Lynk Pharmaceuticals has dosed the first patient in a Phase II clinical trial of LNK01004 ointment for vitiligo.
The trial is a randomised, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group study evaluating the efficacy and safety of topical LNK01004 in adult patients with vitiligo. It is being conducted across multiple clinical research centres in China.
This is relevant because vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder that causes depigmentation and can affect quality of life, self-image and psychosocial wellbeing. While treatment options have improved, many patients still need therapies that balance efficacy with long-term safety and convenience.
LNK01004 is a soft pan-JAK inhibitor designed to modulate multiple inflammatory cytokine-related signalling pathways. Unlike conventional JAK inhibitors, the candidate is designed for low systemic exposure and skin-restricted distribution.
This differentiation matters because JAK pathway inhibition can be clinically useful in immune-mediated skin disease, but systemic exposure may raise safety considerations. A topical, skin-restricted design could support local efficacy while reducing systemic risk.
Lynk said LNK01004 has shown skin-restricted characteristics, encouraging efficacy and a favourable safety profile in preclinical and clinical studies. In addition to vitiligo, the company is advancing the candidate for other inflammatory skin diseases, including chronic hand eczema.
The study is jointly led by Professor Jianzhong Zhang and Professor Cheng Zhou from the Department of Dermatology at Peking University People’s Hospital. Their involvement gives the trial a specialist clinical anchor in China’s dermatology research ecosystem.
The programme is part of Lynk’s broader focus on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company is developing differentiated small-molecule therapies and oral alternatives to biologics, with emphasis on JAK-STAT, TYK2 signalling and targeted protein degradation.
