Cancer

Patient sample, cell culture and mouse studies suggest inhibiting IL23P19-IL-23 receptor signaling could help treat CLL. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients, high levels of IL-23 receptor were associated with disease severity. In PBMCs from three CLL patients, siRNAs targeting IL23P19 or IL-23 receptor decreased viability and proliferation compared with a non-targeted siRNA. In three patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models of CLL, an anti-IL23P19 mAb decreased numbers of CLL cells in the spleen, liver, bone marrow and PBMCs, decreased the number of CLL cell infiltration foci in the spleen and increased CLL cell apoptosis in the spleen compared with an isotype-matched control antibody. Next steps include testing undisclosed mAbs targeting IL23P19 or IL-23 receptor in models of CLL.

Merck & Co. Inc., Almirall S.A. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. have tildrakizumab (MK-3222), a humanized mAb against IL23P19, in registration to treat psoriasis...