Lebrikizumab

Johnson & Johnson has made another strategic move in the pharmaceutical industry by acquiring Proteologix, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing bispecific antibodies for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases. The $850 million cash deal, which is expected to close in mid-2024, will further strengthen Johnson & Johnson's immunology portfolio. Proteologix's pipeline includes two lead candidates, PX128 and PX130, both bispecific antibodies targeting different pathways involved in the pathogenesis of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma. By simultaneously modulating multiple disease drivers, these bispecific antibodies hold the promise of achieving higher efficacy and better disease control compared to traditional monoclonal antibodies. The acquisition is particularly notable given the unmet medical need in the AD space. As mentioned, nearly 70% of patients do not achieve adequate disease control with standard-of-care treatments. The recent positive Phase 3 results for Eli Lilly's IL-13 targeted monoclonal antibody, Lebrikizumab, in a study focused on patients with darker skin tones further highlights the potential for better targeted therapies in this patient population. Beyond the lead assets, the transaction will also provide Johnson & Johnson with access to Proteologix's broader bispecific antibody platform, which could be applied to various other diseases, further bolstering the company's capabilities in developing novel bispecific programs. This acquisition is part of Johnson & Johnson's ongoing expansion strategy, which has seen the company make several major deals in both the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors over the past year. The $13.1 billion acquisition of Shockwave Medical, a vascular lithotripsy technology company, is one such example, which is expected to strengthen Johnson & Johnson's cardiovascular portfolio. With these strategic moves, Johnson & Johnson is positioning itself as a leader in the immunology and medical technology spaces, continuously expanding its commercial footprint and pipeline to better serve patients with unmet medical needs. The Proteologix acquisition, in particular, showcases the company's commitment to advancing innovative bispecific antibody technologies to address complex immune-mediated diseases.

Interim clinical data from APG777 Phase 1 healthy volunteers study exceeded all trial objectives and achieved a half-life of approximately 75 days with a potentially best-in-class profile 16-week proof-of-concept data from Part A of the Phase 2 trial expected in 2H 2025 Pipeline-in-a-product potential with a Phase 2 in asthma expected to initiate in 2025 and plans for additional indication expansion May 15, 2024 -- Apogee Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APGE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing differentiated biologics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and other inflammatory and immunology (I&I) indications, today announced that it has initiated dosing in the Phase 2 trial of APG777 in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. APG777 is a novel, subcutaneously-administered half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting IL-13 – a critical cytokine in inflammation and a primary driver of AD. “We are thrilled to begin patient dosing in our Phase 2 trial of APG777, marking a significant step forward in the advancement of this program and to further realizing the impact a fully-optimized antibody with extended half-life could have on the treatment of AD compared to other available biologics,” said Michael Henderson, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Apogee. “The initiation of this Phase 2 trial is supported by the highly encouraging results of our Phase 1 healthy volunteer trial that were reported earlier this year. With a potentially best-in-class pharmacokinetic profile, sustained pharmacodynamic responses, and well-tolerated safety profile, we believe APG777 could offer improved clinical responses with less frequent dosing than current standard of care. We look forward to the advancement of this trial and initial 16-week data in the second half of 2025.” The APG777 Phase 2 clinical trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, 16-week trial in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. The trial was designed to combine the typical Phase 2a and 2b portions of a clinical trial into a single protocol. Part A is expected to enroll approximately 110 patients randomized 2:1 to APG777 vs. placebo; patients receiving APG777 will receive induction regimen dosing of 720mg at weeks 0 and 2, followed by 360mg at weeks 4 and 12. Patients benefiting from treatment will continue to APG777 maintenance, which will evaluate 3- to 6-month dosing. Part B is a placebo-controlled dose optimization with approximately 360 patients randomized 1:1:1:1 to high, medium, or low dose APG777 vs. placebo. The primary endpoint of each part of the study is mean percentage changes in EASI score from baseline to Week 16. In head-to-head preclinical studies, APG777 demonstrated equivalent or better potency to lebrikizumab in the inhibition of IL-13 signaling. Based on its potentially best-in-class pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, APG777 has the potential for improved clinical responses due to greater exposures of drug in induction while dosing as infrequently as once every three or six months. AD is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder which can lead to sleep disturbance, psychological distress, elevated infection risk and chronic pain, all of which significantly impact quality of life. Today’s treatments are associated with many challenges, including frequent injection regimens that can lead to poor patient compliance. “Our Phase 2 trial features an innovative design, enabling us to run both proof-of-concept and dose optimization parts in the same study, which could significantly accelerate our timelines,” said Carl Dambkowski, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Apogee. “Importantly, based on APG777’s extended half-life and high-concentration formulation, we were able to establish a Phase 2 induction regimen designed to exceed lebrikizumab exposures by ~30-40% with potential for improved clinical responses (e.g. EASI-75, EASI-90, IGA 0/1). The optimized PK profile will further enable a dosing schedule of six injections during induction, compared to the 11 injections of lebrikizumab given during the same period, and ~70-90% fewer injections in maintenance compared to currently available therapies. This approach supports our mission to provide well-tolerated treatments that require less frequent injections for patients. We extend our gratitude to the sites, site staff, and patients participating in the study for their invaluable contributions to advancing our program and look forward to further realizing the impact that less frequent dosing and a potentially improved clinical response could bring to patients living with AD.” APG777 is a novel, subcutaneous half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting IL-13 for the potential treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). In head-to-head preclinical studies, APG777 showed equivalent or better potency to lebrikizumab in the inhibition of IL-13 signaling. AD is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects approximately 40 million adults and 18 million children in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom, 40 percent of which have moderate-to-severe disease. Based on initial clinical data, the company plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial in asthma and plans to further evaluate opportunities to develop APG777 for other I&I indications, including alopecia areata, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, chronic spontaneous urticaria, eosinophilic esophagitis and prurigo nodularis. Apogee Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company seeking to develop differentiated biologics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and other inflammatory and immunology indications with high unmet need. Apogee’s antibody programs are designed to overcome limitations of existing therapies by targeting well-established mechanisms of action and incorporating advanced antibody engineering to optimize half-life and other properties. The company’s two most advanced programs are APG777 and APG808, which are being initially developed for the treatment of AD and COPD, respectively. Based on a broad pipeline and depth of expertise, the company believes it can deliver value and meaningful benefit to patients underserved by today’s standard of care. For more information, please visit www.apogeetherapeutics.com. The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.