AnaptysBio, Inc. announced positive top-line data from a randomized placebo-controlled healthy volunteer single and multiple ascending dose Phase 1 trial of rosnilimab, its investigational wholly-owned anti-PD-1 agonist therapeutic antibody, previously known as ANB030. Top-line data demonstrated favorable safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic results that support advancement of rosnilimab into subsequent patient trials. A total of 144 subjects were enrolled in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled healthy volunteer Phase 1 trial, where single ascending dose (SAD) cohorts were administered single subcutaneous or intravenous doses of rosnilimab ranging between 0.02mg to 600mg or placebo, while multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts received four weekly subcutaneous doses of rosnilimab ranging between 60mg and 400mg or placebo. Dose escalation was conducted subsequent to data safety monitoring board review of safety and tolerability parameters following each single and multiple ascending dose level. Rosnilimab was generally well-tolerated and no dose limiting toxicities were observed. The most frequent adverse event reported among SAD cohorts was increased circulating C-reactive protein levels of mild severity in nine (10%) rosnilimab-dosed subjects occurring sporadically in a dose-independent manner and a severe occurrence in one (3.3%) placebo-dosed subject. MAD cohorts reported headache as the most frequent adverse event with mild occurrences in three (12.5%) rosnilimab-dosed subjects and none in placebo subjects. Mild injection site reactions were observed in two subjects (11.1%) administered with multiple subcutaneous rosnilimab doses. Two serious adverse events were reported in single dose cohorts, including obstructive pancreatitis in a placebo-dosed subject and COVID-19 infection in a rosnilimab-dosed subject leading to discontinuation which was deemed unrelated to treatment. No serious adverse events were reported in subjects receiving multiple doses of rosnilimab or placebo. Pharmacokinetic analyses demonstrated a favorable profile for rosnilimab with an estimated two-week half-life for subcutaneous and intravenous routes of administration and approximately 80% bioavailability. Low-titer anti-drug antibodies were detected at low single dose levels in 19 (21%) rosnilimab-dosed subjects, but none were detected in high single dose or multiple dose subjects. Full PD-1 receptor occupancy was observed rapidly during the first week following single subcutaneous rosnilimab doses at or above 60mg, and was maintained for at least 30 days at or above 200mg single subcutaneous doses. These data support monthly subcutaneous dosing of rosnilimab for future patient trials. Rosnilimab?s pharmacodynamic activity resulted in rapid and sustained reduction in the quantity and functional activity of PD-1+ T cells, which are known to be pathogenic drivers of inflammatory diseases. Conventional T (Tcon) cells (CD3+, CD25 low) expressing PD-1, which represented approximately 25% of peripheral T cells at baseline, were reduced by 50%, including in both CD4+ and CD8+ subsets, in a dose-dependent manner and in correlation with receptor occupancy (Table 1). This effect was maximized on high-PD-1 expressing Tcon cells, which represented approximately 5% of peripheral T cells, with 90% reduction relative to baseline. Conversely, total T cells (CD3+), total Tcon cells (CD3+, CD25low) and total regulatory T (Treg) cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD25 bright, CD127-) were unchanged (<5% change from baseline), resulting in a favorable shift in the ratio of PD-1+ Tcon cells to total Treg cells post-treatment. No effect (<5% reduction from baseline) was observed on any of the aforementioned cell types in placebo-dosed subjects. In addition, an antigen-specific functional T cell recall response, measured as ex vivo interferon-gamma released in response to tetanus toxoid challenge, was inhibited in a receptor occupancy dependent manner and was consistent with the observed reduction of PD-1+ Tcon cells, to a maximum of approximately 90% relative to baseline within 30 days following single rosnilimab dose, while placebo administration had no effect.