Nck is an adaptor protein which plays a direct role in T Cell Mediated diseases.  Nck directly amplifies TCR responses, and the dysregulated TCR signaling which contributes to T Cell mediated diseases.

Artax Biopharma is developing first-in-class, oral small molecules that inhibit Nck binding to the TCR.  Through this novel mechanism, Artax’s Nck inhibitors selectively modulate Nck’s amplification of the TCR, resulting in a lower T Cell activation and lower T Cell response.  Artax believes this process of immunomodulation – during which our medicines assist the immune system to maintain healthy control and eliminate a direct cause of T Cell mediated diseases while not impacting patients’ ability to properly fight foreign pathogens – holds great potential.

AX-158

AX-158 is a first-in-class, oral small molecule, preclinical immunomodulating agent in development for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. AX-158 employs a novel mechanism of action that selectively modulates, or adjusts, T Cell responses that play a critical role in immune system function. By selectively inhibiting Nck, a protein, AX-158 selectively modulates self-directed T Cell activation which is a cause of autoimmune disease.  Importantly, data suggests that AX-158 is not immunosuppressive and does not impact the immune system’s ability to mount a strong response to foreign pathogens and infections. Further, AX-158’s ability to modulate T Cell responses allows the possibility to broadly target several autoimmune diseases, therefore potentially transforming autoimmune disease treatment.