Sanofi Ends Trial of Oditrasertib

French pharmaceutical company Sanofi has ended the phase 2 trial of its investigational receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) inhibitor oditrasertib in people with MS. The molecule failed to meet primary and secondary endpoints.

The trial compared oditrasertib against placebo in 174 adults (ages 18-60 years) with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) (relapsing or non-relapsing), or primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). The primary endpoint was the change in neurofilament light chain (NfL) blood levels after a 48-week double-blinded period and an additional 48-week open-label period when all participants received oditrasertib.

Nfl is a biomarker commonly used to gauge disease activity in neurodegenerative disorders, such as MS. The neuronal protein is released into the bloodstream in response to nerve damage. A decrease in Nfl blood levels after treatment usually indicates a positive response to the therapy. The study results showed no difference between oditrasertib and placebo in Nfl levels after the blinded or open-label study periods.

Oditrasertib is an oral brain penetrant investigational RIPK1 inhibitor originally developed by Incro Pharmaceuticals. In 2016, Denali Therapeutics acquired Incro and its RIPK1 inhibitor portfolio. Two years later, Sanofi paid Denali $125 million upfront to further develop oditrasertib and another lead investigational RIPK1 inhibitor.

RIPK1 is a protein associated with inflammation and nerve cell death and has been found to correlate with MS disease progression. Drugmakers hoped that inhibiting the kinase would decrease inflammation and reduce neuronal degeneration in patients with MS and other neurodegenerative conditions.

No active clinical trials remain for oditrasertib.