EBI2: the race is on

A trio of pharma companies are converging on an autoimmune target called EBI2 and are starting to flesh out the orphan GPCR's role in disease. GlaxoSmithKline plc kicked off the action two months ago with the identification of a molecule that blocked receptor activity.¹ Now, separate teams from Johnson & Johnson and Novartis AGhave identified an oxysterol as the natural ligand for EBI2.^2,3

The pharma companies have not disclosed their plans for G protein-coupled receptor 183 (GPR183; EBI2) and its ligand. However, the new data will allow them to test the therapeutic potential of modulatingthe receptor in disease models...