Continuing its streak of promising early clinical data, Jasper Therapeutics Inc.’s briquilimab impressed in a preliminary readout from a phase Ib/IIa study in chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), showing a clinical response of 93%. CIndU, an inflammatory skin condition causing hives that is often induced by physical or environmental stimuli, is commonly treated with antihistamines, though some patients are refractory. Beyond antihistamines, there is no treatment available globally, explained Edwin Tucker, Jasper’s chief medical officer, so briquilimab has the potential to be “a new treatment paradigm for patients,” both in reducing disease burden and in improving quality of life.

Many cancer patients receive radiation therapy or DNA-damaging agents that induce skin damage, and more rarely, chronic skin fibrosis.

Kymera Therapeutics Inc. has received IND clearance from the FDA for KT-621, an investigational first-in-class, once-daily, oral STAT6 degrader.

Triveni Bio Inc. has announced a $115 million series B financing to support expansion of its pipeline.

Darier disease (DD) is a rare cutaneous disease caused by heterozygous mutations in the ATP2A2 gene, which encodes sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase isoform 2 (SERCA2).

Artelo Biosciences Inc. has presented data on its fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) inhibitor ART-26.12 from testing of its efficacy in preclinical models of psoriasis.

Haihe Biopharma Co. Ltd. has described androgen receptor antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of acne, androgenic alopecia, breast and prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, hidradenitis suppurativa, hirsutism and prostatitis.