Ekdv-691
| Attribute | Details | |-----------|---------| | Generic name | EKDV‑691 (development code) | | Chemical class | Ortho‑aryl‑pyrimidine small‑molecule kinase inhibitor | | Primary target | Dual inhibition of TGF‑β‑type I receptor (ALK5) and DDR1 (Discoidin Domain‑Receptor‑1) | | Therapeutic focus | Fibrotic diseases (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis) and oncology (desmoplastic tumours) | | Developer | Evoke Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly EK‑Discovery) | | Current status (April 2026) | IND filed (US, EU); Phase I dose‑escalation completed; Phase Ib/IIa trial launched in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (NCT05891234) | | Formulation | Oral tablets (10 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg) | | Key differentiators | Simultaneous blockade of fibrogenic TGF‑β signaling and collagen‑receptor mediated matrix remodeling; favourable PK/PD profile with once‑daily dosing; low off‑target activity on the cardiac hERG channel. |
The Erebus slipped into the Rift’s outer perimeter, its hull shimmering against the backdrop of a star‑filled void. The ship’s navigation officers fed the EKDV‑691 coordinates into the drive’s quantum matrix, and the QSA began to emit a low hum as it tried to resonate with the surrounding dark vector field.
As they approached the focal point—a swirling vortex of violet and indigo light—a sudden surge of energy lapped the ship. Sensors went berserk, and alarms blared.
“Quantum destabilization!” shouted Lt. Cmdr. Aisha Patel, chief engineer. “We’re being pulled into a phase shift!”
The Erebus shuddered, and then, in an instant that seemed both an eternity and a heartbeat, the universe re‑aligned. EKDV-691
The ship emerged on the other side of a vast, metallic lattice, an artificial construct that stretched into the darkness like the ribs of a colossal, sleeping beast. It was a ring of monolithic arches, each inscribed with glyphs that pulsed with a faint, amber light.
At the center of the ring floated a black sphere, its surface a perfect mirror that seemed to absorb all surrounding light. Around it, the dark vector field hummed with an almost audible frequency.
Patel’s voice trembled. “We… we’ve found… something.”
Rafiq, who had been invited as a civilian advisor for his expertise on the signal, stared at the sphere. “That’s… that’s the gate. The signal wasn’t a warning—it was an invitation.” | Attribute | Details | |-----------|---------| | Generic
The ship’s science officer, Dr. Marae Solis, approached the sphere, placing a gloved hand on its surface. Instantly, a cascade of holographic data burst outward, forming a three‑dimensional lattice of information.
The sphere began to project a series of images:
A voice—neither male nor female, human nor synthetic—echoed in their heads:
“We are the Custodians. This gate was built to preserve knowledge beyond the reach of entropy. The code you bear is the key. Only those who understand the symmetry of the dark vector can open it.” The Erebus slipped into the Rift’s outer perimeter,
Patel whispered, “We have a choice. We can try to open it, or we can leave it sealed. Either way, we’ll change everything.”
Solis, eyes wide, responded, “If we open it, we might gain access to technologies that could solve energy crises, disease, even death. But we could also unleash something we’re not ready for.”
Kincaid, watching through the ship’s external feeds, made a decision.
“Open the gate.”
| Phase | Indication | Design | Estimated Enrollment | |-------|------------|--------|----------------------| | Phase IIb | IPF (monotherapy vs. standard‑of‑care) | Randomized, double‑blind, 48‑week; three arms (placebo, EKDV‑691 60 mg, EKDV‑691 60 mg + pirfenidone) | 300 | | Phase IIb/III | Systemic sclerosis‑associated interstitial lung disease (SSc‑ILD) | Adaptive seamless design; primary endpoint: change in FVC at week 52 | 250 | | Phase II | Desmoplastic pancreatic cancer (in combination with nab‑paclitaxel) | Open‑label, biomarker‑enriched (high DDR1 expression) | 80 | | Phase I/II | Chronic kidney disease (CKD) with tubulointerstitial fibrosis | Exploratory safety & PD | 60 |