Aurinia Pharmaceuticals has commenced a Phase Ia clinical trial of AUR200, a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases. The trial, a single ascending dose (SAD) study, will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and biomarker changes of AUR200 in healthy volunteers. Results from the study are anticipated in the first half of next year.
AUR200 is an IgG4 Fc-fusion protein designed with minimal effector function. It targets both B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), which are key cytokines involved in B-cell survival and differentiation. The B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) domain of AUR200 enhances its binding affinity to BAFF and APRIL. Dual inhibition of these cytokines is considered a clinically validated mechanism with significant therapeutic potential for various autoimmune diseases.
The company intends to develop AUR200 for disease states with limited current market options, including a larger indication and a faster-to-market smaller indication that aligns with the FDA criteria for rare and orphan diseases. Specific indications and development plans will be communicated based on the progress and outcomes of early-stage clinical trials and an ongoing assessment of the competitive landscape.
Preclinical Evidence
In animal studies, therapeutic dosing of AUR200 demonstrated a reduction in several markers of disease activity and improved overall survival in a mouse model of lupus. These findings support the potential of AUR200 as a therapeutic agent for autoimmune conditions.
Management Commentary
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals chief medical officer Dr. Greg Keenan stated, "The start of the single ascending dose study is an important milestone for developing AUR200, which has the potential to serve as a best-in-class treatment in autoimmune diseases with high unmet need. We believe AUR200 is a more potent compound with a higher binding affinity compared to the two other TACI-Fc molecules designed to bind both BAFF and APRIL that were tested in our preclinical research. We expect the data from this early-stage study to provide key points of differentiation that will inform further clinical development efforts."
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals plans to fund this development program with its available cash flow, which is not expected to affect the company’s post-restructuring operating expense targets.
