The activation of mast cells in the lungs and skin is involved in diseases such as asthma and chronic spontaneous urticaria, where the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is a key regulator of mast cell function.
Offering $2.2 billion for Rapt Therapeutics Inc. and gaining its long-acting lead drug, ozureprubart, for food allergy and other indications, GSK plc is positioning itself to compete with market leader Xolair (omalizumab), developed by Roche AG’s Genentech unit and Novartis AG.
Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc. has announced a new immunology program and updated progress in its immunology pipeline. The company’s new program is focused on developing oral MRGPRX2 inhibitors for type 2 immune driven diseases, with an initial focus on chronic spontaneous urticaria and other mast cell-driven diseases.
Wall Street was sorting through two batches of news from Jasper Therapeutics Inc., which made public positive data from the phase Ib study called Etesian with KIT-targeting briquilimab in adults with allergic asthma, while making known the outcome of a probe into the phase Ib/II Beacon study with the same drug in chronic spontaneous urticaria.
The data from Inflarx NV that took Wall Street by surprise also served to heighten attention for the hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) spaces, where other news has been bubbling lately on the industry as well as scientific fronts.
With $70 million in hand, Excellergy Inc. is ready to advance its lead candidate for allergic diseases into clinical trials. The series A round was led by Samsara Biocapital with co-investments from Red Tree Venture Capital and Decheng Capital.
With $70 million in hand, Excellergy Inc. is ready to advance its lead candidate for allergic diseases into clinical trials. The series A round was led by Samsara Biocapital with co-investments from Red Tree Venture Capital and Decheng Capital.
Arcus Biosciences Inc. has announced five new research programs for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and is targeting initiation of the first clinical studies next year.
Patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment now have a new oral treatment option, with the U.S. FDA’s approval of Novartis AG’s Rhapsido (remibrutinib), a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor administered by pill twice daily.
Jasper Therapeutics Inc.’s otherwise upbeat data with subcutaneous briquilimab was hamstrung by apparent trouble with one lot of drug used in the phase Ib/II Beacon study in chronic spontaneous urticaria. Shares of the Redwood Calif.-based firm (NASDAQ:JSPR) closed July 7 at $3.04, down $3.73, or 55%.
