ARQ-234: A High Affinity CD200-Fc Fusion Protein for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

ARQ-234 is a high affinity CD200-Fc fusion protein designed as a therapeutic for atopic dermatitis. It works by targeting the CD200 receptor, which is an inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor involved in moderating immune activation at barrier sites such as the skin. The protein has been engineered to have up to 130-fold increased binding affinity for CD200R compared to its natural counterpart. This increased affinity has shown to be more effective in inhibiting IL-6 release in cell lines, reducing cell infiltrate in a non-human primate model of airway inflammation, and outperforming a CD200R agonist antibody in a humanized mouse model of contact hypersensitivity. Additionally, ARQ-234 has been modified to have an extended serum half-life in non-human primates, making it a promising candidate for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, and it is currently in pre-clinical development.