Lynk Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., a China-based clinical stage company, announced on Wednesday that it dosed the first patient with LNK01001 in its Phase II clinical trial aimed at ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown origin that primarily affects the spine, sternum, and large joints in the body.

LNK01001 is a JAK1 selective inhibitor intended to treat autoimmune diseases.

This study is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II study assessing the safety and efficiency of LNK01001 capsules in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis. LNK01001 completed phase one clinical studies in healthy subjects in China and in Australia in the summer of 2021, sponsored by Lynk Pharmaceuticals and its US partner, respectively, and Phase II clinical studies for rheumatoid arthritis are presently underway.