MoonLake's psoriatic arthritis drug meets key goals in late-stage trial

MoonLake Immunotherapeutics

10/08/2026 13:05

Aug 10 (Reuters) - MoonLake Immunotherapeutics MLTX.O said on Monday its experimental drug met all main goals in a late-stage trial involving adults with an inflammatory disease who had not previously received biologic medicines.
In the study, 42.1% of patients with psoriatic arthritis receiving a 60 mg dose of sonelokimab — after an initial induction dose — achieved a significant improvement in symptoms by week 16, the company said.
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that can affect people who have psoriasis, a skin condition that causes itchy, scaly patches on the skin.
The trial showed that 66.5% of patients achieved at least 20% improvement in psoriatic arthritis symptoms, while 41.2% reached minimal disease activity.
Among patients with skin-related symptoms, 61% saw a major improvement in psoriasis, according to the company. 
Patients also reported improvements in physical function and quality of life, while a blinded review of safety data found no new safety concerns, MoonLake said.
The current late-stage study will continue through 52 weeks, with full results expected in the first half of 2027.
Sonelokimab, MoonLake's lead drug candidate, is also being evaluated for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic skin disease characterized by painful, boil-like lumps that form beneath the skin.
MoonLake ended its second quarter with $537 million in cash and short-term investments, which it said should fund operations through mid-2028. It also has access to up to $400 million under a debt facility with Hercules Capital.

(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing by Jonathan Ananda)
((Padmanabhan.Ananthan@thomsonreuters.com;))