The WHO has assigned an International Nonproprietary Name (INN) to the original drug BCD-180, developed by the company "Biocad" for the treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis. This is the world's first therapeutic antibody that binds to the TRBV9 segment. Previously, the Ministry of Health had already granted the developers permission to conduct clinical trials, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2030.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has assigned the original drug BCD-180, developed for the treatment of radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA, Ankylosing Spondylitis), the international nonproprietary name (INN) Seniprutug, according to the press service of the company "Biocad."

The drug was developed by Biocad in collaboration with a team of scientists from Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University under the leadership of Dr. Sergey Lukyanov, an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is an effector antibody targeting a specific segment of the T-cell receptor, TRBV9, making it the first therapeutic antibody in the world to bind to this segment.

BCD-180 selectively destroys only a small subset of pathogenic T-lymphocytes responsible for triggering a large-scale immune response against the body's own tissues, without affecting other cells. Unlike existing treatment options, this drug directly targets the underlying cause of the disease rather than merely addressing its consequences.

In October 2023, the Russian Ministry of Health authorized Biocad to conduct clinical trials of BCD-180. According to the State Register of Medicines, a Phase III international multicenter clinical trial is planned to evaluate the drug's safety and efficacy in patients with axial spondyloarthritis. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2030. In February, Biocad submitted registration documents for BCD-180 to the Ministry of Health.

Source: Press release, BIOCAD