ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Presents Late-Breaking Poster on Eblasakimab and Neuronal Itch Mechanisms at the 2022 Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting

MENLO PARK, Calif. and SINGAPORE, May 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ASLN), a clinical-stage, immunology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients, today announced the presentation of a poster highlighting new data and insights related to neuronal itch mechanisms through eblasakimab’s targeting of IL-13Rα1 at the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) Annual Meeting. The data were presented by Ferda Cevikbas PhD, Head of Translational Sciences at ASLAN.

Chronic itch is a hallmark and major symptom of atopic dermatitis and other tType 2-driven inflammatory skin disorders. Itch signaling in atopic dermatitis (AD) has been recently postulated to be exacerbated by pro-inflammatory cytokines present in the skin¹, causing an immune response that disrupts the skin barrier and drives disease pathology. In our study, we show that IL-13 and IL-4 act as neuronal enhancers for the amplification of itch pathways through the IL-13Rα1 subunit of the Type-2 receptor and these effects can be inhibited by eblasakimab.

Dr Alexandre Khaoukhov, Chief Medical Officer, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, commented: “Aside from the painful, inflamed skin lesions seen in patients with atopic dermatitis, chronic itch can be a debilitating addition to the overall burden of this disease, significantly impairing quality of life. These data paint an encouraging picture of eblasakimab’s role in reducing pruritic neuronal responses and add to our understanding of the benefits of eblasakimab’s unique mechanism of action in its dual blockade of both IL-4 and IL-13 through the Type 2 receptor.”

Publication details
The poster titled, “New insights into neuronal itch mechanisms by targeting IL-13Rα1 with eblasakimab” presents results from an ex vivo study in human dorsal root ganglia (hDRG) neurons after being pre-treated with eblasakimab, IL-4 alone, IL-13 alone or a combination of both IL-4 and IL-13. Neuronal responses were captured by live cell calcium imaging.

Eblasakimab significantly reduced cytokine-enhanced neuronal responses to IL-4 and IL-13-driven itch by more than 40% versus control conditions (p=0.0001)², suggesting eblasakimab’s unique mechanism of blocking IL-13Rα1 could provide a molecular basis for the significant reduction of pruritis scores observed in eblasakimab-treated moderate-to-severe AD patients in the Phase 1b clinical trial.

About eblasakimab
Eblasakimab is a potential first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-13 receptor, with the potential to deliver a differentiated safety and efficacy profile as well as an improved dosing regimen for patients. In September 2021, ASLAN announced positive results from the Phase 1b multiple-ascending-dose study that established proof of concept of ASLAN004 and supported its potential as a novel treatment for AD. In January 2022, ASLAN initiated the TREK-AD Phase 2b trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of eblasakimab in moderate-to-severe AD patients.

About ASLAN Pharmaceuticals
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ASLN) is a clinical-stage, immunology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients. ASLAN is currently evaluating eblasakimab, a potential first-in-class antibody targeting the IL-13 receptor, in atopic dermatitis, and farudodstat (also known as ASLAN003), a potent oral inhibitor of the enzyme, DHODH, in autoimmune disease. ASLAN has a team in Menlo Park, California, and in Singapore. For additional information please visit www.aslanpharma.com or follow ASLAN on LinkedIn.

Forward looking statements
This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the management of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited and/or its affiliates (the "Company"). These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s business strategy and clinical development plans; the Company’s plans to develop and commercialize eblasakimab and farudodstat; the safety and efficacy of eblasakimab and farudodstat; the Company’s plans and expected timing with respect to clinical trials, clinical trial enrolment and clinical trial results for eblasakimab and farudodstat; the potential of eblasakimab as a first-in-class treatment for atopic dermatitis; and of farudodstat as a treatment for autoimmune disease. The Company’s estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company’s business, strategy, operations, or financial performance, and inherently involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of many risks and uncertainties, which include, unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies; clinical site activation rates or clinical trial enrolment rates that are lower than expected; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia on the Company’s business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape; and the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund its strategic and clinical development plans. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements are described in the Company’s US Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports (Commission File No. 001- 38475), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2022. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “might,” “could,” “will,” “aim,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” or the negative of those terms, and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements. Estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and, except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any estimate, projection, or forward-looking statement.

Notes

1. Cevikbas and Lerner (2020) Physiol Rev 100: 945-982
2. P values were determined using ANOVA tests

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