{"title":"Pre- and Postnatal Development Study of Nemolizumab, a Humanized Anti-Interleukin-31 Receptor A Monoclonal Antibody, in Cynomolgus Monkey.","authors":"Ryuichi Katagiri, Saori Matsuo, Hisashi Ikegami, Akihisa Kaneko, Akihiro Arima, Shuichi Chiba, Masanori Sasaki","doi":"10.1002/bdr2.2442","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nemolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against interleukin-31 receptor A (IL-31RA), is used to treat atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis. These inflammatory skin diseases affect a wide range of age groups, including pregnant women and children; however, little is known about their biological effects on pre- and postnatal development. Therefore, we report and discuss the results of an enhanced pre- and postnatal development study in cynomolgus monkeys treated with nemolizumab, which also incorporates an assessment of juvenile toxicities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nemolizumab was subcutaneously administered at doses of 1 or 25 mg/kg to pregnant cynomolgus monkeys once every 2 weeks (biweekly) from Gestation Day 20 until delivery, to investigate the potential toxicities on pre- and postnatal development. Additionally, their offspring were subcutaneously dosed biweekly with 1 or 25 mg/kg from approximately 1 to 7 months after birth to investigate the potential toxicities on juveniles, considering the age of the target patient population. The examination included tests for immune function and nervous system involvement by IL-31, as well as the standard assessments outlined in the ICH S5 guideline to comprehensively assess the safety profile.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No nemolizumab-related toxicities were observed in both dams and offspring up to 25 mg/kg. Maternal plasma nemolizumab concentrations were well maintained during the gestation period, gradually decreasing after delivery. Plasma concentrations in the offspring, higher than in dams, was maintained until scheduled necropsy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Blocking IL-31 signaling with repeated dosing of nemolizumab did not adversely affect pregnancy, parturition, nursing, or postnatal physical and functional development in cynomolgus monkeys.</p>","PeriodicalId":9121,"journal":{"name":"Birth Defects Research","volume":"117 2","pages":"e2442"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Birth Defects Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/bdr2.2442","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Nemolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against interleukin-31 receptor A (IL-31RA), is used to treat atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis. These inflammatory skin diseases affect a wide range of age groups, including pregnant women and children; however, little is known about their biological effects on pre- and postnatal development. Therefore, we report and discuss the results of an enhanced pre- and postnatal development study in cynomolgus monkeys treated with nemolizumab, which also incorporates an assessment of juvenile toxicities.
Methods: Nemolizumab was subcutaneously administered at doses of 1 or 25 mg/kg to pregnant cynomolgus monkeys once every 2 weeks (biweekly) from Gestation Day 20 until delivery, to investigate the potential toxicities on pre- and postnatal development. Additionally, their offspring were subcutaneously dosed biweekly with 1 or 25 mg/kg from approximately 1 to 7 months after birth to investigate the potential toxicities on juveniles, considering the age of the target patient population. The examination included tests for immune function and nervous system involvement by IL-31, as well as the standard assessments outlined in the ICH S5 guideline to comprehensively assess the safety profile.
Results: No nemolizumab-related toxicities were observed in both dams and offspring up to 25 mg/kg. Maternal plasma nemolizumab concentrations were well maintained during the gestation period, gradually decreasing after delivery. Plasma concentrations in the offspring, higher than in dams, was maintained until scheduled necropsy.
Conclusion: Blocking IL-31 signaling with repeated dosing of nemolizumab did not adversely affect pregnancy, parturition, nursing, or postnatal physical and functional development in cynomolgus monkeys.
期刊介绍:
The journal Birth Defects Research publishes original research and reviews in areas related to the etiology of adverse developmental and reproductive outcome. In particular the journal is devoted to the publication of original scientific research that contributes to the understanding of the biology of embryonic development and the prenatal causative factors and mechanisms leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes, namely structural and functional birth defects, pregnancy loss, postnatal functional defects in the human population, and to the identification of prenatal factors and biological mechanisms that reduce these risks.
Adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes may have genetic, environmental, nutritional or epigenetic causes. Accordingly, the journal Birth Defects Research takes an integrated, multidisciplinary approach in its organization and publication strategy. The journal Birth Defects Research contains separate sections for clinical and molecular teratology, developmental and reproductive toxicology, and reviews in developmental biology to acknowledge and accommodate the integrative nature of research in this field. Each section has a dedicated editor who is a leader in his/her field and who has full editorial authority in his/her area.