Stapokibart

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) places a significant socioeconomic burden, particularly on individuals with poorly managed recurrent and severe symptoms despite standard-of-care treatment. Stapokibart, a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor subunit alpha, inhibits its interaction with both IL-4 and IL-13 in type 2 inflammation. Here we aim to assess the efficacy and safety of stapokibart as an add-on therapy in adults with moderate-to-severe SAR. The study was a phase 3 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 108 patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe SAR and having baseline blood eosinophil counts ≥300 cells μl^-1. Participants were randomized (1:1) to receive 600 mg (loading dose) to 300 mg stapokibart subcutaneously or a placebo every 2 weeks for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was mean change from baseline in daily reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS) over the first 2 weeks. Multiplicity-tested secondary endpoints included changes in rTNSS over 4 weeks, reflective total ocular symptom score and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score over 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Compared with the placebo, stapokibart led to a significant improvement in the mean change from baseline in daily rTNSS during the 2-week (least-squares mean difference, -1.3; 95% confidence interval, -2.0 to -0.6; P = 0.0008) and 4-week (least-squares mean difference, -1.7; 95% confidence interval, -2.5 to -0.8; P = 0.0002) treatments. Stapokibart significantly improved the multiplicity-tested secondary endpoints. Treatment-emergent adverse events were comparable between the groups. Pharmacodynamics and exploratory analyses indicated that the observed improvements in outcomes during pollen season may be attributed to the reduction of type 2 inflammation in response to stapokibart treatment. The results of this trial show that pollen seasonal administration of stapokibart improved both nasal and ocular symptoms and quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe SAR. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT05908032 .

Stapokibart (Kangyueda^®; ^®) is a humanised IgG4 monoclonal antibody targeted against the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha subunit (IL-4Rα). By binding IL-4Rα, stapokibart blocks the binding by (and subsequent signalling of) IL-4 and IL-13, two type 2 cytokines. Stapokibart is being developed by KeyMed Biosciences for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and other type 2 inflammatory diseases. In September 2024, stapokibart received its first approval, in China, for use in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults whose disease is poorly controlled by, or not suitable for, topical medications. Subsequently, stapokibart additionally received approval in China for use in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (December 2024) and for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (February 2025). Stapokibart is also under clinical evaluation for use in the treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and prurigo nodularis. This article summarises the milestones in the development of stapokibart leading to this first approval for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.