Genetic Leap, a clinical-stage AI-native biotech company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared its Investigational New Drug application for GL-IL2-138, a first-in-class oral small-molecule modulator of natural interleukin-2 (IL-2). The drug represents a novel approach to harnessing IL-2's therapeutic potential while addressing the toxicity limitations that have historically constrained its clinical use.
Novel Mechanism Targets IL-2 mRNA
GL-IL2-138 works by selectively binding endogenous IL-2 mRNA to drive controlled, systemic production of natural IL-2 protein by immune cells. This mechanism differs fundamentally from traditional approaches using recombinant IL-2 protein (rIL-2), which was the first FDA-approved immunotherapy proven effective against cancer at high doses but has been limited by significant toxicity.
According to the company, this approach offers several advantages over rIL-2, including superior potency and durability, oral dosing with high tolerability, and broad "pipeline-in-a-pill" potential across oncology, immunology, and neurodegeneration applications.
Addressing an "Impossible Target"
IL-2 is a pleiotropic cytokine that regulates the homeostatic balance between immune tolerance and activation. While the tremendous potential of IL-2 to address multiple major diseases is universally recognized, numerous attempts by pharmaceutical companies to remove toxicity from rIL-2 muteins have failed, earning IL-2 its reputation as an impossible target.
Recombinant IL-2 has demonstrated curative potential in select cancers such as melanoma and renal cell carcinoma when administered at high doses, though clinical application has been severely constrained by toxicity and limited therapeutic window. Low-dose rIL-2 has shown clinical effectiveness in autoimmune and neurodegeneration diseases, but protein engineering efforts to refine IL-2 receptor selectivity have yet to overcome the fundamental challenges.
Clinical Development Plans
The drug will now be tested in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate its tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in humans. This represents a critical milestone for the company's AI-driven approach to RNA genetic therapeutics.
"We created the Genetic Leap AI platform to deliver breakthroughs like GL-IL2-138," said Dr. Bertrand Adanve, Founder and CEO of Genetic Leap. "Innovative medicine that defies known scientific limitations, like a sci-fi drug made real. GL-IL2-138 is like combining Humira (leading autoimmune biologic) and Keytruda (leading cancer biologic) into one oral pill without the downsides and applicable to even more diseases."
Broader Pipeline Implications
Beyond GL-IL2-138, Genetic Leap's portfolio spans novel and known targets, including those that are traditionally undruggable. These include MYC, PTPN2, IL-1α, IL-1β, and FLCN, suggesting the company's RNA-targeting approach may have applications across multiple therapeutic areas.
The company positions itself as innovating at the cutting edge of AI and RNA genetic therapeutics to redefine drug development and address the health needs of millions of people more quickly than traditional approaches.
