Atopia Therapeutics Reports Positive Preclinical Data for ATP-R13 as Disease-Modifying Oral AD Therapy

Atopia Therapeutics has reported new preclinical proof-of-concept data supporting the development of its lead compound, ATP-R13, as a potential oral therapy for atopic dermatitis (AD), while also announcing a significant strengthening of its intellectual property position.¹ Atopia’s latest findings suggest that ATP-R13 may represent an oral approach to inflammatory skin disease that modifies the underlying disease process rather than solely suppressing inflammation.

“Our goal is to provide an easy-to-administer, causative, disease-modifying allergy treatment that can both prevent and alleviate allergic reactions,” said Grégoire Chevalier, PhD, CEO of Atopia. “We are therefore excited that the proof-of-concept of ATP-R13 in preclinical studies was confirmed, and that the compound seems to address a broader scope of allergic diseases.”¹

In these newly reported preclinical studies, Atopia evaluated the efficacy of orally administered ATP-R13 in a well-established ovalbumin-induced mouse model of AD. This in vivo model is widely used to assess local skin inflammation and histopathologic changes that mirror key features of human AD. A total of 56 mice were included in the study, with ATP-R13 compared against dexamethasone, a validated corticosteroid positive control with known anti-inflammatory effects.

Treatment with ATP-R13 resulted in a significant reduction in skin thickness and improvement in skin pathology scores, with efficacy comparable to dexamethasone. These results also extend previous proof-of-concept data demonstrating the efficacy of ATP-R13 in models of allergic asthma, suggesting that the compound’s immunomodulatory effects are not organ-specific but instead operate systemically across multiple allergic tissues, including both lung and skin. Multiple in vitro and in vivo studies to date have demonstrated the favorable safety and tolerability of ATP-R13, and the company reports that lead optimization has been completed. IND-enabling activities are currently underway, representing the next critical step toward first-in-human clinical trials.

ATP-R13 is being developed as an oral, disease-modifying therapy designed to address the root immunologic drivers of type 2 allergic inflammation. The compound is an optimized, recombinant version of a protein naturally secreted by Helicobacter pylori, a constituent of the gastric microbiome. Rather than targeting a single inflammatory mediator, ATP-R13 acts locally in the stomach to modulate immune responses by inducing tolerogenic dendritic cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs). These immune changes promote immune tolerance and result in downstream systemic anti-inflammatory effects. Notably, the mechanism is independent of the specific triggering antigen, supporting the potential for broad applicability across multiple allergic conditions.

In parallel with these encouraging efficacy data, Atopia Therapeutics announced a major milestone in strengthening the intellectual property protection surrounding ATP-R13. The company’s composition-of-matter patent application has received a positive International Preliminary Report on Patentability under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, issued by the European Patent Office. This report confirms that the invention meets key criteria for patentability, including novelty, inventiveness, and industrial applicability. As a result, the application is now entering national and regional phases, with potential patent protection extending through 2043.

“The PCT International Preliminary Report on Patentability has accepted that our patent application is novel, inventive, and is industrially applicable,” said Jeffrey Shaw, PhD, COO of Atopia. “It provides strong validation of the novelty of our approach and substantially strengthens the long-term protection of ATP-R13, which is critical for future development, partnering, and commercialization activities.”¹

Reference

1. Atopia Therapeutics Reports Preclinical Proof-of-Concept of Lead Compound ATP-R13 in Atopic Dermatitis and Strengthens Patent Protection. News release. Globe Newswire. Published January 20, 2026. Accessed January 22, 2026. https://www.globenewswire.com//news-release/2026/01/20/3221334/0/en/atopia-therapeutics-reports-preclinical-proof-of-concept-of-lead-compound-atp-r13-in-atopic-dermatitis-and-strengthens-patent-protection.html