AltruBio

Ulcerative colitis (UC), characterized by the hallmark clinical symptoms of bloody diarrhea, rectal urgency, and tenesmus, is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the colorectal mucosa. The underlying pathogenesis of UC is complex, and accumulating evidence suggests that environmental factors contribute to triggering an overly active or dysregulated T-cell mediated immune-inflammatory response in genetically predisposed individuals, which eventually leads to mucosa damage.

Based on the structure of ALTB-168, ALTB-268, a second generation antibody with tetravalent design that leads to improved potency, is under development. In vitro and in vivo studies with ALTB-268 have demonstrated a potentially 10-fold increase in activity of down-regulating late-stage, chronically activated T cells (immune cells that cause inflammation) as compared with ALTB-168.

The company is dedicated to bringing forth ALTB-268 into the clinic, currently in a Phase 2a trial with ulcerative colitis patients. Additional autoimmune indications will be explored based on solid signs of clinical efficacy demonstrated with ALTB-168.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a clinically heterogeneous chronic inflammatory disease, comprising a range of musculoskeletal (joints, nails, and entheses) and dermatological manifestations associated with impaired physical function and poor quality of life. Evidence supports that T cells plays a vital role in initiating and substantiating psoriatic arthritis by generating inflammatory cytokines which stimulate the attraction of inflammatory cells to the synovium and joint tissues, resulting in the deterioration of cartilage and bone.

Promising phase 2a results have been obtained with ALTB-168. With the same binding domains present on ALTB-268, phase 2a study of PsA of ALTB-268 is under planning.