Development of a Kv1.3-targeting KnotBody for immune-mediated diseases
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of a Kv1.3-targeting KnotBody for immune-mediated diseases
IRAS ID
369196
Contact name
Aneesh Karatt-Vellat
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Maxion Therapeutics
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Immune‑mediated diseases continue to present a substantial unmet medical need. These conditions encompass a wide range of disorders driven by diverse and often overlapping immunological pathways, resulting in complex and heterogeneous pathology. Current therapeutic options frequently lack sufficient efficacy, durability, or specificity, underscoring the need for safer, more targeted, and more effective interventions.
Maxion Therapeutics has developed MAX001, a novel biologic designed to selectively inhibit Kv1.3, an ion channel expressed on activated immune cells and involved in key signalling pathways that regulate cellular activation and function. Kv1.3 blockade represents an innovative therapeutic strategy aimed at modulating immune cell subsets that are particularly dependent on this channel and are commonly implicated in chronic immune‑mediated diseases.
As MAX001 progresses toward first‑in‑human evaluation, this program now aims to generate a robust mechanistic and translational evidence base to support regulatory review and clinical development. The planned studies will characterize the mechanism of action of MAX001 and further validate Kv1.3 as a therapeutic target. To achieve this, MAX001 will be assessed in human‑relevant systems, including models using peripheral blood, isolated primary immune cells, and tissues from healthy donors and individuals with relevant disease indications. These models provide high translational value for identifying pharmacodynamic biomarkers, informing dose selection, and supporting safety assessments.
Comparative evaluation of MAX001 across multiple disease‑relevant tissues and immune cell populations will help prioritize indications for clinical development and strengthen the overall understanding of the drug’s mechanism across a broad spectrum of immune‑mediated conditions.
The next phase of studies will focus on generating the data required for clinical trial readiness and supporting progression through subsequent clinical phases.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/NE/0054
Date of REC Opinion
18 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion