Week 2, December 2024: Inflammatory Conditions

Antibody drugs offer targeted and effective therapies for inflammatory conditions such as chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and psoriasis. By specifically binding to pro-inflammatory cytokines or their receptors, monoclonal antibodies help modulate the immune response, reducing inflammation and preventing tissue damage. Breakthroughs such as TNF inhibitors (e.g., adalimumab and infliximab) and IL-6 receptor blockers (e.g., tocilizumab) have set new standards for managing inflammation.

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are a group of diseases with systemic inflammation and multiorgan involvement, including: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (including the subtypes Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), uveitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis, hidrosadenitis suppurativa, sarcoidosis, atopic dermatitis (AD), connective tissue disorders, asthma, and some neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

This week, Citryll, a Dutch biotech, successfully raised EUR 85 million from Series B financing. They aim to develop novel NET-targeting therapies for IMIDs with a first-in-class candidate, monoclonal antibody CIT-013, to be advanced into two Phase 2a studies. Its dual mechanism of action enhances the clearance of existing NETs while inhibiting the formation of new NETs. By addressing this key driver of inflammation, CIT-013 has the potential to offer a differentiated and comprehensive treatment option for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa, where current therapies often fall short of providing adequate disease control.

Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center observed a 100% response rate on Phase Ib trial for patients with newly diagnosed malignancy-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (mHLH) from the monoclonal antibody ELA026. There are no current approved therapies for mHLH. ELA026 is a monoclonal antibody designed to address severe inflammatory disorders with aberrant myeloid cell and T lymphocyte activity. It induces rapid, potent, and targeted depletion of the circulating myeloid cells and T lymphocytes that drive inflammation, without disrupting the CD47/SIRPα immune checkpoint function.

In the research space, scientists from Peking Union Medical College have published a paper in Nature describing the development of 2D4, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD132, asa promising treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Biologics targeting specific factors or pathogenic cell types in SLE have faced challenges in meeting the stringent criteria of clinical trials, with limited success in terms of efficacy. Thus, this study investigated the therapeutic potential of CD132, a pivotal target involved in signaling multiple inflammatory factors and regulating a wide range of pathogenic cells in SLE.