Understanding the Therapeutic Potential of a Novel IgE Receptor

Characterizing a newly discovered IgE receptor to develop it into a drug that clears circulating IgE and treats allergic diseases.
Ongoing Allergic & Atopic Diseases Adaptive Immunity Animal Models B Cell Biology Biological & Mechanistic Experimental Platforms & Models In Vitro Models Therapeutic Development Translational & Clinical

Funding Year: 2024

Project Overview

Allergic diseases affect a growing proportion of the population and have very limited treatment options, with symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening. IgE — the antibody class that drives allergic responses — has a uniquely short serum half-life, but the mechanism by which it is cleared from circulation remains unknown. This project investigates a newly discovered IgE receptor (FcER) found to be required for clearing circulating IgE. By characterizing the biology of this receptor and generating key proof-of-concept preclinical data, the team aims to develop FcER into a novel therapeutic capable of reducing circulating IgE and treating allergic diseases, with peanut allergy as the lead indication for an IND filing.

Impact & Innovation

A newly discovered receptor with therapeutic potential in allergy

By identifying FcER as a critical regulator of IgE clearance, this project opens a novel biological pathway for reducing circulating IgE — with a direct path toward IND filing for peanut allergy and a composition-of-matter patent.

  • Discovers FcER as a previously unknown regulator of IgE clearance, establishing a new mechanistic target for allergic disease treatment
  • Generates IP potential through a novel composition-of-matter patent for the FcER receptor program, supported by proof-of-concept preclinical data
  • Advances the Consortium’s From Mechanistic Insight to Translation pillar by moving a novel receptor discovery through preclinical development toward an IND filing in peanut allergy
Research Approach

A framework designed for discovery

This project characterizes the biology of a newly discovered IgE receptor (FcER) and generates preclinical proof-of-concept data to support its development as a therapeutic for allergic diseases. The work moves from receptor biology and mechanistic characterization through IND-enabling preclinical studies.

Biological characterization of FcER and its role in IgE clearance, in vitro and in vivo studies to establish proof-of-concept for FcER-based therapeutic activity, and generation of preclinical data packages to support patent filing and IND submission for the peanut allergy indication.

In vitro receptor characterization datasets, in vivo IgE clearance and allergic disease model data, and preclinical efficacy and safety datasets generated to support a novel composition-of-matter patent and IND filing.

Establishing FcER as a druggable regulator of IgE clearance and developing it into a clinical candidate for allergic disease, with peanut allergy as the lead indication. Key milestones include patent filing for a novel composition of matter and IND submission, supported by proof-of-concept preclinical studies.

Investigators & Institutions

Powering the science

Principal Investigator

Andrew Wang, MD, PhD, AB, Colton Consortium Member

Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine (Rheumatology), Yale School of Medicine, Yale University

Colton Centers & Institutions

Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Yale University

Research Outputs

From insight to impact

Publications

Skin damage signals mediate allergic sensitization to spatially unlinked antigen

Science Immunology
Waizman, DA; Brown-Soler, I; Martin, AL; Ma, Y; Zhou, K; Israni-Winger, K; Zhang, C; Medzhitov, R; Launay, P; Michieletto, MF; Henao-Mejia, J; Palm, NW; Craft, J; Eisenstein, A; Wang, A April 2025
Adaptive ImmunityAnimal ModelsBiological & MechanisticCytokine SignalingExperimental Platforms & ModelsImmune ProfilingInnate ImmunityNeuro-Immune InteractionsAllergic & Atopic DiseasesDermatologic DiseasesYale University

The subfornical organ is a nucleus for gut-derived T cells that regulate behaviour

Nature
Yoshida, TM; Nguyen, M; Zhang, L; Lu, BY; Zhu, B; Murray, KN; Mineur, YS; Zhang, C; Xu, D; Lin, E; Luchsinger, J; Bhatta, S; Waizman, DA; Coden, ME; Ma, Y; Israni-Winger, K; Russo, A; Wang, H; Song, W; Al Souz, J; Zhao, H; Craft, JE; Picciotto, MR; Grutzendler, J; Distasio, M; Palm, NW; Hafler, DA; Wang, A May 2025
Adaptive ImmunityAnimal ModelsBioinformaticsBiological & MechanisticData-Driven & QuantitativeExperimental Platforms & ModelsHuman CohortsMicrobiome–Immune InteractionsNeuro-Immune InteractionsSingle Cell TechnologiesT Cell BiologyOtherYale University

Additional Outputs

HS Foundation Danby Grant: $20,000 (Anna Eisenstein, 1 year).