- IL-18 modulation has potential for broad applicability in
multiple inflammatory diseases
- Phase 2-ready program complementary to Evommune's immunology
pipeline
- Phase 1 trial demonstrated good safety and tolerability,
favorable pharmacokinetics and target engagement
PALO ALTO, Calf.,
June 24,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Evommune, Inc., a clinical
stage biotechnology company discovering and developing new ways to
treat immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, today announced it has
entered into a definitive, worldwide license agreement with
AprilBio Co., Ltd. (Kosdaq: 397030), a biopharmaceutical
company based in South Korea
dedicated to developing specialized biologics and antibody drugs,
for an IL-18 targeted fusion protein.
Under the terms of the agreement, Evommune receives exclusive,
worldwide rights to research, develop and commercialize APB-R3, to
now be known as EVO301, a long-acting injectable fusion protein
that is designed to neutralize the signal pathway of IL-18 for the
regulation of inflammation. Evommune plans to initiate a
Phase 2 clinical trial in early 2025.
"We are committed to making a difference for patients suffering
from chronic inflammation. Adding this exciting new targeted
molecule is another important growth step for Evommune.
EVO301 is a product candidate leveraging a novel approach in a
mechanism that has demonstrated activity in prior clinical trials.
While we continue to execute on our pipeline, including EVO756, our
MRGPRX2 antagonist, EVO301 provides the potential to offer a
best-in-class therapeutic for patients being underserved by
existing treatment options in multiple diseases. We believe
the proprietary serum albumin binding motif fused to an IL-18
binding protein may facilitate deep tissue penetration with an
extended half-life," said Luis Pena,
Evommune President & CEO.
"As we evaluate partners of our pipeline products, we are
thrilled to license the IL-18 fusion protein to Evommune, a company
with significant drug development expertise in the areas of chronic
inflammatory diseases. Evommune's ability to broadly develop
this product candidate throughout its potentially broad life cycle
process was a key driver of our desire to collaborate with them,"
commented Dr. Sang-hoon Cha, CEO at AprilBio.
About EVO301
A long-acting injectable therapeutic, EVO-301 is a
fusion-protein that is designed to neutralize the signal pathway of
IL-18 for the regulation of inflammation. IL-18, a
proinflammatory cytokine of the IL-1 family, plays an important
role in the T-cell-helper type 1 inflammatory response, primarily
by its ability to induce IFN-gamma production in T-cells and
natural killer cells.
About AprilBio
AprilBio Co., Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company in
South Korea founded in 2013. The
company is specialized in development of specialized biologics and
antibody drugs. The company's platform technologies include a
human phage-display Ab library and Anti-Serum Albumin
Fab-Associated (SAFA) technology (versatile building block for
half-life extension and generation of novel biological
therapeutics). AprilBio is focused on rare diseases, oncology,
autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
About Evommune, Inc.
Evommune, Inc., a Palo Alto based biotech company, is creating
game-changing science to treat immune-mediated inflammatory
diseases by discovering, developing, and delivering therapies that
address symptoms and halt progressive disease. For more
information, please visit Evommune.com.
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SOURCE Evommune, Inc