Citryll and top rheumatology centers get Reumanederland grant for NET research on rheumatoid arthritis.

Citryll, a biotech firm in the clinical development phase, announced a new collaboration with notable rheumatology centres in the Netherlands. Funded by ReumaNederland (Dutch Arthritis Society), this partnership aims to advance understanding of Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET) biology in the context of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This research is spearheaded by experts including Prof. Dr. Sander Tas from Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Dr. Joannes Reijers from Leiden University Medical Centre, Dr. Rogier Thurlings from Radboud University Medical Centre, and Prof. Dr. Mike Nurmohamed from Reade.

The initiative, dubbed the Signs Of the Nature of NETosis in rheumatoid arthritis (SONNET) project, aims to deepen knowledge about the relationship between NETosis and disease progression. NETosis is a peculiar type of neutrophil cell death marked by NET formation, and this project seeks to correlate NETs with RA disease status and related conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Additionally, NETs will be detected in vivo using different sample subsets.

Renato Chirivi, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer at Citryll, emphasized the urgency of the research. He noted that despite current therapies, 30% of RA patients do not achieve lasting remission. Citryll’s leading candidate, CIT-013, aims to address this gap with a novel therapeutic approach that inhibits NET formation and enhances the clearing of NETs from tissues. Chirivi highlighted that the collaboration with top clinical centres through the SONNET project is crucial for understanding how NETs contribute to inflammatory diseases, ultimately aiming to unlock new treatment options for RA and improve patient quality of life.

Jan-Willem Förch, CEO at ReumaNederland, expressed pride in supporting Citryll in this pivotal research endeavor. Förch highlighted that the collaboration with renowned clinical centres will significantly enhance understanding of NETosis in inflammatory diseases. This partnership is seen as a step towards their mission of improving the lives of people suffering from RA, many of whom endure constant pain and daily limitations.

Citryll is pioneering an innovative approach to treating immune-mediated inflammatory diseases by targeting NETs, which are central to inflammatory processes yet have not been therapeutically addressed until now. The company is developing the first NET-targeting therapy, potentially introducing a new class of therapeutics applicable to various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

The company's lead asset, CIT-013, is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that uniquely enhances the clearance of existing NETs while inhibiting the formation of new ones. By addressing this critical driver of inflammation, CIT-013 could provide a more comprehensive and effective treatment option for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa, where current treatments often fail to offer adequate disease control.