For a pharma company with about $5 billion in revenue, a couple of respectably sized blockbuster drugs on the market and some high-profile partners like Amgen, Belgiums UCB has kept an unusually low profile on the pipeline side of things over the years.

Until now.

Just days after striking a $2.1 billion deal to buy Ra Pharmaceuticals and its C5 rival to Soliris, UCB is posting positive top-line Phase III results for a dual IL-17 inhibitor that its steering into one of the most competitive commercial spaces in the industry. And despite plenty of obvious challenges as they struggle to roll out Evenity with Amgen and patent expirations loom on its franchise drugs, including Cimzia, the company just may be ready to tackle some of the biggest players on the planet.

In their first of 3 Phase III studies for bimekizumab, researchers touted top-line wins on statistically significant results on clearing plaque psoriasis, including a victory over J&Js IL-23 contender Stelara on key endpoints. The drug targets both IL-17A and IL-17F, a modification on the IL-17A strategy laid out for Taltz (Eli Lilly) and Cosentyx (Novartis). And the new group also includes J&Js Tremfya and AbbVies Skyrizi.

We dont know the PASI90 and IGA scores but UCB knows that with the kind of heavyweight competition it faces with Novartis and others, marginal gains for patients wont stack up. So well be watching for the hard numbers. And theres another head-to-head with Cosentyx that will play a big role in pushing up analysts projections on peak sales, which currently fall well short of blockbuster status.

UCB hasnt exactly been in the spotlight for the last few years, but its in a position now that the company has to win some respect in R&D, with blockbuster projects that can keep investors attention at a time the industry is experiencing booming R&D development efforts around the planet.

It hasnt been easy. There was a setback on a lupus drug partnered with Biogen. But there have been some advances, with a deal to buy Proximagens NDA-ready nasal spray therapy USL261, designed as a rescue therapy for acute repetitive seizures, for $150 million in cash and another $220 million in sales and regulatory milestones. There was even a report that the company was kicking the deflated tires at Acorda, though nothing came of that.

Late last year UCB also committed to spend up to 200 million on a new R&D hub in the UK.

That may not translate into a lot of excitement right now, but theyre trying. And theres a subtle promise that more deals may be in the works.

Social image: UCB

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UCB tries to win some respect in the crowded psoriasis market with a dual IL-17 approach and it won't be easy - Endpoints News