Phase 2 Trial Begins for Verekitug in Treating CRSwNP

Upstream Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology firm, has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial for verekitug, a therapeutic agent aimed at treating chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The monoclonal antibody targets the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR), thereby inhibiting TSLP, a cytokine linked to inflammatory responses in CRSwNP, asthma, and other conditions.

The Phase 2 study follows promising results from a Phase 1b trial in asthma patients, where verekitug showed significant effects on exhaled nitric oxide and blood eosinophil levels. This data supports a dosing interval of every 12 weeks for the new trial. The trial is designed to be randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, with the primary goal of assessing the reduction in nasal polyp score.

Verekitug's potential as a leading biological treatment for a range of allergic and inflammatory diseases is highlighted by the company's CEO, Sam Truex. The drug's ability to rapidly and substantially reduce disease biomarkers is expected to yield significant benefits for CRSwNP patients in the Phase 2 study, with the convenience of a single injection and a 12-week dosing interval.

Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays a pivotal role in the inflammatory response of major diseases, and blocking its receptor could address diseases at their root. Verekitug has demonstrated safety and tolerability in Phase 1 studies and has shown to be a potent inhibitor of TSLP-driven biology, with the most advanced clinical data among TSLP inhibitors.

The Phase 1b study in asthma patients marked a milestone as the first TSLP inhibitor to maintain sustained target engagement and disease-related biomarker inhibition up to 24 weeks post-dose. The company's focus on asthma, a prevalent chronic lung disease affecting millions worldwide, and CRSwNP, which often coexists with asthma, underscores the importance of developing effective treatments.

Upstream Bio is committed to developing verekitug to alleviate the burden of inflammatory and allergic diseases, leveraging the team's diverse expertise and industry experience. The company is advancing its Phase 2 studies in CRSwNP and asthma, aiming to provide innovative solutions for patients suffering from these conditions.