Rapt Therapeutics Stops Development of Asthma, Atopic Dermatitis Drug Candidate After Reaction Sidelines Trials

RAPT

By Ben Glickman

Rapt Therapeutics said Monday it would stop developing its one of its lead drug candidates after a patient had a reaction that required a liver transplant.

The South San Francisco, Calif., biopharmaceutical company in May shut down two trials of zelnecirnon, which was being evaluated as a treatment for asthma and atopic dermatitis.

The trials were placed on clinical hold by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February after one patient in the atopic dermatitis trial experienced a serious adverse event of liver injury requiring transplant.

Rapt said that after additional feedback from the FDA, it does not see a path forward for the drug candidate program.

The company said no other liver toxicity or serious adverse events had been reported in any other trial participants.

Shares of Rapt fell about 49% in pre-market trading after announcing the news. Shares have already shed about 88% since the start of the year.

Zelnecirnon is one of two lead candidates for Rapt. The other is a potential cancer-treating drug called tivumecirnon.

Write to Ben Glickman at ben.glickman@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

11-11-24 0854ET