The Flemish agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) has awarded Galapagos a four-year, €2.4 million (about $3 million) transformational medical research grant for work related to a compound series it has discovered and is developing for the treatment of psoriasis.

With this IWT support, Galapagos will first investigate this compound series in disease models for treatment of the common skin disease. Upon completion of the discovery phase, the firm will initiate clinical trials evaluating the resulting oral compound for psoriasis, working in collaboration with Ghent University’s Jo Lambert, Ph.D.

“We are very pleased with this IWT grant, which really underscores how IWT supports innovation by biotechnology companies. This grant makes it possible to work towards a novel therapy which will hopefully improve the quality of life of psoriasis patients,” Galapagos CSO Piet Wigerinck, Ph.D., said in a statement. “Together with GSK2586184, inlicensed by GlaxoSmithKline in 2012, we expect to have two drugs in development for psoriasis within two years.” 

In January, Galapagos was granted $3.5 million from IWT for discovery work aimed at new antibiotics.

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