Benzinga | Mar 15, 2021 10:00AM EDT

Equillium's Stock Is Trading Higher On Itolizumab's Durable, Sustained Response In Graft-Versus-Host Disease Study

Equillium Inc (NASDAQ: EQ) reports positive data from Phase 1b/2 Equate Study evaluating 'itolizumab' in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD).

* The data was presented at the virtual 47th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

* The study showed that a majority of patients achieved a complete response within 15 days, which was maintained through day 85.

* A clinically meaningful reduction in corticosteroid use was observed in these patients, and 'itolizumab' inhibited pathogenic T cell proliferation.

* Median steroid dose reduction at Day 85 was 93%, 87%, and 91% for Cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

* Pharmacodynamic data from the first three cohorts suggests an optimal dose range of 0.8 to 1.6 mg/kg.

* Itolizumab was generally well tolerated across all doses.

* Strong response for higher dose level cohorts (0.8 and 1.6 mg/kg) was observed with an overall response rate of 100% (N=6) at day 29. Most have been complete responses.

* Itolizumab is an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody that selectively targets the CD6-ALCAM pathway that plays a central role in modulating T cells that drive many immuno-inflammatory diseases.

* Price Action: EQ shares are up 9.22% at $8.64 in market trading hours on the last check Monday.