Elevara: Targeting a non-immune driver of rheumatoid arthritis

Autoimmune disease is one of biopharma’s busiest areas, but that enthusiasm has largely skipped rheumatoid arthritis, where no new mechanism has been approved since the first JAK inhibitor in 2012. London-based Elevara is hoping to break the impasse in the indication by repurposing a target better known from oncology, CDK4/6, into what it believes could become the first therapy for RA designed to address a non-immune driver of the disease.

Part of the reason RA draws less attention than other immunology indications may be the success of existing biologics, including TNF inhibitors such as Humira adalimumab. But Elevara Medicines Ltd. CEO Emma Tinsley believes that meaningful opportunity remains, as standard-of-care treatments lead to partial responses in roughly 50% of patients...