Yesterday’s first part of this two-part series surveyed bispecific antibodies for immunological and inflammatory (I&I) disease. Apart from bispecifics, Leerink analyst Thomas Smith lately has proven interested in I&I overall, unveiling his “five for 2025” in a January report that listed five indications with “potential for disruption” in the year ahead.

Analysts were pleasantly surprised by the positive phase III data reported for Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd./Amgen Inc.’s rocatinlimab, a T-cell rebalancing therapy, in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition driven by complex immune mechanisms involving T cells. In the context of AD, OX40, a costimulatory receptor present on activated T cells, supports the function of inflammatory T cells, exacerbating skin dysfunction. Researchers from Astria Therapeutics Inc. presented the preclinical characterization of STAR-0310, a humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody targeting OX40.

The recent series A financing by Bambusa Therapeutics Inc. to fund bispecific antibodies for immunological and inflammatory disorders proved investor faith in the new approach with a proven mechanism.

The overproduction of immunoglobulin E (IgE) resulting from alterations in the humoral immune response contributes to the development of allergic and atopic diseases such as allergic asthma and rhinitis, chronic spontaneous urticaria or food allergies and acute anaphylaxis.

Mabylon AG recently provided preclinical data for MY-006, a half-life extended trispecific anti-peanut antibody being developed for the treatment of peanut allergy.

Insilico Medicine founder and CEO Alex Zhavoronkov told BioWorld that he tries to spend as much time as possible in China, because that's where the artificial intelligence (AI) drug development company conducts synthesis and tests for early stage discovery. “And nowadays, not a day goes by without somebody launching an AI drug discovery company,” he said, noting that Chinese AI company Deepseek could be a huge disrupter.

THB-335 is an oral inhibitor of mast/stem cell growth factor receptor Kit (KIT), which regulates the activation and migration of mast cells, making it a relevant therapeutic target for inflammatory and allergic processes.

Researchers from Revolo Biotherapeutics Ltd. recently presented preclinical data for IRL-201104, a clinical-stage immunomodulatory peptide currently in phase II development as an intravenous treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.

At the recent AAAAI/WAO meeting, Blueprint Medicines Corp. presented the in vitro and in vivo characterization of BLU-808, a selective inhibitor of wild-type KIT, a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase involved in mast cell activation, proliferation and chemotaxis.