WOBURN, Mass. — Orogen Therapeutics announced the selection of two experimental oral drug candidates, ORO-110 and ORO-210, for the treatment of inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases, following promising results in preclinical studies.
The company said both candidates demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory activity and favorable pharmacological characteristics, supporting their advancement toward human clinical trials.
ORO-110 is an oral small-molecule inhibitor targeting IL-17, a protein involved in inflammatory responses. In preclinical models of joint inflammation, the treatment reduced inflammation at levels comparable to a leading anti-IL-17 antibody while outperforming a competing oral small-molecule treatment at a substantially lower dose.
The drug is designed to selectively inhibit IL-17 AA and IL-17 AF while preserving IL-17 FF activity, which plays an important role in protecting against certain infections. Orogen reported no adverse events in the preclinical inflammation model or safety concerns in preliminary toxicity studies.
ORO-210 is a dual-target inhibitor of JAK1 and TYK2, two proteins involved in immune system signaling. In preclinical models of atopic dermatitis, the drug demonstrated broad anti-inflammatory activity and a potentially improved safety profile compared with a competing treatment.
The company said ORO-210 is designed to inhibit multiple inflammatory pathways while limiting effects on JAK2, which could help reduce certain treatment-related risks.
“Oral options represent an important frontier in the treatment of a range of inflammatory disorders where treatment with biologic antibodies has room for improvement,” said Percio Gulko, MD, professor of medicine and former chief of rheumatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and medical advisor to Orogen.
“As next-generation oral medicines, ORO-110 and ORO-210 show strong promise in addressing unmet needs in a broad range of patients for whom treatment options to date are suboptimal and where effective oral therapies could expand treatment options and support earlier intervention, subject to clinical evidence,” Gulko added.
Orogen is conducting investigational new drug-enabling studies and manufacturing activities to prepare both candidates for clinical development.
The company expects to begin first-in-human dosing for ORO-110 in late 2027, followed by ORO-210 in early 2028.
Potential indications for ORO-110 include psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. ORO-210 may be evaluated for atopic dermatitis, Sjogren’s disease, sclerotic diseases, sarcoidosis and lupus.
“Advancing ORO-110 and ORO-210 to development candidate status are important milestones for Orogen,” said Mark Pykett, chief executive officer of Orogen Therapeutics.
“We are encouraged by the rapid progress the company has made on these programs, culminating in nomination of our first drug candidates in only two years since company inception,” Pykett added.
The company said the preclinical findings provide a foundation for advancing both treatments into human studies, where their safety and effectiveness will require further evaluation.
