Data show ligelizumab binds to immunoglobulin E (IgE), a key driver of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), with significantly higher affinity than current standard of care Xolair (omalizumab)1
The study published in Nature Communications suggests ligelizumab has the potential to be more effective than Xolair in treating CSU
Earlier Phase IIb study results show more patients are completely symptom-free from CSU with ligelizumab than Xolair2
CSU is a distressing and unpredictable skin condition with many patients having uncontrolled symptoms3
Basel, January 09, 2020 – Novartis, a leader in immuno-dermatology, announced mechanistic study results showing ligelizumab is more effective at inhibiting the major pathogenic IgE/Fc?RI pathway in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), than current therapy Xolair® (omalizumab)1. Ligelizumab can bind to IgE with an 88-fold higher affinity than Xolair1. The data show ligelizumab and Xolair recognize and bind differently to IgE, with ligelizumab resulting in a significantly enhanced blockade of IgE/Fc?RI signaling.
“This mechanistic research study is a great step forward in understanding how different anti-IgE treatments can have qualitatively and functionally distinct inhibition profiles”, said one of the investigators of the study, PD Dr. Alexander Eggel, University of Bern, Switzerland.
“We were recently encouraged by previous clinical study results showing more patients are completely symptom-free from CSU with ligelizumab than Xolair2,” said Eric Hughes, Global Development Unit Head for Immunology, Hepatology and Dermatology, Novartis. “This mechanistic study further supports those findings as we look to reimagine care to bring better treatment options for patients with CSU.”
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References
Gasser P, et al. The mechanistic and functional profile of the therapeutic anti-IgE antibody ligelizumab is different from omalizumab. Nat Commun 2020; 11:165.
Maurer M, et al. Ligelizumab for chronic spontaneous urticaria. N Engl J Med 2019;381:1321–1332.
Maurer M, et al. Unmet clinical needs in chronic spontaneous urticaria: A GA(2)LEN task force report. Allergy 2011; 66:317–330.
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