Shares of Jasper Therapeutics Inc (JSPR) skyrocketed on Monday, propelled by promising preliminary data from the company’s ongoing SPOTLIGHT Phase 1b/2a study. The study, evaluating the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous briquilimab in adult participants with cold urticaria (ColdU) or symptomatic dermographism (SD), yielded encouraging results.
Cold urticaria, also known as hives, is a condition characterized by raised and splotchy areas on the skin, often triggered by exposure to cold temperatures. Symptomatic dermographism, a less common condition, causes similar skin reactions, but in this case, the trigger is pressure or scratching on the skin.
The preliminary data, analyzed over a 6-week period, revealed a remarkable clinical response in 93% of the 15 study participants enrolled in both dose cohorts. Specifically, in the 120mg dose cohort, an impressive 83% of participants experienced a complete response (CR), with one participant showing a partial response (PR).
The safety profile of briquilimab in this study was equally impressive, with no serious adverse events (SAEs) or grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs) reported.
Encouraged by these findings, Jasper Therapeutics obtained regulatory clearance to expand the SPOTLIGHT study with a 180mg dose cohort, signifying their commitment to further exploring the therapeutic potential of briquilimab. The company anticipates releasing full data from the SPOTLIGHT study in the first half of 2025.
In addition to the SPOTLIGHT study, Jasper Therapeutics is also conducting the BEACON study, investigating the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), another debilitating skin condition. The company plans to report initial data from all cohorts of the BEACON study, including the recently added 180mg Q8W dose cohort, during the week of January 6th, 2025.
One of the key findings from the SPOTLIGHT study was a significant reduction in tryptase levels, a marker associated with mast cell activation, which is often implicated in the development of urticaria. This reduction in tryptase levels was observed as early as week 1 of the study and correlated with the onset of clinical responses. The most significant reduction in mean tryptase levels, a remarkable 66%, was observed at week 2 following treatment in the 120mg cohort. At the week 6 assessment, the mean tryptase reduction observed was 31% below baseline, and 58% of participants in the 120mg cohort continued to maintain a clinical response.
While mild decreases in neutrophil counts were observed, no participants experienced neutrophil counts below 1500.
The positive preliminary data and the company’s continued commitment to research have fueled enthusiasm for JSPR stock, leading to a 5.93% surge in its price during premarket trading on Monday. This encouraging start to the week highlights the potential of briquilimab as a promising treatment option for patients suffering from cold urticaria and dermographism.
