Inebilizumab: Proposed Mechanism of Action For Treating NMOSD

Quinn Dinh, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Horizon Therapeutics, discusses inebilizumab-cdon (uplizna), the first and only FDA-approved B-cell depleter for the treatment of adult patients with anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). These results were presented at the 2021 AAN Annual Meeting.

NMOSD is a rare central nervous disorder that primarily affects the spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms of NMOSD may include blindness in one or both eyes, weakness or paralysis of arms or legs, spasming, loss of sensation, uncontrollable vomiting and hiccups, and bladder/bowel problems due to spinal cord damage.

As Dr. Dinh explains, inebilizumab-cdon is a CD19+ B cell-directed humanized immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody. CD19 is a cell surface antigen present on pre-B and mature B lymphocytes. Following cell surface binding to CD19+ B lymphocytes, inebilizumab-cdon results in antibody-dependent cellular cytolysis (ADCC). The precise mechanism by which inebilizumab-cdon leads to ADCC is unknown.

Dr. Dinh also notes that inebilizumab-cdon has potential for treating other rare autoimmune disorders including myasthenia gravis and IgG4-related disease, both of which are being evaluated in phase 3 clinical trials.

To learn more about NMOSD and other rare ophthalmology disorders, visit checkrare.com/diseases/ophthalmology-eye-diseases/