Anacor Pharmaceuticals initiates AN2728, AN2898 Phase 2 trial in mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis

Anacor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ANAC) announced today that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 2 trial of AN2728 and AN2898 to determine safety, tolerability and efficacy of the two compounds for the topical treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.

The Phase 2 trial is a six-week, double-blind, randomized, bilateral trial evaluating each product candidate against its vehicle in 60 to 80 adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis. The primary outcome measure will be the improvement of lesions treated with 2% AN2728 ointment or 1% AN2898 ointment compared to lesions treated with the corresponding ointment vehicle. Improvement of the lesions will be based on the Atopic Dermatitis Severity Index (ADSI) score. Results from this trial are expected in the second half of 2011.

AN2728 and AN2898 are boron-based small-molecule compounds which inhibit the activity of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4), thereby reducing the production of a range of pro-inflammatory cytokines that are thought to be associated with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

"Both AN2728 and AN2898 have demonstrated efficacy in human clinical trials of psoriasis," said David Perry, Chief Executive Officer of Anacor Pharmaceuticals. "Pre-clinical studies suggest that they may also be effective in treating atopic dermatitis. This trial is intended to understand the potential of each compound to treat the disease, and, if effective, determine which compound to progress further in development."