that affects about 1 in 500 adults. In alopecia areata, the immune system attacks the body’s own hair follicles—leading to patches of hair loss on the scalp, face, and other areas of the body. Typically, these bald patches appear suddenly and in some patients, can involve the whole body. Recurrence is common and most sufferers will have several episodes during their lifetimes. A small percentage of patients have persistent hair loss even with treatment. Alopecia areata has been shown to lead to significant psychosocial impacts in patients, negatively impacting self-esteem, body image, and/or self-confidence.
Figure: Alopecia Areata
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Current Alopecia Areata Treatment Landscape
In addition to the oral JAK inhibitor baricitinib, which was approved in June 2022, most patients are treated with off-label steroids for alopecia areata.
•JAK inhibitor (baricitinib), approved only for severe alopecia areata and the only JAK inhibitor approved for alopecia areata, however, it carries an extensive black box warning on its label in the United States. Topical JAK inhibitors to date have not demonstrated efficacy in alopecia areata and, other than ARQ-255, we believe that there are no other topical development programs progressing currently.
•Topical and intralesional steroids, typically topical super potent steroids or intralesional injections of triamcinolone, are often prescribed for patients suffering from alopecia areata because of the inflammatory component of the disease. Due to the risks associated with steroid use, including atrophy and systemic exposure from intralesional injections, many physicians try to limit duration or avoid steroid therapy.
A growing body of evidence indicates that inhibition of JAK signaling in alopecia areata can effectively promote hair regrowth. We believe ARQ-255 may present a unique opportunity to treat alopecia areata topically. The current approved treatment option is for oral treatment of severe disease, and we believe that a substantial unmet medical need remains for patients with mild and moderate disease states. In addition, the safety profile of oral baricitinib presents an opportunity for treatment in severe patients who may need to limit the chronic exposure to systemic JAK inhibition and potential risks of cancer, infection, and other identified risks.
ARQ-255 Clinical Development
Alopecia Areata
ARQ-255-126 Study (Phase 1b Study)
We completed enrollment in a Phase 1b study evaluating ARQ-255 for the treatment of alopecia areata and expect data in the first half of 2025. The Phase 1b study is a vehicle-controlled, double-blind, multi-center study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of treatment with ARQ-255 topical suspension 3% or vehicle in healthy adult subjects and individuals with patchy alopecia areata.
ARQ-252
ARQ-252 is an alternative topical cream formulation of ivarmacitinib that we are developing for chronic hand eczema and vitiligo. As the only JAK1-selective topical in development, we believe that ARQ-252 could offer a best-in-class topical JAK inhibitor, with a more favorable safety and tolerability profile than other topical JAK inhibitors due to its selectivity to JAK1 over JAK2, robust symptomatic improvement due to its high potency against JAK1, and a convenient and patient-friendly cream formulation.
In May 2021, we announced that the Phase 1/2b study of ARQ-252 in chronic hand eczema did not meet its primary endpoint, with further analyses of the study pointing to inadequate local drug delivery to the skin. Importantly, there were no safety or tolerability issues seen in that study. Given these analyses, we also elected to terminate the Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating ARQ-252 as a potential treatment in vitiligo, as we began reformulation efforts to develop an enhanced formulation of ARQ-252 that delivers more active drug to targets in the skin. The ARQ-255 formulation, a topical suspension using our 4D technology, is separate and distinct from the ARQ-252 cream formulation, and thus there are no implications to ARQ-255 from ARQ-252.
Chronic Hand Eczema
Eczema is a term used to describe a group of different diseases that cause the skin to become red, itchy, and inflamed. There are multiple forms of eczema, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, hand eczema, dyshidrotic eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis. Eczema is very common, with some estimates that up to 30 million people in the United States may have some form of eczema.
Hand eczema is a common, predominantly inflammatory, skin disease characterized variously by redness, fluid filled blisters or bumps, scaling, cracking, itching, and pain occurring on the hands, especially the palms (see figures below). It is the most common skin disease affecting the hands, with prevalence estimated at up to 2.5% of the population. The impact of hand eczema on patients can be significant, leading to work absences or disability, social stigmatization, and psychosocial distress.
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Figures: Hand Eczema
Current Hand Eczema Treatment Landscape
Hand eczema is a difficult disease to treat. The palms of the hand have skin that can be up to ten times thicker than skin from other body areas, which inhibits drug absorption and the ability to deliver drugs topically. Hand eczema is typically treated with high potency topical steroids, mostly due to the aforementioned skin barrier challenges. In some cases, physicians also will incorporate barrier creams to aid in hydration and to prevent the irritant effect caused by occupational exposure, a common cause of hand eczema. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments specifically for the indication of hand eczema. However, LEO Pharma has reported positive Phase 3 study results for their topical JAK inhibitor, delgocitinib. Physicians report that a significant percentage of patients, including up to 40% of patients with severe dyshidrotic eczema (one type of hand eczema), have an inadequate response to currently available treatments. In those who respond to high potency topical steroids, skin atrophy becomes a problem with chronic use, even on the thick skin of the palms.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a chronic and disfiguring autoimmune disease that causes the complete loss of skin color in blotches or patches, frequently in a symmetrical distribution, and has a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. The disease is caused by the localized destruction by the immune system of melanocytes, the skin cells that produce the skin pigment melanin, resulting in complete depigmentation in the affected area.
Vitiligo can have profound psychological impact on patients, particularly those with skin of color. Patients may feel loss of self-esteem and experience stigmatization. At this point in time, there are no FDA-approved treatments for vitiligo, so patients are often treated with off-label combinations of steroids, TCIs, ultraviolet light, and lasers. As such, there is great unmet need for therapies that are more effective and less limiting than currently available treatment modalities.
Competition
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive, and is characterized by rapid and significant changes, intense competition, and a bias towards proprietary products. We will face competition from many different sources, including major pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and generic drug companies. Any product candidate that we successfully develop and commercialize will compete with existing treatments, including those that may have achieved broad market acceptance, and any new treatment that may become available in the future.
Many of our competitors have greater financial, technical, and human resources than we have. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop or market products or other novel therapies that offer more symptomatic improvement, have a lower risk of side effects, or are less costly than our current or future product candidates.
Our success will be based in part on our ability to identify, develop, and commercialize a portfolio of product candidates that have a lower risk of side effects and/or provide more symptomatic improvement than competing products.
We are aware of several companies that are working to develop drugs that would compete against ZORYVE or our product candidates for the treatment of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, chronic hand eczema, vitiligo, and alopecia areata, including a potential generic version of ZORYVE cream.
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For psoriasis, our primary competitors include injected biologic therapies such as Humira®, marketed by AbbVie Inc. and Eisai Co., Ltd., and Enbrel®, marketed by Amgen Inc.; Pfizer Inc., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited; non-injectable systemic therapies used to treat plaque psoriasis such as Otezla, marketed by Amgen Inc., and Sotyktu®, marketed by Bristol Myers Squibb; topical therapies such as tapinarof, marketed by Organon; branded and generic versions of clobetasol, such as Clobex®, marketed by Galderma Laboratories, LP; generic versions of calcipotriene and the combination of betamethasone dipropionate/calcipotriene; and other treatments including various lasers and ultraviolet light-based therapies.
For atopic dermatitis, our primary competitors include topical therapies such as Eucrisa, marketed by Pfizer Inc.; Opzelura, marketed by Incyte Corporation; which was approved in September 2021, and generic and branded versions of low to mid-potency steroids such as hydrocortisone or triamcinolone. In the moderate-to-severe setting, the injected biologic therapy Dupixent, marketed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; is approved, as well as the recently approved injectable biologic therapy Adbry®, marketed by LEO Pharma. Non-injectable systemic therapies RINVOQ® and CIBINQO® were also recently approved in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. In addition, there are several prescription product candidates under development that could potentially be used to treat atopic dermatitis and compete with ZORYVE cream and ARQ-234, including but not limited to: topical tapinarof, under development by Organon, topical delgocitinib, under development by LEO Pharma A/S and Japan Tobacco, Inc. (approved as Corectim in Japan), topical PF-07038124, under development by Pfizer Inc, topical difamilast ointment, under development by Medimetriks/Otsuka Pharma, injectable lebrikizumab, under development by Eli Lilly and Company, injectable rocatinlimab, under development by Amgen, and injectable amlitelimab, under development by Sanofi.
For alopecia areata, our primary competitors include topical therapies such as branded and generic versions of high potency steroids, including Clobex, marketed by Galderma Laboratories, LP; intralesional corticosteroid injections such as branded and generic versions of triamcinolone, including Kenalog, marketed by Bristol-Myers Squib; and systemic immunosuppressants including generic versions of systemic steroids such as prednisone, branded and generic versions of cyclosporine, including Sandimmune®, marketed by Sandoz, and branded systemic JAK inhibitors, especially Olumiant® (baricitinib), marketed by Eli Lilly and Company, an oral JAK inhibitor and the first FDA-approved treatment for alopecia areata. In addition, there are several prescription product candidates under development that could potentially be used to treat alopecia areata and compete with ARQ-255, including but not limited to: ritlecitinib, under development by Pfizer, Inc., and deuruxolitinib (CTP-543), under development by Concert Pharmaceuticals (being acquired by Sun Pharmaceuticals).
For hand eczema, our primary competitors include topical therapies such as branded and generic versions of clobetasol, such as Clobex, and generic versions of betamethasone dipropionate. The only other prescription product candidate we are aware of under development for the treatment of hand eczema that would compete with ARQ-252 is delgocitinib, under development by LEO Pharma A/S, which has reported positive Phase 3 results.
For vitiligo, our primary competitors include topical therapies such as generic and branded versions of calcineurin inhibitors, including Elidel®, marketed by Bausch Health; branded and generic versions of high potency steroids, including Clobex, marketed by Galderma Laboratories, LP; the topical JAK inhibitor Opzelura, marketed by Incyte Corporation; and other treatments including various lasers and ultraviolet light-based therapies. In addition, there are several prescription product candidates under development that could potentially be used to treat vitiligo and compete with ARQ-255, including but not limited to: oral PF-06651600 and oral PF-06700841, both under development by Pfizer Inc.
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Commercial Operations
We intend to commercialize ZORYVE and our other product candidates ourselves in the United States and Canada within the dermatology specialty. In the United States, we have completed the build-out of our commercial organization, including marketing, market access, sales and marketing operations, and professional relations. We have also built our own focused specialty sales force to target dermatologists in the United States. We may seek partnerships that allow us to target other physicians, especially pediatricians, allergists, and primary care physicians in the United States, to maximize the potential of our product candidates. In Canada, we built the limited infrastructure that we believe is required to support the commercialization of our products in Canada. We may also seek other partners to help us access other geographic markets.
Intellectual Property
Maintaining proprietary rights in our product candidates and technologies will assist in achieving the success of our business. One way in which we obtain and maintain such proprietary rights is by filing patent applications and maintaining patents covering our core technologies and product candidates. Our policy is to file such patent applications in the United States and select foreign countries to better protect our worldwide interests. We also seek to avoid infringing the proprietary rights of others. For this reason, we routinely monitor and evaluate third-party patents and publications, and, if necessary, take appropriate action based on that evaluation. Patent term is based on the filing or grant date of the patent, as well as the governing law of the country in which the patent is obtained. In the United States, some pharmaceutical patents are also eligible for Patent Term Extension, or PTE, which can extend exclusivity for up to five additional years under certain conditions. The protection provided by a patent varies from country to country, and is dependent on the type of patent granted, the scope of the patent claims, and the legal remedies available in a given country.
As of February 25, 2025, we own or have an exclusive license to 32 issued U.S. patents and 58 issued foreign patents, which include granted European patent rights that have been validated in various European Patent Organization (EPO) member states, and 31 pending U.S. patent applications, 200 pending foreign patent applications, including 4 applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Of these patents and patent applications:
•Roflumilast cream & roflumilast foam: As of February 25, 2025, we own 20 issued U.S. patents, three issued Australian patents, three issued Canadian patents, two issued Chinese patents, two issued Eurasian patents, two issued European patents (validated in various EPO member states), one issued Hong Kong patent, two issued Indian patents, two issued Israeli patents, seven issued Japanese patents, three issued Mexican patents, two issued New Zealand patents, and two issued South Korean patents. We also own 19 pending U.S. patent applications, and 76 pending foreign applications (four in Australia, seven in Brazil, five in Canada, ten in China, one in Eurasia, eight in Europe, seven in Hong Kong, two in India, five in Israel, five in Japan, four in Mexico, seven in New Zealand, five in South Korea, three in Singapore, and three under the Patent Cooperation Treaty), relating to a roflumilast cream and/or roflumilast foam. Twelve of our U.S. patents are listed in the FDA’s Orange Book for our roflumilast 0.15% and 0.3% cream products, and thirteen of our U.S. patents are listed in the Orange Book patents for our roflumilast 0.3% foam product. The issued U.S. patent that we have licensed from AstraZeneca claiming a composition of matter encompassing roflumilast, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in roflumilast cream and roflumilast foam, expired on January 27, 2020. Data exclusivity for oral roflumilast expired on January 23, 2021. Our issued patents relating to a roflumilast cream and/or a roflumilast foam contain claims directed to, among other things, pharmaceutical compositions comprising roflumilast and hexylene glycol, pharmaceutical compositions comprising roflumilast and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, pharmaceutical compositions comprising roflumilast and cetostearyl alcohol, dicetyl phosphate, and ceteth-10 phosphate, methods of making such compositions, and methods of treatment using such compositions, methods of treating fungal infections by administering compositions comprising roflumilast, and methods for improving treatment adherence by improving delivery and extending the plasma half-life of a roflumilast composition. These issued U.S. patents relating to roflumilast cream and roflumilast foam will expire not earlier than June 2037. We also have a method of treatment patent for roflumilast foam in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis which expires 2041. Our pending patents relating to roflumilast cream and roflumilast foam contain claims directed to,
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among other things, pharmaceutical compositions comprising roflumilast and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, pharmaceutical compositions comprising roflumilast, cetostearyl alcohol, dicetyl phosphate, and/or ceteth-10 phosphate, methods of treatment using such compositions, methods of manufacturing such compositions, and other aspects of our roflumilast formulations, including unique pharmacokinetic aspects of topical roflumilast compositions.
•ARQ-252& ARQ-255: As of February 25, 2025, we have an exclusive license from Hengrui to six issued U.S. patents, five issued Japanese patents, and five issued EU patents (validated in various EPO member states) relating to ivarmacitinib. These patents and patent applications contain claims directed towards the composition of matter of the ivarmacitinib compound and bisulfate and crystalline forms thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and treatment methods. The issued patents and pending applications, if issued, relating to ivarmacitinib will not begin to expire until December 2032. We own four issued U.S. patents, two issued Japanese patents, and have filed four pending U.S. patent applications and 44 pending foreign patent applications (three in each of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, and New Zealand, two in each of Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam) relating to, among other things, ivarmacitinib compositions and methods of treatment using ivarmacitinib compositions. We anticipate filing additional patent applications directed towards compositions, methods and other aspects of our technology relating to ARQ-252 and ARQ-255 which we may develop in the future.
•ARQ-234 and other CD200 mutant proteins: As of February 25, 2025, we own one issued U.S. patent, one issued Australian patent, one issued Chinese patent, one issued Eurasian patent, one issued Israeli patent, one issued Indian patent, one issued Japanese patent, one issued Mexican patent, two issued South Korean patents, one issued Singapore patent, one issued South African patent, and 3 pending U.S. applications, and 37 pending foreign applications (four in each of Canada and Europe, three in each of China, Japan, and New Zealand, two in each of Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, and South Korea, and one in each of Eurasia, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty), relating to ARQ-234 and other CD200 mutant proteins.
Obtaining patent protection is not the only method that we employ to protect our propriety rights. We also utilize other forms of intellectual property protection, including trademark, and trade secrets, when those other forms are better suited to protect a particular aspect of our intellectual property. Our belief is that our propriety rights are strengthened by our comprehensive approach to intellectual property protection.
Maintaining the confidential nature of our non-publicly disclosed products and technologies is of paramount importance. For this reason, our employees, contractors, consultants, and advisors are required to enter into nondisclosure and invention assignment agreements when their employment or engagement commences. Those individuals also enter into agreements that prohibit the communication or implementation of any third-party proprietary rights during the course of their employment with us. We also require any third-party that may receive our confidential information or materials to enter into confidentiality agreements prior to receipt of that information or material.
License, Collaboration and Co-Promotion Agreements
Kowa Co-Promotion Agreement
In July 2024, we entered into a co-promotion agreement with Kowa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to leverage Kowa's primary care sales force to exclusively market and promote ZORYVE in the United States to primary care practitioners and pediatricians for all FDA-approved indications until at least July 2029. Under the terms of the agreement, Kowa receives a commission from net sales attributed to Kowa. Promotion of ZORYVE in primary care and pediatrics under the Kowa agreement began in late September2024.
Sato License Agreement
On February 27, 2024, we entered into a License Agreement with Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Sato). Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, we grant to Sato an exclusive, sublicensable (under certain circumstances) license under certain patent rights and know-how controlled by us for Sato to develop, conduct medical affairs activities for, manufacture, commercialize, and otherwise exploit roflumilast formulations (the
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Licensed Products) for all therapeutic uses for certain dermatological indications in humans (the Field) in Japan (the Territory).
The License Agreement sets forth each party’s respective obligations with respect to the development, medical affairs activities, manufacture and supply, and commercialization of the Licensed Products. Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, Sato will, at its expense, develop, obtain regulatory approval for, commercialize, and conduct medical affairs activities related to the Licensed Products in the Field in Japan, subject to certain of our approval and oversight rights.
Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, we received an upfront payment of $25.0 million and will potentially receive additional payments (i) up to an aggregate amount of $10.0 million upon the achievement of certain regulatory milestones and (ii) up to an aggregate amount of $30.0 million upon the achievement of certain sales milestones. In addition, on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product basis, commencing from the first commercial sale of such Licensed Product in Japan until the latest of (i) the expiration of the last valid claim in the intellectual property rights licensed by us to Sato under the License Agreement covering such Licensed Product in Japan, (ii) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for such Licensed Product in Japan, or (iii) ten years after the first commercial sale of such Licensed Product in Japan, we will receive low double-digit to mid-teen double-digit percentage royalties on Sato’s, its affiliates’ and sublicensees’ total annual net sales of all Licensed Products, subject to certain royalty reductions.
The term of the License Agreement continues until, on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product basis, the expiration of the Royalty Term. The License Agreement may be terminated by either party in its entirety if the other party commits a material breach, subject to a cure period, or if the other party becomes insolvent. Sato may terminate the License Agreement at-will in its entirety upon 90 days’ written notice. Unless unenforceable under applicable law, we may terminate the License Agreement in its entirety if Sato, its affiliate or sublicensee contests or assists a third party in contesting the scope, validity or enforceability of any patent or patent application licensed by us to Sato. We may also terminate the License Agreement if Sato or any director, officers, employee, agent, affiliate, sublicensee, or subcontractor is charged by a governmental authority for a violation of any anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, sanctions or export or import control laws or regulations, or, subject to the terms of the License Agreement, if Sato, its affiliates and sublicensees do not conduct any material development or commercialization activities of a Licensed Product in Japan for a certain period of time.
Huadong License and Collaboration Agreement
In August 2023, we entered into a license and collaboration agreement (Huadong Agreement) with Hangzhou Zhongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Huadong), a wholly owned subsidiary of Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd., whereby Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we granted to Huadong an exclusive, sublicensable (under certain circumstances) license under certain patent rights and know-how controlled by us for Huadong to develop, conduct medical affairs activities for, manufacture, commercialize and otherwise exploit both ZORYVE cream and ZORYVE foam (the Huadong Licensed Products) for all therapeutic uses for certain dermatological indications (the Field) in Greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Singapore, The Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam) (the Huadong Territories).
The License Agreement sets forth each party’s respective obligations with respect to the development, medical affairs activities, manufacture and supply, and commercialization of the Huadong Licensed Products. Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, Huadong will, at its expense, develop, obtain regulatory approval for, commercialize and conduct medical affairs activities related to the Huadong Licensed Products in the Field in the Huadong Territory, subject to certain of our approval and oversight rights. We will retain exclusive rights for the development, manufacture and commercialization of topical roflumilast outside the Huadong Territories.
Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, we received a net payment of $27.0 million in September 2023, which consisted of a $30.0 million upfront payment less the applicable tax withholding obligation in China of $3.0 million. In addition, we received payments of $3.0 million and $2.0 million in March 2024 and December 2024, respectively, related to the achievement of a development and regulatory milestones. We may also potentially receive additional payments (i) up to an aggregate amount of $19.0 million upon the achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones and (ii) up to an aggregate amount of $40.3 million upon the achievement of certain sales milestones. In addition, on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product and country or region-by-country or region basis, commencing from the first commercial sale of such Licensed Product in such country or region until the latest of (i) the expiration of the last valid claim in the intellectual property rights licensed by us to Huadong under the License Agreement covering such Licensed Product in such country or region, (ii) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for such Licensed Product in such country or region, or (iii) ten years after the first commercial
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sale of such Licensed Product in such country or region (the Royalty Term), we will receive low double-digit to high-teen double-digit percentage royalties on Huadong’s, its affiliates’ and sublicensees’ total net sales, subject to certain royalty reductions.
The term of the License Agreement continues until, on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product and country or region-by-country or region basis, the expiration of the Royalty Term. The License Agreement may be terminated by either party in its entirety if the other party commits a material breach, subject to a cure period, or if the other party becomes insolvent. Huadong may terminate the License Agreement at-will in its entirety upon 90 days’ written notice. Unless unenforceable under applicable law, we may terminate the License Agreement in its entirety if Huadong, its affiliate or sublicensee contests or assists a third party in contesting the scope, validity or enforceability of any patent or patent application licensed by us to Huadong. We may also terminate the License Agreement if Huadong (a) is convicted in a final and non-appealable judgment of a violation of any anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, sanctions or export or import control laws or regulations or (b) any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate, sublicensee or subcontractor of Huadong is convicted in a final and non-appealable judgment of a violation of any anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, sanctions or export or import control laws or regulations in relation to the performance of the License Agreement or, subject to the terms of the License Agreement, if Huadong, its affiliates and sublicensees do not conduct any material development or commercialization activities of a Licensed Product in the Territory for a certain period of time.
See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.
AstraZeneca
In July 2018, we entered into an exclusive license agreement, or the AstraZeneca License Agreement, with AstraZeneca, pursuant to which we obtained a worldwide exclusive license, with the right to sublicense through multiple tiers, under certain AstraZeneca-controlled patent rights, know-how and regulatory documentation, to research, develop, manufacture, commercialize, and otherwise exploit products containing roflumilast in topical forms, as well as delivery systems sold with or for the administration of roflumilast, or collectively, the AZ-Licensed Products, for all diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic uses for human dermatological indications, or the Dermatology Field. Under this agreement, we have sole responsibility for development, regulatory, and commercialization activities for the AZ-Licensed Products in the Dermatology Field, at our expense, and we shall use commercially reasonable efforts to develop, obtain, and maintain regulatory approvals for, and commercialize the AZ-Licensed Products in the Dermatology Field in each of the United States, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Japan.
We paid AstraZeneca an upfront non-refundable cash payment of $1.0 million and issued 484,388 shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock, valued at $3.0 million on the date of the AstraZeneca License Agreement. We subsequently paid AstraZeneca the first milestone cash payment of $2.0 million upon the completion of a Phase 2b study of roflumilast cream in plaque psoriasis in August 2019 for the achievement of positive Phase 2 data for an AZ-Licensed Product. We also paid AstraZeneca $7.5 million upon ZORYVE cream's FDA approval of ZORYVE cream 0.3% and have agreed to make additional cash payments to AstraZeneca of up to an aggregate of $5.0 million upon the achievement of specific regulatory approval milestones with respect to the AZ-Licensed Products. We paid AstraZeneca $5.0 million upon achievement of $100.0 million in worldwide net sales and have agreed to make an additional payment of $10.0 million when the company achieves $250.0 million in worldwide net sales. With respect to any AZ-Licensed Products we commercialize under the AstraZeneca License Agreement, we will pay AstraZeneca a low to high single-digit percentage royalty rate on our, our affiliates’, and our sublicensees’ net sales of such AZ-Licensed Products, subject to specified reductions, until, as determined on an AZ-Licensed Product-by-AZ-Licensed Product and country-by-country basis, the later of the date of the expiration of the last-to-expire AstraZeneca-licensed patent right containing a valid claim in such country and ten years from the first commercial sale of such AZ-Licensed Product in such country. We began making quarterly royalty payments in the first quarter of 2023.
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The agreement continues in effect until the expiration of all royalty obligations as described above, unless earlier terminated: (1) by either party upon written notice for the other party’s material breach or insolvency event if such party fails to cure such breach or the insolvency event is not dismissed within specified time periods; (2) by AstraZeneca if we, our affiliates, or our sublicensees take actions to invalidate AstraZeneca-licensed patent rights, or if we permanently cease development of all AZ-Licensed Products, and an AZ-Licensed Product is not being commercialized by us; or (3) by us upon 120 days’ written notice or in the event of certain adverse clinical trial or other regulatory outcomes. In the event the agreement is terminated, except by us for AstraZeneca’s material breach or in the event of certain adverse clinical trial or other regulatory outcomes, we will be obligated to pay a termination fee in the amount of $5.0 million or 3% of net sales of AZ-Licensed Products for the 3-year period following the first regulatory approval of an AZ-Licensed Product, whichever is greater.
Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd
In January 2018, we entered into an exclusive option and license agreement, or the Hengrui License Agreement, with Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd, or Hengrui, whereby Hengrui granted us an exclusive option to obtain certain exclusive rights to research, develop, and commercialize products containing the compound designated by Hengrui as ivarmacitinib, a potent and selective JAK1 inhibitor, in topical formulations for the treatment of skin diseases, disorders, and conditions, or the Field, in the United States, Japan, and the EU (including for clarity the United Kingdom), or the Territory.
In December 2019, we exercised our exclusive option, and also contemporaneously amended the agreement to expand the territory to additionally include Canada, and therefore now have a license from Hengrui under certain patent rights and know-how controlled by Hengrui to research, develop and commercialize products containing ivarmacitinib in the Field in the Territory. Such license is sublicensable through multiple tiers, exclusive as to the patent rights licensed from Hengrui and nonexclusive with respect to the know-how licensed from Hengrui, and does not extend to patent rights for improvements to ivarmacitinib which Hengrui may come to control in the future unless otherwise mutually agreed by the parties. In addition, we have sole responsibility for development, regulatory, marketing and commercialization activities to be conducted for the licensed products in the Field and in the Territory, at our sole cost and discretion, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (1) develop at least one licensed product and to (2) commercialize the licensed products following regulatory approval thereof. Pursuant to the Hengrui License Agreement, a joint coordination committee reviews the progress of development and commercialization of each parties’ products containing ivarmacitinib in their respective territories and fields.
During the term of the Hengrui License Agreement, if we acquire or develop certain JAK inhibitor products that are not controlled by Hengrui, or Competing Products, we must negotiate in good faith with Hengrui whether to terminate the agreement or license to Hengrui the right to develop and commercialize such Competing Product in China. During the term of the Hengrui License Agreement, Hengrui will not develop or commercialize ivarmacitinib or any licensed product in the Field in the Territory. Additionally, if Hengrui decides to develop or commercialize a non-topical formulation of ivarmacitinib for the treatment of certain dermatologic indications in the Territory, we have the first right to negotiate a co-development and/or co-commercialization agreement with Hengrui for the same. We also have the right of first refusal if Hengrui decides to out-license a non-topical formulation of ivarmacitinib for the treatment of certain dermatologic indications in the Territory to a third-party during such period.
We made a $0.4 million upfront non-refundable cash payment to Hengrui upon execution of the Hengrui License Agreement option and license agreement. We also made a $1.5 million cash payment in connection with the exercise of our exclusive option. In addition, we have agreed to make cash payments of up to an aggregate of $20.5 million upon our achievement of specified clinical development and regulatory approval milestones with respect to the licensed products and cash payments of up to an additional aggregate of $200.0 million in sales-based milestones based on achieving certain aggregate annual net sales volumes with respect to a licensed product. With respect to any products we commercialize under the agreement, we will pay tiered royalties to Hengrui on net sales of each licensed product by us, or our affiliates, or our sublicensees, ranging from mid single-digit to sub-teen percentage rates based on tiered annual net sales bands subject to specified reductions. We are obligated to pay royalties until the later of (1) the expiration of the last valid claim of the licensed patent rights covering such licensed product in such country and (2) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for the relevant licensed product in the relevant country, on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis. Additionally, we are obligated to pay Hengrui a specified percentage, ranging from the low-thirties to the sub-teens, of certain non-royalty sublicensing income we receive from sublicensees of our rights to the licensed products, such percentage decreasing as the development stage of the licensed products advance.
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The agreement continues in effect until the expiration of our obligation to pay royalties as described above, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the following: (1) by either party upon written notice for the other party’s material breach or insolvency event if such party fails to cure such breach or the insolvency event is not dismissed within specified time periods; and (2) by us for convenience upon 90 days prior written notice to Hengrui and having discussed and consulted any potential cause or concern with Hengrui in good faith.
In June 2022, we entered into a side letter agreement with Hengrui and one of its subsidiaries to extend certain rights and obligations under the Hengrui License Agreement to the subsidiary under specified circumstances, including a change of control of such subsidiary. See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Government Regulation
Government authorities in the United States, at the federal, state, and local level, and in other countries and jurisdictions extensively regulate, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, quality control, approval, packaging, storage, recordkeeping, labeling, advertising, promotion, distribution, marketing, post-approval monitoring and reporting, and import and export of pharmaceutical products. We, along with any third-party contractors, will be required to navigate the various nonclinical, clinical, and commercial approval requirements of the governing regulatory agencies of the countries in which we wish to conduct studies or seek approval of our products and product candidates. The processes for obtaining regulatory approvals in the United States and in foreign countries and jurisdictions, along with subsequent compliance with applicable statutes and regulations and other regulatory authorities, require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources.
U.S. Drug Development Process
In the United States, the FDA regulates drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and its implementing regulations. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local, and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. The process required by the FDA before a drug may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:
•completion of nonclinical laboratory tests, animal studies, and formulation studies in accordance with FDA’s Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requirements and other applicable regulations;
•submission to the FDA of an Investigational New Drug application (IND) which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin;
•approvalby an independent Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethicscommitteeat eachclinicalsite beforeeachtrialmay be initiated;
•performance of adequateandwell-controlledhumanclinical trials in accordance with good clinical practices (GCP) to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug for its intended use;
•preparation of and submission to the FDA of an NDA after completion of all pivotal trials;
•a determination by the FDA within 60 days of its receipt of an NDA to file the application for review;
•satisfactory completion of an FDA advisory committee review, if applicable;
•satisfactory completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the drug is produced to assess compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements to assure that the facilities, methods, and controls are adequate to preserve the drug’s identity, strength, quality, and purity, and potential inspection of selected clinical investigation sites to assess compliance with GCPs; and
•FDA review and approval of the NDA to permit commercial marketing of the product for particular indications for use in the United States.
Pharmaceutical product development for a new product or certain changes to an approved product in the United States typically involves nonclinical laboratory and animal tests, the submission to the FDA of an IND, which must become effective before clinical testing may commence, and adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to establish the safety and effectiveness of the drug for each indication for which FDA approval is sought. Satisfaction
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of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes many years and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity, and novelty of the product or disease.
Nonclinical tests include laboratory evaluation of product chemistry, formulation, and toxicity, as well as animal studies to assess the characteristics and potential safety and activity of the product. The conduct of the nonclinical tests must comply with federal regulations and requirements, including GLP requirements, when applicable. The results of preclinical testing are submitted to the FDA as part of an IND along with other information, including information about product chemistry, manufacturing, and control, and a proposed clinical trial protocol. Long-term nonclinical tests, such as animal studies evaluating reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity, may continue after the IND is submitted. An IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless before that time the FDA raises concerns or questions related to one or more proposed clinical trials and places the clinical trial on a clinical hold. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical trial can begin. As a result, submission of an IND may not result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to commence.
Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational drug product to healthy volunteers or patients under the supervision of a qualified investigator. Clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with GCP requirements, an international standard meant to protect the rights and health of patients and to define the roles of clinical trial sponsors, administrators, and monitors. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives of the trial, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety, and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol involving testing on U.S. patients and subsequent protocol amendments must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND.A separate submission to the existing IND must be made for each successive clinical trial conducted during product development and for any subsequent protocol amendments. While the IND is active, progress reports summarizing the results of the clinical trials and nonclinical studies performed since the last progress report must be submitted at least annually to the FDA, and written IND safety reports must be submitted to the FDA and investigators for serious and unexpected suspected adverse events, findings from other studies suggesting a significant risk to humans exposed to the same or similar drugs, findings from animal or in vitro testing suggesting a significant risk to humans, and any clinically important increased incidence of a serious suspected adverse reaction compared to that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure.
Furthermore, an independent IRB for each site proposing to conduct each clinical trial must review and approve the plan for any clinical trial and its informed consent form before the clinical trial begins at that site and must monitor the study until completed. Some studies also include oversight by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the clinical study sponsor, known as a data safety monitoring board, which provides authorization forwhetherornotastudy may move forward at designated check points based on access to certain data from the study and may halt the clinical trial if it determines that there is an unacceptable safety risk for subjects or other grounds, such as no demonstration of efficacy. Depending on its charter, this group may determine whether a trial may move forward at designated check points based on access to certain data from the trial. The FDA or the sponsor may suspend a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research subjects or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s requirements or if the drug has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients. There are also requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical studies and clinical study results to public registries.
Clinical trials to support NDAs for marketing approval are typically conducted in three sequential phases, but the phases may overlap or be combined:
•Phase 1: The product candidate is initially introduced into healthy human subjects or patients with the target disease or condition. These studies are designed to test the safety, dosage tolerance, absorption, metabolism, and distribution of the investigational product in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses, and, if possible, to gain early evidence on effectiveness.
•Phase 2: The product candidate is administered to a limited patient population with a specified disease or condition to evaluate the preliminary efficacy, optimal dosages and dosing schedule, and to identify possible adverse side effects and safety risks. Multiple Phase 2 clinical trials may be conducted to obtain information prior to beginning larger Phase 3 clinical trials.
•Phase 3: The product candidate is administered to an expanded patient population to further evaluate dosage, to provide statistically significant evidence of clinical efficacy and to further test for safety, generally at multiple geographically dispersed clinical trial sites. These clinical trials are intended to
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establish the overall risk/benefit ratio of the investigational product and to provide an adequate basis for product approval.
In some cases, the FDA may require, or companies may voluntarily pursue, additional clinical trials after a product is approved to gain more information about the product. These so-called Phase 4 studies, may be conducted after initial marketing approval, and may be used to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication. In certain instances, the FDA may mandate the performance of Phase 4 clinical trials as a condition of approval of an NDA.
Concurrent with clinical trials, developers usually complete additional animal studies and must also develop additional information about the chemistry and physical characteristics of the drug and finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product candidate and, among other things, the manufacturer must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality, and purity of the final drug. In addition, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested, and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.
FDA Review and Approval Process
Assuming successful completion of the required clinical studies in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements, an NDA is prepared and submitted to the FDA. FDA approval of the NDA is required before marketing of the product may begin in the United States. The NDA must include the results of all nonclinical, clinical, and other testing, and a compilation of data relating to the product’s pharmacology, chemistry, manufacture, and controls.Data can come from company-sponsored clinical studies intended to test the safety and effectiveness of a use of the product, or from a number of alternative sources, including studies initiated by independent investigators. The cost of preparing and submitting an NDA is substantial. The submission of most NDAs is additionally subject to a substantial application user fee, and the manufacturer and/or sponsor of an approved NDA is also subject to an annual program fee. Waivers of application user fees may be obtained in certain limited circumstances.
The FDA has 60 days from its receipt of an NDA to determine whether the application will be accepted for review, or “filed” by FDA, based on the FDA’s threshold determination that it is sufficiently complete to permit substantive review. The FDA may refuse to file any NDA that it deems incomplete or not properly reviewable at the time of submission and may request additional information. In this event, the additional information must be included in any resubmitted NDA, which is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth review. Under the PDUFA guidelines that are currently in effect, the FDA has a goal of ten months from the filing date to complete a standard review of an NDA for a drug that is a new molecular entity (NME), and of ten months from the date of NDA receipt to complete a standard review of an NDA for a drug that is not an NME. These review periods may be reduced from ten months to six months for an application designated for priority review.
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The FDA may also refer applications for novel drug products, or drug products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy, to an advisory committee—typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts—for review, evaluation, and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved. The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee, but it generally follows such recommendations.
Before approving an NDA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure compliance with GCP requirements. Additionally, the FDA will generally inspect the facility or the facilities at which the drug is manufactured to ensure the facility is compliant with cGMP requirementsand adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. Additionally, before approving an NDA, the FDA may inspect one or more clinical trial sites to assure compliance with GCPs.
After the FDA evaluates the NDA and conducts any necessary inspections, it will issue either an approval letter or a complete response letter (CRL).An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the product with specific prescribing information for specific indications. A CRL will describe all of the deficiencies that the FDA has identified in the NDA, except that where the FDA determines that the data supporting the application are inadequate to support approval, the FDA may issue the CRL without first conducting required inspections and/or reviewing proposed labeling. In issuing the CRL, the FDA may recommend actions that the applicant might take to place the NDA in condition for approval, including requests for additional information or clarification. If, or when, those deficiencies have been addressed to the FDA’s satisfaction in a resubmission of the NDA, the FDA will typically issue an approval letter. The FDA has committed to reviewing such resubmissions in two or six months depending on the type of information included.
If regulatory approval of a product is granted, such approval will be granted for particular indications and may include limitations on the indicated uses for which such product may be marketed. For example, as a condition of approving an NDA, the FDA may require a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) to help ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the potential risks. A REMS is a safety strategy to manage a known or potential serious risk associated with a medicine and to enable patients to have continued access to such medicine by managing its safe use, and can include medication guides, communication plans for healthcare professionals, and elements to assure safe use, or ETASU. ETASU can include, but are not limited to, special training or certification for prescribing or dispensing, dispensing only under certain circumstances, special monitoring, and the use of patient registries. The requirement for a REMS can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the drug. The FDA also may condition approval on, among other things, changes to proposed labeling or the development of adequate controls and specifications. The FDA may also require one or more Phase 4 post-market studies and surveillance to further assess and monitor the product’s safety and effectiveness after commercialization, and the labeling and prescribing information for the product may be changed based on the results of these post-marketing studies.
Changes to the conditions established in an approved NDA, including changes in indications, labeling, or manufacturing processes or facilities, require a submission to the FDA in the form of an NDA supplement or as part of the NDA Annual Report. FDA approval prior to implementation is required for most major changes, and the FDA’s timeline for review varies according to the type of change being made. An NDA supplement for a new indication typically requires clinical data, and the FDA uses the same general procedures when reviewing such NDA efficacy supplements as it does in reviewing original NDAs.
Pediatric Information
The Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA) as amended, requires a sponsor to conduct pediatric clinical trials for most drugs, for a new active ingredient, new indication, new dosage form, new dosing regimen or new route of administration. Under PREA, original NDAs and supplements must contain a pediatric assessment unless the sponsor has received a deferral or waiver. The required clinical assessment must evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the product for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective. The sponsor or FDA may request a deferral of required pediatric clinical trials for some or all of the pediatric subpopulations. A deferral may be granted for several reasons, including a finding that the drug is ready for approval for use in adults before pediatric clinical trials are complete or that additional safety or effectiveness data needs to be collected before the pediatric clinical trials begin. The FDA must send a non-compliance letter to any sponsor that fails to submit the required assessment, keep a deferral current or fails to submit a request for approval of a pediatric formulation. In addition, the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, or BPCA, provides NDA holders a six month extension of any exclusivity—patent or nonpatent—for a drug, if a sponsor conducts clinical trials in children in response to a written
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request from the FDA. The issuance of a written request does not require the sponsor to undertake the described clinical trials.
Expedited Development and Review Programs
The FDA offers a number of expedited development and review programs for qualifying product candidates. For example, the Fast Track program is intended to expedite or facilitate the process for reviewing new product candidates that are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the disease or condition. Fast Track designation applies to the combination of the product and the specific indication for which it is being studied. The sponsor of a Fast Track product candidate has opportunities for more frequent interactions with the applicable FDA review team during development and, once an NDA is submitted, the product candidate may be eligible for priority review. A Fast Track product candidate may also be eligible for rolling review, where the FDA may consider for review sections of the NDA on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted, if the sponsor provides a schedule for the submission of the sections of the NDA, the FDA agrees to accept sections of the NDA and determines that the schedule is acceptable, and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the NDA.
A product candidate intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition may also be eligible for Breakthrough Therapy designation to expedite its development and review. A product candidate can receive Breakthrough Therapy designation if preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product candidate, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs or biologics, may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. The designation includes all of the Fast Track program features, as well as more intensive FDA interaction and guidance beginning as early as Phase 1 and an organizational commitment to expedite the development and review of the product candidate, including involvement of senior managers.
Any marketing application for a drug submitted to the FDA for approval, including a product candidate with a Fast Track designation and/or Breakthrough Therapy designation, may be eligible for other types of FDA programs intended to expedite the FDA review and approval process, such as priority review and accelerated approval. An NDA for a product candidate is eligible for priority review if the product candidate is designed to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and if approved, would provide a significant improvement in safety or effectiveness compared to available alternatives for such disease or condition. For new-molecular-entity NDAs, priority review designation means the FDA’s goal is to take action on the marketing application within six months of the 60-day filing date.
Additionally, product candidates studied for their safety and effectiveness in treating serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions may receive accelerated approval upon a determination that the product has an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, or on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. As a condition of accelerated approval, the FDA will generally require the sponsor to perform adequate and well-controlled confirmatory clinical studies to verify and describe the anticipated effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit. Products receiving accelerated approval may be subject to expedited withdrawal procedures if the sponsor fails to conduct the required confirmatory studies in a timely manner or if such studies fail to verify the predicted clinical benefit. In addition, the FDA currently requires as a condition for accelerated approval pre-approval of promotional materials, which could adversely impact the timing of the commercial launch of the product.
Fast Track designation, Breakthrough Therapy designation, priority review, and accelerated approval do not change the standards for approval, but may expedite the development or approval process. Even if a product candidate qualifies for one or more of these programs, the FDA may later decide that the product no longer meets the conditions for qualification or decide that the time period for FDA review or approval will not be shortened.
Orphan drug designation and exclusivity
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Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug intended to treat a rare disease or condition, defined as a disease or condition with a patient population of fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 individuals in the United States and when there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available the drug in the United States will be recovered from sales in the United States for that drug. Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting an NDA. After the FDA grants orphan drug designation, the generic identity of the therapeutic agent and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA.