AB Science will present results from its Phase 3 AB07015 study in severe asthma at the 2020 American Thoracic Society International Conference - Seite 2

Phase 3 study (AB07105) evaluating oral masitinib in severe asthma uncontrolled by oral corticosteroids met its primary endpoint. The pre-specified primary analysis was conducted in the severe asthma population with daily OCS ≥ 7.5 mg and masitinib treatment was associated with a significant reduction in severe asthma exacerbations (p=0.0103).

Detailed results will be presented during the conference. It is the policy of the ATS that all scientific research-related content included in an abstract to be presented at the ATS International Conference be withheld until after the abstract has been presented at the conference.

Masitinib has a unique positioning in severe asthma, in terms of administration (oral administration), mechanism of action, targeted population, and broad eosinophil level.

Masitinib is a first in class oral drug in severe asthma, selectively targeting mast cells through inhibition of tyrosine kinases c-Kit, LYN and FYN. There is a strong scientific rationale to target mast cells in asthma and study AB07015 was the first positive large-scale study in severe asthma utilizing a drug targeting mast cells [1]. Additionally, masitinib is a potent inhibitor of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor (PDGFR), which is associated with airway remodeling in asthma [2]. Masitinib is therefore capable of simultaneously modulating independent mechanisms of asthma pathophysiology, which is an attractive therapeutic strategy for severe asthma.

[1] Bradding P, Arthur G. Clin Exp Allergy. 2016 Feb;46(2):194-263.
[2] Kardas G, et al. Front Pharmacol. 2020 Feb 14;11:47.

About masitinib
Masitinib is a new orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets mast cells and macrophages, important cells for immunity, through inhibiting a limited number of kinases. Based on its unique mechanism of action, masitinib can be developed in a large number of conditions in oncology, in inflammatory diseases, and in certain diseases of the central nervous system. In oncology due to its immunotherapy effect, masitinib can have an effect on survival, alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Through its activity on mast cells and microglia and consequently the inhibition of the activation of the inflammatory process, masitinib can have an effect on the symptoms associated with some inflammatory and central nervous system diseases and the degeneration of these diseases.