Upstream Bio Presents New Structural Data on Verekitug, Highlights Unique TSLP Receptor Targeting

Upstream Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:UPB) is one of the best hot stocks to invest in. On September 30, Upstream Bio presented new structural and mechanistic data for its therapeutic candidate, verekitug, at the European Respiratory Society/ERS Congress. The congress was held from September 27 – October 1 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The data, presented on September 30, elucidated the drivers of verekitug’s potent pharmacodynamic activity and its unique mechanism of targeting the thymic stromal lymphopoietin/TSLP receptor.

Verekitug is a novel recombinant fully human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody and the only known monoclonal antibody currently in clinical development that targets and inhibits the TSLP receptor. The structural and mechanistic findings support a differentiated therapeutic effect by showing that verekitug binds to the TSLP receptor with high affinity. The high-resolution crystal structure reveals that verekitug effectively occupies most of the TSLP binding sites on the TSLP receptor, which prevents TSLP from binding.

Furthermore, verekitug outcompetes TSLP even in the presence of preformed heterodimeric receptor complexes, thereby inhibiting the TSLP:TSLP receptor interaction. Semi-mechanistic pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) models indicate that the lower abundance and slower turnover of the TSLP receptor compared to the TSLP ligand may be the reason for verekitug’s greater potency observed in both in vitro and clinical datasets, compared to published data for the ligand-targeting drug tezepelumab.

Upstream Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:UPB) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops treatments for inflammatory diseases, focusing on severe respiratory disorders.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.