LARIX BIOSCIENCE LLC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NIAID

Description

Novel therapy for atopic dermatitis AbstractAtopic dermatitisADis a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects overmillion AmericansSevere AD results in skin damage that increases the risk for secondary infectionsMild AD is treated with topical anti pruritics and anti inflammatory steroidsModerate to severe ADhoweveroften requires systemic therapyCurrent therapiesincluding anti IgEare either ineffective or have adverse effectsRecent studies have demonstrated the involvement of novel cytokines ILand ILin initiating and maintaining inflammatory processes in ADActivation of inflammatory pathways by ILILor ILrequires the ILreceptor accessory proteinIL RAPIL RAcPWe have identified a high affinity murine monoclonal antibody to IL RAP and have demonstrated its ability to block ILILand ILsignaling in vitro and in vivoWe propose to develop this lead as a best in class therapy for allergic inflammationAnti IL RAP is expected to specifically target inflammatory zones where IL RAP is up regulated and to be more selective and less toxic than current therapies NarrativeAtopic dermatitisa chronic and sometimes debilitating form of eczemaafflicts overmillion AmericansAD patients suffer painsecondary infectionsand stress that impacts productivity and quality of lifeWe have developed a human monoclonal antibody to a key signaling protein that mediates the chronic inflammation of ADThis antibody will be more effective than existing treatments with fewer adverse effects and risks