A novel dual JAK1/TYK2 inhibitor has shown promising results in treating non-infectious anterior uveitis (NIAU), potentially offering an alternative to corticosteroid therapy. VivaVision Biotech recently announced positive topline results from its Phase 2 clinical trial of VVN461 for NIAU conducted in China.
The multicenter, double-masked, randomized, active-controlled study enrolled 86 patients across 10 clinical sites in China. Participants were randomized into three treatment groups: VVN461 1.0%, VVN461 0.5%, and prednisolone acetate 1.0% (the current first-line corticosteroid therapy). All patients received their assigned treatments for 28 days.
Efficacy and Safety Results
Both concentrations of VVN461 ophthalmic solution demonstrated non-inferior efficacy compared to prednisolone acetate for the primary endpoint. Patients treated with VVN461 achieved a two-step decrease in anterior chamber cells (ACC) grade versus those treated with prednisolone acetate (p<0.001). The ACC measurements were evaluated using the standardized SUN (Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature) grading scale.
The VVN461 treatment groups showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements from baseline across most primary and secondary endpoints, with efficacy comparable to the prednisolone acetate group. Importantly, no substantial treatment-related adverse events were reported during the trial, suggesting an excellent safety profile for the investigational therapy.
Clinical Significance
"I am very pleased to see that VVN461 showed non-inferior efficacy to prednisolone acetate in the phase 2 clinical trial for NIAU in China," said Professor Liu Yang, Director of Ophthalmology at Peking University First Hospital. "This is a very significant and potentially disruptive progress in treating uveitis. We hope that this safe, highly efficacious and accessible non-steroidal medicine, VVN461 would be available to benefit patients in near future."
The development of an effective non-steroidal treatment for NIAU represents a significant advancement in ophthalmology. Uveitis is a major cause of vision loss, accounting for approximately 10-20% of cases of acquired legal blindness. The condition often recurs after treatment and can become chronic.
Disease Burden and Current Treatment Landscape
Uveitis affects approximately 3 million patients in China, with roughly 60% of cases classified as non-infectious anterior uveitis. Current standard treatment relies heavily on topical and systemic corticosteroids, such as prednisolone and methylprednisolone. However, long-term corticosteroid use is associated with significant side effects, and literature confirming their reliability and efficacy is limited.
According to data from the North American Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) registry, systemic corticosteroids are utilized in treating approximately 94% of children with non-infectious uveitis at some point during the course of the disease, highlighting the need for alternative treatment options.
Next Steps for VVN461
VivaVision has scheduled discussions with the Chinese Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) and plans to request a type C meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding Phase 3 clinical trials and a potential biologics license application (BLA).
This is not the first success for VVN461 in ophthalmology. In December 2024, VivaVision announced another successful trial of the compound for treating postoperative inflammation, which is currently in Phase 1 testing and awaiting FDA approval.
The company expects to report full data from the NIAU trial in future publications at conferences and in scientific journals. If approved, VVN461 could provide a valuable non-steroidal treatment option for patients with NIAU, potentially reducing reliance on corticosteroids and their associated side effects.
