Aslan and Zenyaku are teaming up to explore how eblasakimab’s mechanism of action differs from that of other biologic therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD).
The findings should serve to deepen understanding of the biology underlying the recent finding that some AD patients may respond to eblasakimab even after having an inadequate response to dupilumab (Dupixent, Sanofi & Regeneron).
The first part of the collaboration will focus on receptor biology and kinetics to investigate the cellular and molecular basis of eblasakimab’s potential for differentiation. This work will be funded by Zenyaku.
In previously published translational data from immune cells and skin biopsies of AD patients, blocking the IL-13 receptor (IL-13R) with eblasakimab appeared to be more effective at downregulating inflammatory markers than blocking the IL-4 receptor (IL-4R), the target of dupilumab, suggesting that eblasakimab has the potential to be more efficient in blockade of Type 2 receptor signaling than dupilumab.
Under the new research collaboration, Aslan and Zenyaku will conduct collaborative studies that will explore the biology of the IL-13 and IL-4 receptors, including the effects of biologics eblasakimab, dupilumab and lebrikizumab on each receptor subunit. Lebrikizumab (Ebglyss, Almirall) obtained EU and UK approval by the end of 2023 for moderate-to-severe AD. Lilly has exclusive rights for the development and commercialization of lebrikizumab in the U.S. and the rest of the world outside Europe.
The results from this research will provide further insight into the differentiated receptor biology of targeting IL-13R versus IL-4R. The studies may also explain the long-lasting inhibition of disease severity biomarkers, such as blood thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) , observed after the end of the eblasakimab treatment period in earlier clinical studies.
This new agreement expands upon the commercial agreement that Aslan signed with Zenyaku in June 2023 for the development and commercialization of eblasakimab in Japan.
“Eblasakimab could be an important new treatment for the growing number of AD patients and we are pleased to expand our collaboration with Aslan to learn more about the scientific principles underlying eblasakimab’s differentiation from other biologics by utilizing our cutting-edge research facilities,” says Kazuhiko Haruta, Head of R&D Center, Zenyaku KogyoBased on the strong translational and clinical data that ASLAN has generated to date, we believe that eblasakimab has a unique mechanism of action that could provide patients with a safe, efficacious and convenient new treatment option for AD,” said Kazuhiko Haruta, Head of R&D Center at Zenyaku Kogyo in a news release. “Based on our recent positive interim data from TREK-DX, we believe eblasakimab may have the potential to be effective in AD patients with inadequate response to dupilumab and this collaboration may help us to understand the biology underlying why some patients may respond better to eblasakimab than other biologics,” adds Dr Carl Firth, Chief Executive Officer of Aslan Pharmaceuticals.
Eblasakimab is a potential first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-13 receptor subunit of the Type 2 receptor, a key pathway driving several allergic inflammatory diseases.
