Steritas has signed a licensing agreement with argenx to utilise its STOX Suite of steroid toxicity clinical outcome assessments (COAs).
Through this agreement, argenx will incorporate the full STOX Suite into its immunology therapeutic development programmes, assisting in the standardised measure of steroid toxicity.
With Steritas' tool, argenx aims to determine the safety and efficacay of novel steroid-sparing treatments, while also improving treatment options for patients.
Via the multi-year agreement, argenx will utilise STOX Suite in clinical trials and outcome research, while also advancing scientific understanding of chronic steroid usage in a large population.
The data collected will assist argenx in developing a unique portfolio of antibody-based medicines for autoimmune disease applications.
The trouble with steroids
Steroids are widely used in medicine and are often still considered as a first-line treatment for inflammation-driven conditions.
Although they have revolutionised patient treatment since their clinical use began in 1948, they can have a significant detrimental impact when used long-term.
Therefore, there is a strong need for the research, monitoring and reduction of steroid use in patients.
Currently, the Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index (GTI) is the standardised measure of clinical outcomes in patients taking steroids long-term, and is the foundations of Steritas' STOX Suite.
“Unmasking the damage of long-term steroid use is essential to countering this hidden epidemic – not only when developing new therapies for autoimmune disease, but also for other chronic conditions in which steroids are the standard of care.” commented Martha Stone, CEO at Steritas.
“This multi-year agreement with argenx to use the STOX Suite across its entire research program is recognition that steroid-toxicity is a vital area of study, with significance in routine patient care. This bold move by argenx to hold steroids accountable after more than 75 years of overuse will help alleviate patient suffering and healthcare burden.”
Chief Medical Officer of argenx. Luc Truyen, added: “Our pipeline of precision therapeutics is designed to bring relief to patients, both from the burden of the disease they are living with and the burden of existing treatments.”
“Collaborating with Steritas to better understand the often profoundly negative impact of long-term steroid use is yet another way that argenx is focusing on the real-world impact our medicines can have for the patients we serve. We are grateful for the partnership with the Steritas team and look forward to deepening the body of evidence in favor of innovative steroid-sparing treatments.”