SAN DIEGO, California — AnaptysBio, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibody product candidates focused on unmet medical needs in inflammation and immuno-oncology, today announced the initiation of multiple ascending dose cohorts in an on-going double-blind, placebo-controlled healthy volunteer Phase 1 study of its proprietary anti-interleukin-33 antibody (ANB020).

During an earlier segment of the aforementioned Phase 1 study, AnaptysBio conducted safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessment of ANB020 in healthy volunteer cohorts administered with single doses of the antibody. Data generated from single dose cohorts was reviewed by regulatory authorities in Australia prior to the initiation of multiple ascending dose testing.

ANB020 is a potent inhibitor of interleukin-33 (IL-33) developed by AnaptysBio using its proprietary SHM-XEL antibody discovery platform. IL-33 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that multiple studies have indicated is a central mediator of atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, food allergies and asthma. Since ANB020 acts upstream of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, AnaptysBio believes ANB020's IL-33 inhibitory mechanism has potential advantages in human therapy over agents that block only a subset of the cytokines responsible for atopic diseases. In addition, published human genetic analyses have linked down-modulation of IL-33 signaling with protection from asthma.

AnaptysBio plans to conduct future clinical development of ANB020 in patients with atopic dermatitis, peanut allergy and asthma.

"We are pleased to continue clinical development of ANB020, which to our knowledge is the first anti-IL-33 antibody to be tested in humans," said Hamza Suria, President & CEO of AnaptysBio. "ANB020 is a potential therapeutic option for patients suffering from debilitating IL-33 mediated atopic disorders. We look forward to initiating proof-of-concept patient studies later this year."