Allakos reports Phase I data for AK002 in healthy volunteers

Allakos Inc. (San Carlos, Calif.) reported data from a Phase I trial in healthy volunteers showing that single doses of 0.001-1 mg/kg IV AK002 were generally well tolerated. The company is developing the non-fucosylated IgG1 mAb targeting sialic acid binding Ig-like lectin 8 (SIGLEC8) to treat diseases in which eosinophils and/or mast cells are involved in disease pathology, including eosinophilic gastritis, indolent systemic mastocytosis, urticaria and severe allergic conjunctivitis.

Allakos also said AK002 "rapidly" depleted blood eosinophils after a single dose, with all AK002 dose groups achieving complete depletion of blood eosinophils by one hour post-dose vs. no significant changes in blood eosinophils for placebo. Additionally, the duration of eosinophil depletion increased with AK002 dose level and was sustained for 28-84 days in the 0.3 and 1 mg/kg dose groups. Data were presented at the Joint Congress of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology and the World Allergy Organization in Orlando...