Unlocking innovative treatment alternatives for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET) inhibitors are a promising emerging class of therapeutics for inflammatory diseases. Citryll’s lead antibody, CIT-013, is currently under clinical development targeting a novel mechanism-of-action by inhibiting NET release and enhance clearance of pre-existing tissue NETs, resulting in anti-inflammatory effects in various preclinical models, including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
The SONNET project aims to address the gaps on how NETs correlate to disease status and treatment background, and to use these learnings for design and interpretation of clinical studies evaluating NET inhibitors, such as CIT-013, in RA.
To increase the response in treatment refractory RA patients, innovative alternatives targeting novel pathways are required outside of the currently approved biologicals. Contributing to this strategy, Citryll is developing a new therapy with a unique mechanism of action. SONNET will increase the knowledge on NETosis and disease which is expected to lead to more efficacious future therapies, and consequently a better quality of life for more patients. Successfully developing new agents targeting neutrophil and NET biology will allow patients and their healthcare providers to choose from an increased number of treatment options the therapy that best fits their individual situation, needs, and preferences, thereby contributing to personalized medicine.
In SONNET we address 5 important topics through a collaboration with 4 clinical institutions (Amsterdam UMC, Leiden UMC, Radboud UMC, and Reade). RA patient samples will be analysed for NET markers, and an imaging study will be performed to detect NETs in tissue in vivo. This will lead to a better understanding of how disease state affects circulating NET markers, informing Citryll and clinicians on how to measure target engagement and interpret the effect of new agents targeting NET biology, such as CIT-013, on biomarkers in clinical samples.
