SHANGHAI, LONDON & SOMERVILLE, October 7, 2026 — Ailux, an AI-native biotech company developing next-generation biologics, today announced preclinical findings presented at the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress. The oral presentation highlighted the company’s long-acting IL-4Rα antibody, engineered for extended half-life via pH-sensitive IL-4Rα binding. The IL-4Rα antibody also retained functional potency in bispecific formats, supporting the antibody’s potential as a modular building block for multispecific biologics.
IL-4Rα mediates both IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, key drivers of Type 2 inflammation. An IL-4Rα blockade offers broad clinical benefit across skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. Additional opportunities remain to extend dosing intervals and improve disease control in skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis.
Key findings from the oral presentation:
AI-designed pH-sensitive IL-4Rα antibody. Using AI-guided pH-sensitivity engineering, Ailux developed an IL-4Rα antibody that releases its target at acidic endosomal pH while maintaining high affinity at physiological pH. Studies in transgenic mice established proof of concept for extended half-life, while retaining potent inhibition of inflammatory responses in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model.
Bispecific adaptability with retained potency. The pH-sensitive IL-4Rα antibody retained functional potency across multiple multispecific programs, supporting its modular use in long-acting biologics. When paired with Ailux’s proprietary high-affinity anti-TSLP antibody, the IL-4Rα × TSLP bispecific achieved greater inhibition of inflammatory cytokine release than comparator monoclonal antibodies.
“IL-4Rα is a well-established therapeutic target in Type 2 inflammatory diseases, but significant opportunities remain to improve both dosing convenience and quality of life for patients with unmet need,” said Maria Belvisi, CSO of Ailux. “Our EADV presentation highlights Ailux’s distinctive AI-guided approach for creating long-acting antibodies that reduce target-mediated clearance, while preserving potent IL-4/IL-13 pathway inhibition. We see our proprietary pH-sensitive IL-4Rα antibody as a versatile foundation for next-generation multispecific biologics, with the potential to deliver greater therapeutic benefit in atopic dermatitis and beyond.”
Presentation Details:
Session: FC01 — Free Communication 1: Atopic Dermatitis / Eczema
Title: A Novel, pH-Sensitive IL-4Rα × TSLP Bispecific Antibody for Dual Pathway Blockade and Extended Exposure in Atopic Dermatitis and Type 2 Inflammatory Diseases
Presenter: Barry Duplantis, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Business Development, Ailux
About Ailux
Ailux is an AI-native biotech company headquartered in Shanghai and a subsidiary of XtalPi (2228.HK), a global leader in building the AI & robotics infrastructure for life sciences and beyond. Established as an independent operation five years ago with its own dedicated team, platforms, and pipeline, Ailux combines proprietary AI biologics platforms with a 30,000 square foot wet lab to discover and engineer next-generation biologics across multiple therapeutic areas. The company’s global team of approximately 150 spans China, the UK, and the US, drawing on the distinct strengths of each geography. Ailux has collaborated with Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and UCB, and is now advancing its own pipeline with the first programs expected to enter clinical development by 2027.
Learn more about Ailux: https://ailuxbio.com/
