Aimmune Therapeutics, the pharmaceutical company in late stage trial with it’s AR101 peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) drug, announced a collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi.
The company will test its therapy in combination with Regeneron and Sanofi’s Dupixent in a mid-stage trial expected to start in 2018. Dupixent (the brand name for dupilumab) is an approved atopic dermatitis (eczema) drug in Phase II trials as a therapy for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
The three companies plan the midstage test for 2018 with Regeneron sponsoring the trial. The primary objective is to exceed the tolerated dose of peanut protein in a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge than that attained by AR101 alone.
“We are excited to work with Regeneron and Sanofi to explore the potential of AR101 and dupilumab to increase both the degree of protection and persistence of protection against exposure to peanut protein,” said Aimmune CEO Stephen Dilly. “We have worked diligently with regulatory authorities and have engineered a manufacturing infrastructure that is purpose-built to meet strict cGMP and quality standards, an essential component for conducting rigorous studies such as this.”
Aimmune is currently conducting two Phase III trials of AR101.