RAPT Therapeutics Advances Allergy Care with RPT904 Licensing Deal

RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RAPT), an immunology-based biopharmaceutical company, has secured an exclusive global license (excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) for RPT904 (JYB1904) from Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The agreement involves the development and commercialization of this clinical-stage, half-life extended anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, which has shown promise as a next-generation treatment for allergic disorders.

License Agreement Terms

• Upfront Payment: Jemincare will receive $35 million.
• Milestone Payments: Up to $672.5 million upon achieving regulatory and commercial goals.
• Royalties: Jemincare will earn royalties on future RPT904 sales outside its retained territories.

RAPT plans to develop RPT904 initially for food allergy, building on the success of omalizumab (Xolair®), which has gained significant traction in the market since its approval for food allergy in 2024.

Advantages of RPT904

• Extended Half-Life: Over twice the median half-life of omalizumab at equivalent doses, as demonstrated in Phase 1 trials.
• Enhanced IgE Reduction: Deeper and more sustained reduction of free IgE and higher total IgE accumulation compared to omalizumab.
• Targeted Efficacy: RPT904 targets the same clinically validated epitope as omalizumab, offering a potential best-in-class profile for allergic disorders.

Clinical Development Milestones

• Phase 1 Study Results (China):

  • Conducted by Jemincare with 56 healthy volunteers.
  • Demonstrated good safety and tolerability, with all adverse events graded 1-2.
  • Pharmacokinetics were dose-proportional, and the half-life exceeded omalizumab’s.

• Ongoing Phase 2 Trials in China:

  • Asthma Trial: Focused on pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) to inform dosing for Phase 3. Results expected in H2 2025.
  • Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) Trial: Evaluating safety and efficacy. Results expected in H1 2026.

• RAPT’s Phase 2b Food Allergy Trial: Scheduled to begin in H2 2025, leveraging the unique attributes of RPT904 to address the growing need in this therapeutic area.

Executive Perspectives

• Dr. Brian Wong, President and CEO of RAPT: Highlighted RPT904’s potential as a best-in-class treatment for food allergy, emphasizing its extended half-life and IgE reduction as differentiators in the expanding market.
• Xiaoxiang Li, President of Jemincare: Expressed confidence in the partnership’s ability to accelerate JYB1904’s development and expand its therapeutic impact.

Market Potential

The rapid adoption of omalizumab for food allergy underscores the unmet need and commercial opportunity in this sector. With RPT904’s superior pharmacological profile, RAPT and Jemincare are well-positioned to advance care for patients with allergic disorders while addressing significant market demand.