Northwestern startup Exicure announces successful Phase I clinical trial results for psoriasis treatment utilizing IIN-developed SNAs

A spherical nucleic acid (SNA)

EVANSTON, Ill.—Exicure, a Northwestern University startup, announced successful Phase I clinical trial results for XCUR17, a topical gel utilizing International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN)-developed spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) to treat mild-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The new treatment is an SNA drug targeted to mRNA encoding interleukin 17 receptor alpha, or IL-17RA, a key protein that propagates inflammation. In preclinical studies, XCUR17 inhibited IL-17RA expression in human skin and in psoriatic mouse models. Read more.

The International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University is an umbrella organization that represents and unites more than $1 billion in nanotechnology research, education and supporting infrastructure.