Awaiting the potential U.S. FDA approval of a second product this year, Protagonist Therapeutics Inc. with partner Johnson & Johnson won the go-ahead for oral peptide Icotyde (icotrokinra), an IL-23 receptor antagonist, to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 and older who weigh at least 40 kg and who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.
Two biotech and three med-tech companies are slated for Kosdaq debuts this month, signaling a potential rebound for Korea financings in 2026. Kanaph Therapeutics Inc. will open with a ₩40 billion (US$26.99 million) raise and Imbiologics Corp. will debut with ₩52 billion. Additionally, Mezoo Co. Ltd., Cosmo Robotics Co. Ltd. and Recensmedical Inc. will launch IPOs.
Two biotech and three med-tech companies are slated for Kosdaq debuts this month, signaling a potential rebound for Korea financings in 2026. Kanaph Therapeutics Inc. will open with a ₩40 billion (US$26.99 million) raise and Imbiologics Corp. will debut with ₩52 billion. Additionally, Mezoo Co. Ltd., Cosmo Robotics Co. Ltd. and Recensmedical Inc. will launch IPOs.
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.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease accompanied by pruritus, for which IL-13 and IL-31 are clinically validated targets. Earendil Labs Inc. has developed a bispecific antibody targeting both IL-13 and IL-31, HX-16108, with an extended half-life.
Shortly after Amgen Inc. walked away from its partnership with Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd., the Tokyo-based company said it is discontinuing all ongoing clinical trials for rocatinlimab due to safety concerns.
The U.S. FDA released an early alert March 10 regarding the rupturing or bursting of certain Erbe USA Cryoprobes when they’re activated. Meanwhile, the company is voluntarily recalling the affected Erbe Flexible Cryoprobes, which use extreme cold and cryoadhesion for procedures such as the removal of blood clots, necrotic tissue, and tissue tumors and biopsies.
The signaling axis orchestrated by OX40L-OX40 is a T-cell costimulatory pathway implicated in multiple autoimmune diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD). Antibodies targeting this pathway have proven useful at treating AD in the clinical setting. Earendil Labs recently presented data regarding HXN-1021, an anti-OX40L antibody with potent activity and extended half-life, in vivo.
Harbour Biomed Ltd. and Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have announced IND approval by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for HBM-7575 (SKB-575) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
The OX40-targeting mechanism pursued by drug developers around the world found itself shadowed March 3 when Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. gave up work with rocatinlimab, a monoclonal antibody for which hopes had risen in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, prurigo nodularis and moderate to severe asthma.