Zymeworks Presents Preclinical Data on ZW1528 at the American Thoracic Society International Conference

• Company’s first development candidate in autoimmune and inflammatory disease (AIID) demonstrates potent blockade of IL-4, IL-13, and IL-33 signaling pathways critical in respiratory inflammation
• Novel bispecific design shows promising potential manufacturability and stability to support high dosing concentration and subcutaneous administration
• Regulatory filing to support Phase 1 studies expected in 2H-2026

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Zymeworks Inc. (Nasdaq: ZYME), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a diverse pipeline of novel, multifunctional biotherapeutics to improve the standard of care for difficult-to-treat diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and autoimmune disease, today announced the presentation of new preclinical data for ZW1528, a novel IL-4Rα x IL-33 bispecific molecule designed to address respiratory inflammation, at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference being held May 18-21, 2025 in San Francisco, CA.

“Our expansion into autoimmune and inflammatory diseases represents a carefully considered R&D strategy to leverage our expertise in multispecific antibodies to deliver meaningful impact for patients with difficult-to-treat respiratory disorders,” said Paul Moore, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Zymeworks. “The preclinical data presented at ATS demonstrate that ZW1528 binds with high affinity to both IL-4Rα and IL-33, driving potent blockade of two distinct signaling axes implicated in inflammatory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). With its unique dual mechanism of action, ZW1528, which was created using our proprietary AzymetricÔ technology, may translate to better control of COPD in a broader patient population compared to existing therapies.”

Key findings for ZW1528 include:

• High-affinity binding to both IL-33 and IL-4Rα and effective blockade of IL-4, IL-13, and IL-33 signaling at levels comparable to clinical benchmark monoclonal antibody controls.
• Suppression of both Type 2 and non-Type 2 responses in primary human immune cells of COPD patients in vitro.
• Efficacy in vivo in acute and chronic murine models of lung inflammation driven by house dust mites.
• Extended pharmacokinetics in rodent and non-human primate models, with incorporation of Fc extending half-life optimization.
• Biophysical stability at high concentration (150 mg/mL), supporting potential for subcutaneous administration.

News Input CRDT: GLOBE NEWSWIRE