Yuhan's YH35324 approved for Phase 1 clinical trials

[YUHAN]

Yuhan’s YH35324 allergy treatment candidate won approval for Phase 1 clinical trials in Korea, the pharmaceutical company said Monday.

Upon authorization from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the trial will be conducted on healthy people and people with mild allergies to test safety and monitor immunoglobulin E (lgE) levels after injection. Injections will start in the second half of the year, the company said.

Immune systems overreact to an allergen by producing IgE antibodies, which travel to cells. Allergic diseases are caused by the secretion of histamine when IgE is combined with basophil or mast cells. YH35324 binds to IgE and prevents it from being combined with fat cells, according to Yuhan.

In July last year, Yuhan licensed the technology from local bio venture GI Innovation. The two companies are currently collaborating on the development.

If approved, YH35324 will be used to treat chronic hives, atopic dermatitis, severe asthma and food allergies, Yuhan said.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]