BioCryst announces drug discovery updates ahead of R&D day

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals announced updates from its drug discovery process and additional therapies from its pipeline that the company will highlight at a research and development day today. The company said, “We have significantly diversified our pipeline and we continue to be disciplined around decisions to invest further only when a program meets the high bar we have set of first-in-class or best-in-class. We believe the combination of Orladeyo, our exciting pipeline and our financial strength, position us to continue to make a big difference in patients’ lives, and that leads to sustainable growth for years to come.” The company expects to begin clinical trials of BCX17725, a fusion protein KLK5 Inhibitor for treatment of Netherton syndrome, in 2024. For its oral C5 Inhibitor, the company expects to complete lead optimization in 2024 and begin clinical trials in 2025. It also expects to submit a U.S. supplemental new drug application for the pediatric use of Orladeyo in 2025. BioCryst’s said it focus on “best-in-class or first-in-class investment criteria,” and the lower investment cost of earlier stage programs, are expected to limit 2024 R&D spending to a total of between $230M and $240M across all programs. This represents an increase from projected 2023 R&D spending of $25M to $35M.