ASLAN Pharma Shares New Eblasakimab COPD Data at ATS Conference

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals recently shared promising translational data from a head-to-head study of eblasakimab and dupilumab in human tissue models of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The study was presented during a late-breaker poster session at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference 2024 in San Diego, California. The key findings suggest that eblasakimab outperformed dupilumab in enhancing airway function and promoting bronchodilation at equivalent concentrations.

Dr. Carl Firth, Chief Executive Officer of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, expressed satisfaction with the study's outcomes, emphasizing the significant improvements eblasakimab demonstrated across various bronchial metrics. He pointed out that eblasakimab's efficacy could be due to its potential to more effectively inhibit the Type 2 receptor complex compared to currently approved biologics. This inhibition leads to a marked reduction in Th2 cytokine activity, which is particularly relevant since airway hyperresponsiveness is common among asthma, COPD, and other lung disorders. Consequently, these findings support the notion that eblasakimab warrants further investigation for a wide range of Type 2-driven lung conditions.

The ATS 2024 presentation focused on eblasakimab's ability to alleviate IL-4 and IL-13 induced bronchial airway constriction in COPD-derived lung slices. Type 2 inflammation, characterized by impaired airflow, obstruction, and dyspnea, affects 30-40% of COPD patients. IL-4 and IL-13 are critical mediators of this inflammation, contributing to various mechanisms of airway obstruction. The potential therapeutic effect of blocking both IL-4 and IL-13 signaling was assessed using precision cut-lung slices (PCLS) treated with either dupilumab or eblasakimab.

PCLS were obtained from a 66-year-old male with no known lung diseases (healthy PCLS) and a 67-year-old female with COPD (COPD PCLS). These samples were exposed to different treatment conditions, including IL-4, IL-13, methacholine (a bronchoconstrictor), formoterol (a dilatory agent), and various concentrations of dupilumab and eblasakimab. The results revealed that eblasakimab significantly reduced IL-4- and IL-13-induced bronchial airway constriction in both healthy and COPD-derived tissues. Moreover, eblasakimab restored formoterol-induced airway dilation better than dupilumab at lower concentrations and improved methacholine-induced constriction in pre-treated healthy lung tissues.

In COPD PCLS, eblasakimab showed significant improvements across all measured bronchial outcomes, whereas dupilumab did not achieve statistical significance relative to the placebo for all measures. This indicates that eblasakimab may offer superior relief against bronchoconstriction and enhanced dilatory functions in COPD compared to dupilumab. The findings suggest that eblasakimab could potentially provide a more effective blockade of Type-2 mediated inflammatory effects in lung tissue, thereby improving bronchoconstriction in COPD patients.

The data underscore the potential of eblasakimab as a therapeutic option for COPD and possibly other Type 2-driven lung conditions. ASLAN Pharmaceuticals continues to develop eblasakimab, a unique monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-13 receptor subunit of the Type 2 receptor. This pathway is pivotal in driving several allergic inflammatory diseases. Eblasakimab's specific mechanism of action enables it to block the Type 2 receptor, thereby preventing IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, which are key drivers of inflammation in atopic dermatitis (AD) and Type 2-driven COPD.

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals remains committed to advancing its clinical programs, including the ongoing Phase 2 trial of eblasakimab in dupilumab-experienced, moderate-to-severe AD patients. These efforts reflect the company's dedication to transforming patient lives through innovative immunology-focused treatments.