SCD-153

SCD-153 is a lipophilic small molecule prodrug of 4-methyl itaconate (4-MI) designed for the topical treatment of alopecia areata. Developed through a collaboration between Johns Hopkins University, Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC), and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Czech Academy of Sciences, SCD-153 is engineered to enhance skin and cell penetration compared to endogenous itaconate. Once absorbed, it is metabolized into 4-MI, which exerts anti-inflammatory effects by attenuating the expression of proinflammatory mediators such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interferon beta (IFNβ), and Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). Preclinical studies in mice have demonstrated that topical SCD-153 induces significant hair growth by accelerating the transition from the telogen to the anagen phase of the hair cycle, outperforming the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib in consistency and efficacy.

Other names

4-methyl itaconate prodrugitaconate prodrug