In collaboration with its Japanese partner Kaken Pharmaceutical, Numab Therapeutics has dosed the first patient in its single and multiple ascending dose Phase 1a/1b clinical study of NM26-2198, the first product candidate focused on the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. It is also Numab’s second multi-specific antibody therapeutic to advance to the clinic.
Atopic dermatitis (AD), also referred to as eczema, is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by a vicious cycle of skin inflammation that causes itching and scratching, which, in turn, exacerbates damage to the skin barrier and inflammation and furthers itching, resulting in the characteristic skin lesions for which AD is known. Approximately 17-26 million patients suffer from moderate-to-severe AD in the United States and the European Union markets.
Numab Therapeutic’s NM26-2198 is a first-in-class bi-specific antibody designed to simultaneously block itch and inflammation, with the aim of improving quality of life relative to the current standard of care treatment. NM26-2198 inhibits three key pathways involved in the disease pathogenesis of AD. While the standard of care blocks IL-4 and IL-13, NM26-2198 blocks IL-31 in addition, thereby specifically targeting the neuroinflammatory pathway that causes itch.
The first subject dosing marks the beginning of a combined single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) Phase 1a/1b clinical study conducted in collaboration with Numab’s Asia-regional partner Kaken Pharmaceutical. The study will enrol non-Asian and Japanese healthy volunteers in the SAD sub-study and moderate-to-severe AD patients in the MAD sub-study. The SAD sub-study is currently enrolling.
“Based on its unique mechanism of action, we believe that NM26-2198 has the potential to deliver faster and more pronounced relief from itch than the current standard of care AD treatment,” said Peter Lichtlen, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Numab Therapeutics. “This effect would be notable for people suffering with AD, as we know itch is a major factor of disease burden that negatively impacts quality of life and sleep. Faster onset and deepened suppression of itch is also expected to result in a more pronounced effect on AD lesions.” Dr Lichtlen continued, “We look forward to progressing this Phase 1a/1b clinical trial. It has been a great privilege to develop this novel molecule with our world-class network of leading clinical experts in the AD space and to be supported by our Japanese partner Kaken Pharmaceutical on this path.”
(Press release/RAN)
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