SEATTLE - Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:ALPN), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, has presented new translational data for its investigational drug, povetacicept (ALPN-303), at the SLEuro 14th European Lupus Meeting. The data show povetacicept's superior efficacy in a mouse model of lupus compared to other treatments, as well as its enhanced distribution to organs affected by the disease.
The research highlighted at the European Lupus Meeting, held in Bruges, Belgium from March 19-22, suggests that genes related to the BAFF and APRIL pathways are upregulated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Povetacicept, a dual BAFF/APRIL inhibitor, was shown to significantly reduce disease activity in the NZB/W mouse model of lupus, outperforming wild-type TACI-Ig and B cell depletion strategies.
Moreover, povetacicept demonstrated a markedly higher distribution to key organs such as the kidney, lung, skin, and brain in normal mice, which may contribute to its enhanced efficacy. For example, the concentration of povetacicept in the kidney was found to be 19 times higher than that of wild-type TACI-Ig.
Stanford Peng, MD, PhD, President and Head of Research and Development at Alpine, noted the significance of these findings for the treatment of SLE and IgA nephropathy, two diseases where these organs are critically involved. He expressed that these results support the company's plans to begin a pivotal trial in IgA nephropathy, named RAINIER, and a phase 2 study in SLE, called DENALI, in the second half of 2024.
Povetacicept is designed to interfere with the activation and survival of B cells and other immune cells by inhibiting BAFF and APRIL cytokines, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases.
Alpine Immune Sciences, known for its innovative approach to creating immunotherapies, has a range of clinical and preclinical candidates under development. The company has established partnerships with major biopharmaceutical entities and aims to provide novel treatments for patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
The information in this article is based on a press release statement from Alpine Immune Sciences.
InvestingPro Insights
As Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALPN) continues to make strides in the development of povetacicept for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, investors are closely monitoring the company's financial health and stock performance. According to InvestingPro data, Alpine Immune Sciences has a market capitalization of $2.71 billion, reflecting the market's optimism about the company's potential. Despite the negative gross profit margin of -37.41% in the last twelve months as of Q4 2023, the company has seen a substantial revenue growth of 95.84% in the same period, indicating a significant increase in its sales figures.
Investors should note that Alpine's stock has experienced a high return over the last year, with a 402.25% increase in price total return. This demonstrates strong market confidence in the company's future, despite the fact that analysts have revised their earnings downwards for the upcoming period, as per InvestingPro Tips. Additionally, the company's liquid assets exceed its short-term obligations, suggesting a stable financial position for handling imminent liabilities.
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