Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and highly prevalent skin disorder with multifactorial pathogenesis that includes mast cell (MC) activation as one of the main players.
Gaining full rights to a bispecific antibody to treat atopic dermatitis, Johnson & Johnson is paying $1.25 billion to acquire Yellow Jersey Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Numab Therapeutics AG. The subsidiary houses all assets related to NM-26, which targets IL-4Ra (type I and II receptors) and IL-31, and was designed with Numab’s MATCH (Multispecific Antibody-based Therapeutics by Cognate Heterodimerization) technology platform. It is ready for phase II development for atopic dermatitis, although J&J intends to develop, manufacture and commercialize the drug globally for follow-on indications as well.
Inhibition of OX40 is known to induce and maintain responses in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Astria Therapeutics Inc. and Ichnos Sciences Inc. are developing STAR-0310, a YTE-modified (M252Y/S254T/T256E) monoclonal antibody targeting OX40.
Johnson & Johnson is adding to its dermatology portfolio with the $850 million purchase of privately held Proteologix Inc. The Redwood City, Calif.-based company brings with it two bispecific antibodies into a space dominated by the blockbuster injectable Dupixent (dupilumab). Proteologix has PX-128, which targets IL-13 plus thymic stromal lymphopoietin for treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis and moderate to severe asthma, and PX-130, which also targets IL-13 plus IL-22, for treating moderate to severe AD. Both are in preclinical development, but Johnson & Johnson said PX-128 is ready for its phase I close-up.
Apogee Therapeutics Inc. has selected a development candidate for its APG-990 program, a subcutaneous half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting OX40L, initially being developed for atopic dermatitis.
Eli Lilly & Co. has synthesized glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Sitryx Therapeutics Ltd. has nominated SYX-5219 as the first candidate from its proprietary pipeline to progress to regulatory nonclinical studies to support a clinical trial authorization (CTA). SYX-5219 has the potential to address a broad range of inflammatory diseases and will advance into the clinic for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
In allergic diseases, STAT6 is a critical transcription factor in the IL-4 and IL-13 signaling pathways and the key driver of Th2 inflammation. Because STAT6 functions through protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, selectively and potently inhibiting STAT6 with traditional small-molecule inhibitors has been a challenge. However, it is well suited for a targeted protein degradation approach, whereby a binding event is adequate to direct degradation.
Apogee Therapeutics Inc.’s phase I home run put IL-13-targeting antibody APG-777 on an accelerated development path in atopic dermatitis, and the company touted its similarity to further-along IL-13 competitor lebrikizumab, from Eli Lilly and Co., as a likely indicator of further success.
