IL-31 mAb

IL-31 is a novel target that, by inhibiting its mechanism, could represent a potential treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) and other inflammatory disorders. ZymoGenetics has developed an IL-31-based drug candidate that is a monoclonal antibody that has been shown to neutralize the activity of IL-31 in preclinical settings in a highly specific manner. The company is in the process of manufacturing sufficient quantities of drug to supply toxicology studies and Phase 1 clinical trials. An IND filing is planned for this candidate in 2011.

ZymoGenetics owns worldwide rights to IL-31, including protein products that target IL-31 such as monoclonal antibodies, subject to certain opt-in rights held by Merck Serono.

Background

IL-31 is a cytokine derived from T cells that was discovered at ZymoGenetics. Analysis of IL-31 and IL-31 receptor levels in human and murine disease tissues suggests that IL-31 could play a role in atopic dermatitis (AD) and other inflammatory disorders. Transgenic animals expressing the IL-31 gene develop a severe skin phenotype that resembles human AD, resulting from a chronic scratch response to itch induced by over-expression of IL-31. Itch is a characteristic of human AD and the scratch response to itch is thought to be a major contributor to the severity of disease. Treatment of animals in a murine model of AD with a neutralizing antibody against IL-31 results in the reduction of the incidence of the scratch response. Additionally, analysis of peripheral blood T cells from human atopic dermatitis patients provides an association between IL-31 and skin-homing T cells,  suggesting that cutaneous diseases, such as AD, should be considered as a leading therapeutic area for inhibition of IL-31.