This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Xencor begins phase 1 study of monoclonal antibody to treat asthma

Xencor recently announced that its first patient has been dosed in a phase 1a clinical trial of a monoclonal antibody engineered to suppress immunoglobulin E as a potential treatment for asthma and other atopic diseases.

“XmAb7195 achieved very low levels of serum IgE in preclinical studies and offers the potential for superior IgE control,” Bassil Dahiyat, PhD, president and chief executive officer of Xencor, said in a press release. “In addition to studying safety and tolerability, the phase 1 study allows us to observe the activity of XmAb7195 in suppressing IgE levels, which is a validated approach for treating asthma.”

The trial will include 64 patients to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of a single ascending dose of XmAb7195. Effect on free and total IgE levels, in addition to immune cell biomarkers, in healthy participants and in allergic patients with elevated levels of IgE also will be evaluated, according to the release.

XmAb7195 uses three distinct mechanisms for reducing IgE levels, according to the release.