Compound class:
Antibody
Comment: COVA322 is a bispecific TNF/IL-17A inhibitor that was designed by Covagen for the treatment of inflammatory diseases including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis [2]. Structurally COVA322 is a fusion protein containing an antibody that binds to TNF (in this case the light chain of adalimumab) and a Fyn SH3-derived protein (Fynomer) that binds to IL-17A [1]. The fusion protein was produced in transiently transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. COVA322 was able to simultaneously bind TNF and IL-17A.
Clinical development of COVA322 was discontinued due to an unacceptable safety profile that was detected in Phase 1 trial. |
| No information available. |
Summary of Clinical Use  |
| COVA322 was advanced to Phase 1a/2b clinical evaluation in patients with stable chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The agent was found to be unsafe and the trial was terminated. |
| Mechanism Of Action and Pharmacodynamic Effects |
| Dual TNF/IL-17A inhibition was proposed as a superior mechanism to achieve efficacy in diseases where activation of the pro-inflammatory Th17/IL-17 pathway limits the effectiveness of single agent TNF inhibition. |
| Clinical Trials | |||||
| Clinical Trial ID | Title | Type | Source | Comment | References |
| NCT02243787 | Safety and Tolerability Study of COVA322 in Patients With Stable Chronic Moderate-to-severe Plaque Psoriasis | Phase 1/Phase 2 Interventional | Covagen | ||
