Concerto Bioscience Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application to initiate a first-in-human phase I trial of Ensemble No.2 (ENS-002), an investigational live biotherapeutic product to treat atopic dermatitis.

Aprilbio Co. Ltd. saw its stock surge 30% June 20 after announcing a potential $475 million (₩655.88 billion) deal with Evommune Inc. for autoimmune disease drug candidate APB-R3.

Aprilbio Co. Ltd. saw its stock surge 30% June 20 after announcing a potential $475 million (₩655.88 billion) deal with Evommune Inc. for autoimmune disease drug candidate APB-R3.

Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc. has expanded its novel reactive aldehyde species (RASP) modulator pipeline with the discovery and advancement of new RASP modulators for the treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Enveda Biosciences (Enveda Therapeutics Inc.) has announced a new series B2 financing round of $55 million. The drug discovery and development company uses artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technologies to translate nature into new medicines.

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.

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.