ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (TPEx:6497; NASDAQ:ASLN) has applied to the Singapore Health Sciences Authority to conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial of ASLAN004.
The single ascending dose study will recruit healthy volunteers and the multiple ascending dose study will recruit patients with atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common dermatological disease, affecting more than 200 million patients worldwide. It is characterized by red inflamed skin and severe daytime and nighttime itching, which can severely impact patients’ quality of life.
ASLAN004 is a fully human monoclonal antibody, which has the potential to inhibit interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 13 (IL-13). IL-4 and IL-13 are central to triggering symptoms of allergy in atopic dermatitis, such as redness and itching of the skin.
By targeting IL-13Ralpha1, ASLAN004 has the potential to offer both a lower dose and dosing frequency than currently available treatments for atopic dermatitis, which target the same pathways. ASLAN004’s selective binding may also offer a more favorable side effect profile.
“We believe that ASLAN004 has the potential to be a best-in-class therapy, offering the potential for reduced injection frequency and greater convenience for patients than current treatment options for atopic dermatitis,” CEO, Dr. Carl Firth, said in a statement.
