ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Announces Expansion of its Collaboration With Zenyaku to Investigate the Biology Underlying Differential Effects of Eblasakimab Compared to Other Biologics

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals recently announced it has signed a new research collaboration agreement with its partner, Zenyaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., to establish a framework for a succession of research projects to explore the differentiation of eblasakimab’s mechanism of action versus biologic therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD), dupilumab and lebrikizumab.

In previously published translational data from immune cells and skin biopsies of AD patients, blocking the IL-13 receptor (IL-13R) with eblasakimab appeared to be more effective at downregulating inflammatory markers than blocking the IL-4 receptor (IL-4R), the target of dupilumab, suggesting eblasakimab has the potential to be more efficient in blockade of Type 2 receptor signaling than dupilumab. Under the new research collaboration, ASLAN and Zenyaku will conduct collaborative studies that will explore the biology of the IL-13 and IL-4 receptors, including the effects of biologics eblasakimab, dupilumab and lebrikizumab on each receptor subunit.

The results from this research collaboration will provide further insight into the differentiated receptor biology of targeting IL-13R versus IL-4R. The studies may also explain the long-lasting inhibition of disease severity biomarkers, such as TARC, observed after the end of the eblasakimab treatment period in earlier clinical studies. This new agreement expands upon the commercial agreement that ASLAN signed with Zenyaku in June 2023 for the development and commercialization of eblasakimab in Japan.

“Eblasakimab could be an important new treatment for the growing number of AD patients and we are pleased to expand our collaboration with ASLAN to learn more about the scientific principles underlying eblasakimab’s differentiation from other biologics by utilizing our cutting-edge research facilities. Based on the strong translational and clinical data that ASLAN has generated to date, we believe that eblasakimab has a unique mechanism of action that could provide patients with a safe, efficacious and convenient new treatment option for AD,” said Kazuhiko Haruta, Head of R&D Center, Zenyaku Kogyo.

“Based on our recent positive interim data from TREK-DX, we believe eblasakimab may have the potential to be effective in AD patients with inadequate response to dupilumab and this collaboration may help us to understand the biology underlying why some patients may respond better to eblasakimab than other biologics,” added Dr. Carl Firth, Chief Executive Officer, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals.

Eblasakimab is a potential first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-13 receptor subunit of the Type 2 receptor, a key pathway driving several allergic inflammatory diseases. Eblasakimab’s unique mechanism of action enables specific blockade of the Type 2 receptor and has the potential to improve upon current biologics used to treat allergic disease. By blocking the Type 2 receptor, eblasakimab prevents signaling through both interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 13 (IL-13) – the key drivers of inflammation in AD and Type 2-driven COPD. ASLAN announced positive results from the Phase 2b TREK-AD study of eblasakimab in moderate-to-severe biologic-naïve AD patients in July 2023, and is currently investigating eblasakimab in dupilumab-experienced, moderate-to-severe AD patients in the Phase 2 trial, TREK-DX.

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ASLN) is a clinical-stage, immunology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients. ASLAN is developing eblasakimab, a potential first-in-class antibody targeting the IL-13 receptor in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) with the potential to improve upon current biologics used to treat allergic disease, and has reported positive topline data from a Phase 2b dose-ranging study in moderate-to-severe AD patients. ASLAN is currently investigating eblasakimab in dupilumab-experienced, moderate-to-severe AD patients in the TREK-DX Phase 2 trial, with topline data expected at the end of 2024. ASLAN is also developing farudodstat, a potent oral inhibitor of the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) as a potential first-in-class treatment for alopecia areata (AA) in a Phase 2a, proof-of-concept trial with an interim readout expected in Q3 2024. ASLAN has teams in San Mateo, California, and in Singapore. For more information, visit the ASLAN website.