Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by intense itching, erythema, and scaly lesions, often leading to painful sores. It is also associated with comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders (including depression and anxiety), and sleep disturbances. As of 2022, AD affects an estimated 320 million adults worldwide, with 30% experiencing moderate to severe cases. For these patients, conventional topical treatments often provide limited relief, underscoring the need for advanced therapies.

Targeted antibody therapies have emerged as a promising approach for moderate to severe AD, particularly for patients unresponsive to conventional treatments. These therapies target key pathways in AD pathogenesis, such as OX40 and IL-4R. OX40, a co-stimulatory molecule expressed on activated T cells, plays a crucial role in driving inflammation, while IL-4R mediates signaling for IL-4 and IL-13, two key cytokines involved in AD-related inflammation. Dupilumab, an IL-4R inhibitor, has demonstrated significant efficacy in clinical trials. Meanwhile, emerging OX40-targeting therapies are under investigation, offering potential for broader immune modulation.

Biocytogen offers a portfolio of high-affinity, high-specificity AD-related antibody assets, developed through our proprietary fully human RenMice® antibody discovery platform.

▷ OX40 BpAb (BCG028) from RenLite KO

Highlights of our assets:

• Robust blockade of OX40L binding and activation
• Superior in vivo efficacy compared to benchmark OX40 mAbs
• Engineered Fc region for extended half-life and high-dose formulation
• Excellent developability
• Patent application submitted

Download BCG028 Poster

Superior in vivo efficacy of BCG028-IgG1 and BCG028 in a mouse GvHD model

(A) BCG028-IgG1 showed superior antagonistic activity in a murine GvHD model, outperforming rocatinlimab-IgG1 and telazorlimab. The model was established by i.v. injection of PBMCs into irradiated B-NDG mice (n=6/group). Antibodies were administered weekly at 10 mg/kg for 6 doses. Mouse survival was monitored and plotted. (B) BCG028 with engineered Fc demonstrated superior antagonistic activity in the GvHD model, outperforming defucosylated rocatinlimab (n=8/group).

BCG028 exhibited a prolonged serum half-life compared to benchmarks in humanized FcRn mice

BCG028 exhibited a prolonged serum half-life compared to benchmarks in a pharmacokinetic (PK) study using humanized FcRn mice (C57BL/6, n=6/group). Antibody concentrations over time (A) and fitted half-life values (B, with Winnonlin) are shown. Fc-engineered anti-OX40 antibodies (except Telazorlimab, which was wild-type IgG1) were tested at 10 mg/kg, i.v. Statistical analysis: One-way ANOVA (Prism, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001).

BCG028 exhibited robust ADCC activity against OX40+ T cells

Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity of BCG028. OX40+ Jurkat T cells were co-cultured for 5 hours with NK92mi cells overexpressing CD16a-158V (FcR-TANK) and varying antibody concentrations. ADCC was measured via lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the supernatant.

Our AD-Related Projects (Partial List)

In addition to the projects listed above, we have several others currently in development—stay tuned for updates!