Science

The scientific basis of our research & development is highly patient-centric. Our close collaboration with clinical centers and the APECED/APS-1 patient population enables us to understand the clinical status of individuals – manifestations or absence of disease and corresponding dynamic seroreactive profile. By focusing on the clinical outcome, we are able to apply serology, bioinformatics and advanced autoantibody cloning technologies in the hunt for novel autoantibodies that could have clinical benefit for wider populations of patients. Through clinically-led discovery, we are able to identify the autoantibodies which may mediate clinical benefit in a target-independent, unbiased manner.

Scientific Background

Scientific strategy

Pipeline

Scientific Background

ImmunoQure is focusing on the discovery of patient-selected antibodies for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. At ImmunoQure AG we are breaking new ground in the research and development of naturally occurring human antibodies as therapeutics for the treatment of common human diseases.

The human immune system is designed to mount effective antibody responses against foreign proteins for combatting infectious diseases caused by invading viral, bacterial and fungal agents. However, in rare cases, the human immune system makes antibodies against endogenous human proteins. Such antibodies are termed autoantibodies.

ImmunoQure’s technology platform allows us to retrieve meaningful, natural human autoantibodies against relevant human drug targets that are the root cause of common diseases. For the discovery of such autoantibodies, we are collaborating closely with an ultra-rare group of patients who harbor unique sets of autoantibodies that are absent in the normal human population. These patients – APECED or APS-1 patients, have a mutation in the AIRE gene which is responsible for maintaining central tolerance – a key mechanism that the body uses to regulate the immune system. In the absence of AIRE, these patients permit self-reactive T-cells and self-reactive autoantibodies to develop.

Our approach is to identify and develop the most relevant autoantibodies from these highly selected patient populations based on defined aspects of their clinical history.

Our research is focused on allowing the patient guide our discovery of antibodies and their clinically relevant targets in an unbiased manner. We analyze the patient’s clinical status, perform serological analyses and then clone antibodies according to their ability to modulate the function of specific cell types and proteins involved in disease. In this way, we identify drug candidates and qualify drug targets based on their involvement in real disease scenarios.

Scientific strategy

ImmunoQure’s goal is to develop first- and best-in class antibody-based therapeutics and to be a strong alliance partner for pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Using our novel, patient-driven human antibody platform, we are focusing on developing multiple pre-IND programs in parallel and entering into partnerships for the further clinical development of these products.
Our approach is to identify and develop the most relevant autoantibodies from these highly selected patient populations based on defined aspects of their clinical history.

Human-derived antibodies are ideal therapeutic agents because of their excellent safety profile and inherent efficacy, offering a superior therapeutic window over other traditional therapeutic modalities including small molecules and engineered antibodies. Having been crafted by nature, ImmunoQure’s antibodies do not need further optimization and represent fast-track, safe and efficacious IND candidates. Our initial focus is on the development of naturally engineered human antibodies as biological therapies for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Pipeline

ImmunoQure is establishing an expanding pipeline of high-impact first-in-class and best-in-class natural human antibody therapeutics for combatting multiple human diseases. While our initial focus is in the field autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, we are actively seeking collaborative opportunities for applying our human-derived antibody discovery platform to additional human disease areas with high medical need.

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IQ004

Autoantibodies recognizing all isoforms of Interferon-a have been identified, cloned, and characterized. In vitro mechanism-of-action, in vivo efficacy studies and companion diagnostic system development have been completed. Interferon-a is a cytokine implicated in multiple inflammatory diseases such as Lupus and Sjögrens syndrome.

IQ001

Autoantibodies selectively recognizing IL-17F have been cloned and characterized. In vitro mechanism-of-action, in vivo efficacy studies and preliminary primate pharmacology have been completed. IL-17F is a cytokine implicated in multiple inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and psoriatic arthritis.

IQ003

Autoantibodies recognizing IL-32g have been cloned and characterized. In vitro mechanism-of-action, in vivo efficacy studies and preliminary primate pharmacology have been completed. IL-32 g is a cytokine that controls a network of important mediators of inflammation e.g., TNF, IL-6, -10 & -1b. It is implicated in diseases such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and cancer.

IQ002

Autoantibodies recognizing IL-22 have been cloned and characterized. In vitro mechanism-of-action, in vivo efficacy studies and preliminary primate pharmacology have been completed. IL-22 is a cytokine implicated in multiple inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and cancer.