InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969; SSE: 688428), a leading biopharmaceutical company focusing on the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, announced that the first subject has been dosed in the Phase 1 trial of ICP-B161, a bispecific antibody targeting TL1A and IL-23p19, for the potential treatment of autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

With its novel molecular design, ICP-B161 delivers an extended half-life, which allows for less frequent dosing and supports subcutaneous administration, positioning it as a differentiated, long-acting bispecific antibody.

By simultaneously targeting TL1A and IL-23p19, ICP-B161 has shown synergistic effects in suppressing cytokine release and mitigating inflammatory responses, with the potential to modulate two key pathways involved in the pathogenesis and progression of IBD. In preclinical studies, ICP-B161 demonstrated strong efficacy, significantly reducing colitis-related symptoms, and was well tolerated. No bispecific antibody targeting both TL1A and IL-23p19 has yet been approved anywhere in the world.

Dr. Jasmine Cui, Co-Founder, Chairwoman, and CEO of InnoCare, said, “IBD is a progressive, lifelong disease. Despite existing therapies, a large proportion of patients still experience severe complications, and significant unmet medical need remains. We will continue to accelerate the development of ICP-B161 to bring better innovative treatment options to patients with IBD.”

IBD is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that affects an estimated 6.8 million people worldwide¹.