Jasper to Present Briquilimab Data at EAACI 2024

Jasper Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in the development of briquilimab, an innovative antibody therapy targeting c-Kit (CD117) to tackle mast cell-driven diseases such as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), and asthma, recently unveiled key data at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress 2024 in Valencia, Spain. The highlighted studies showcase briquilimab's potential efficacy in asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD), underscoring its broader therapeutic possibilities.

Two preclinical studies presented by Jasper at EAACI demonstrate promising results for briquilimab in treating asthma and AD. The asthma study revealed that a single dose of briquilimab could deplete mast cells in both inflamed and non-inflamed tissues, subsequently improving lung function in an allergen-induced asthma model. For AD, treatment with briquilimab reduced dermal mast cells and inflammatory leukocytes, suggesting that the antibody could potentially reverse AD pathology by depleting these cells. These preclinical studies utilized Jasper’s proprietary c-Kit Mouse™, which addresses the limitations of standard models that do not bind antibodies targeting the human c-Kit receptor.

Additionally, Jasper presented data from a clinical study involving healthy volunteers, showing that briquilimab has a favorable safety profile, is well-tolerated, and exhibits a beneficial pharmacokinetic (PK) profile. The study also demonstrated that briquilimab leads to sustained and dose-dependent depletion of mast cells in a cutaneous wound model. The PK and pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles observed support dose selection for Jasper’s ongoing BEACON and SPOTLIGHT clinical trials, aimed at evaluating briquilimab in CSU and CIndU, respectively.

Dr. Wendy Pang, Senior Vice President of Research and Translational Medicine at Jasper, expressed enthusiasm about the preclinical results in asthma and AD. Dr. Pang emphasized that briquilimab’s ability to deplete peribronchial mast cells in an allergen-induced asthma model is promising for the development of asthma treatments. The early evidence of briquilimab reversing AD pathology by depleting mast cells and reducing inflammatory leukocytes further showcases its potential.

Edwin Tucker, Chief Medical Officer at Jasper, highlighted the company’s strategy to explore briquilimab’s broader applications in various mast cell diseases. Jasper is looking forward to advancing briquilimab in indications beyond urticaria, with plans to initiate patient enrollment in a Phase 1b/2a challenge study in asthma by the fourth quarter of 2024.

The presentations at EAACI covered several key studies, including:

1. The BEACON Study: A Phase 1b/2a trial evaluating the safety, PK/PD, and preliminary clinical activity of briquilimab in adults with CSU.
2. Briquilimab’s efficacy in treating cockroach allergen-induced asthma in a chimeric human/mouse CD117 mouse model.
3. An investigation into the safety, PK, and PD of briquilimab following a single subcutaneous administration to healthy participants.
4. The SPOTLIGHT trial: A Phase 1b/2a study on the safety, PK/PD, and preliminary clinical activity of briquilimab in adults with CIndU.
5. Briquilimab’s effectiveness in treating epicutaneous allergen-induced AD in a chimeric human/mouse CD117 model.

Briquilimab, formerly known as JSP191, is a targeted aglycosylated monoclonal antibody that inhibits signaling through the c-Kit receptor by blocking stem cell factors from binding to CD117. This action leads to the depletion of mast cells via apoptosis, addressing the root cause of the inflammatory response in mast cell-driven diseases. Jasper's ongoing clinical studies are assessing briquilimab as a treatment for patients with CSU, CIndU, and asthma. Additionally, briquilimab is being evaluated as a conditioning agent for cell therapies for rare diseases.

Jasper Therapeutics continues to progress in its development efforts, aiming to harness briquilimab’s full potential in various therapeutic areas, reinforcing its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in mast cell and stem cell-related conditions.