Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRVS) witnessed a significant surge in its stock price on January 15, 2026, following the release of promising data from cohort 4 of its Phase 1 trial evaluating the drug soquelitinib in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The stock rose by 140%, reaching a price of $19.28, as trading volume soared to 30.79 million shares, far exceeding the average of 1.33 million shares.
The results from cohort 4 indicated favorable safety and efficacy outcomes, consistent with findings from the previous cohorts. Notably, the treatment period was extended to eight weeks, which demonstrated a deeper therapeutic response compared to the initial four-week period. Among the patients treated with soquelitinib, the mean baseline Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score was recorded at 25.7, while those receiving placebo had a score of 21.9.
Data from all four cohorts, involving a total of 72 patients, revealed that 35% had previously undergone systemic therapies, including 50% from cohort 4. The results showed that patients treated with soquelitinib experienced significant improvements in clinically relevant endpoints, including EASI 75 and Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scores of 0 or 1. Specifically, at day 56, patients in cohort 4 who received soquelitinib demonstrated a mean reduction in EASI of 72%, compared to a 40% reduction in the placebo group.
Response Kinetics and Biomarker Insights
The kinetics of response indicated a continuous improvement from day 28 to day 56, with a widening gap between the soquelitinib and placebo groups. Importantly, while two patients on placebo experienced disease flares necessitating additional therapy, none in the soquelitinib group reported such occurrences during the 56-day treatment period.
Biomarker analyses revealed a reduction in serum IL-4 cytokine levels for cohorts 3 and 4, both during and after the treatment period. Patients in cohort 4 exhibited the most substantial decreases in IL-4 levels extending to day 86. Additionally, cohorts 1 through 3 showed a dose-dependent reduction in serum IL-5, with cohort 3 participants experiencing the largest declines compared to placebo. Notably, IL-5 reductions were evident as early as day 8 of treatment, alongside lower levels of serum IL-17 and TARC.
As of the latest report on January 15, no new safety signals have emerged. Adverse events were reported in 41.7% of those receiving soquelitinib and 50% of placebo recipients, with all documented events categorized as Grade 1-2. Importantly, there were no severe or serious adverse events reported, nor were significant laboratory abnormalities noted.
Looking Ahead to Phase 2 Trials
Corvus Pharmaceuticals is preparing to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial for soquelitinib targeting atopic dermatitis in the first quarter of 2026. This upcoming trial aims to enroll approximately 200 patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who have not responded adequately to at least one prior topical or systemic therapy.
The Phase 2 trial will consist of four cohorts, each comprising 50 patients. Participants will receive varying doses of soquelitinib, including 200 mg once per day, 200 mg twice per day, and 400 mg once per day, alongside a placebo group.
With these recent developments, Corvus Pharmaceuticals is poised to advance its research in dermatological therapies, potentially offering new hope to patients grappling with atopic dermatitis.
