Depemokimab & IL-5 Inhibitors — PatSnap Eureka
Depemokimab & Long-Acting IL-5 Inhibitors in Severe Asthma and CRSwNP
Patent and literature signals reveal a competitive battleground across the IL-5, IL-4Rα, and upstream alarmin axes — with depemokimab (GSK) positioned as the next-generation long-acting biologic in eosinophilic airway disease. Explore the full landscape with PatSnap Eureka.
The Type 2 Inflammatory Pathway: Key Targets in Severe Asthma & CRSwNP
Retrieved patent and literature records converge on a well-defined biological framework — eosinophil-centric cytokine cascades driven by IL-5, IL-4, IL-13, and upstream alarmins such as TSLP and IL-33.
IL-5 / IL-5 Receptor Alpha (IL-5Rα)
The primary axis for eosinophil survival, differentiation, and mobilization from bone marrow. Anti-IL-5Rα antibody benralizumab (AstraZeneca) depletes eosinophils via enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and demonstrated post-bronchodilator FEV1 improvement in SIROCCO and CALIMA phase III trials. GSK's depemokimab is positioned as a long-acting variant for less frequent dosing — potentially 6-monthly versus q8w benralizumab.
Blood eosinophils ≥300 cells/µL thresholdIL-4 Receptor Alpha (IL-4Rα) — Dupilumab
Blocking IL-4Rα with dupilumab (Regeneron/Sanofi Biotechnology) inhibits both IL-4 and IL-13 signaling simultaneously. This is the most patent-dense axis in the retrieved dataset, with 30+ filings across jurisdictions. Patents explicitly claim reduction in nasal polyp scores (NPS) and improvements in the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) — covering the asthma + CRSwNP comorbidity directly. Learn more at PatSnap Life Sciences.
Most patent-dense target in datasetIL-13 — Lebrikizumab & Tralokinumab
IL-13 is a pleiotropic Th2 cytokine strongly implicated in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), mucus hypersecretion, and airway remodeling. Genentech and F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG patents extensively address IL-13 blockade with periostin as a companion biomarker. A University of Athens paper (2018) notes that Phase III results for lebrikizumab and tralokinumab were not confirmed, underscoring the need for better patient stratification. PatSnap Analytics can map this landscape.
Periostin as companion biomarkerTSLP / IL-33 / IL-25 — Epithelial Initiators
Epithelial-derived cytokines that initiate Th2 cascades. Anti-TSLP (tezepelumab, MedImmune/AstraZeneca) blocks the initial signaling cascade independently of downstream eosinophil phenotype, potentially covering low-eosinophil severe asthma patients. Anti-IL-33 agents (itepekimab, REGN3500/SAR440340; Regeneron/Sanofi) are claimed in retrieved patents for both asthma and COPD. IL-25 antibodies from Regeneron also target eosinophilic airway disease.
Covers low-eosinophil phenotypesPatent Filing Activity & Biomarker Thresholds Across the IL-5 Pipeline
Key quantitative signals from retrieved patent and literature records, visualised for strategic orientation.
Patent Filing Volume by Key Assignee (Retrieved Dataset)
Regeneron/Sanofi dominate with 30+ filings; AstraZeneca holds multiple CRSwNP-asthma specific claims; GSK provides the primary depemokimab-direction signal via a 2026 WO patent.
Biomarker-Guided Patient Selection: Key Thresholds in Retrieved Patents
Blood eosinophil count (≥150–300 cells/µL) and FeNO are the dominant stratification biomarkers across anti-IL-5 and anti-IL-4Rα platforms in retrieved patent claims.
From Direct IL-5 Blockade to Bispecific Antibodies: The Full Modality Spectrum
The IL-5 axis encompasses two distinct antibody strategies: direct neutralization of soluble IL-5 protein (mepolizumab, depemokimab — GSK) and receptor-level blockade via anti-IL-5Rα (benralizumab — AstraZeneca). Benralizumab's afucosylated IgG1 format enables enhanced ADCC, depleting not only circulating eosinophils but also eosinophil and basophil progenitors in bone marrow. PatSnap Analytics can map these mechanism-of-action distinctions across the full patent corpus.
Depemokimab, the long-acting anti-IL-5 antibody from GSK via PatSnap, is positioned for ultra-extended dosing — potentially 6-monthly — versus q8w benralizumab maintenance. The GSK 2026 WO patent signals expansion into eosinophilic COPD, where 30–40% of patients fail triple inhaled therapy (Vestbo et al., Lancet 2017), using blood eosinophil count as the patient selection biomarker — directly mirroring the asthma biologic stratification model.
The anti-IL-4Rα axis (dupilumab) is the most patent-dense in this dataset, with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Biotechnology holding 30+ filings spanning 2015–2025 across IL, US, EP, AU, CA, JP, SG, NZ, MX, PT, and WO jurisdictions. Dupilumab CDR sequences are disclosed: HCVR SEQ ID NO:1 / LCVR SEQ ID NO:2, with loading doses of 400–600 mg and maintenance doses of 200–300 mg q2w or q4w. The WHO estimates 262 million people are affected by asthma globally, underscoring the commercial significance of multi-indication IP coverage.
Upstream alarmin blockade via anti-TSLP (tezepelumab, MedImmune/AstraZeneca) and anti-IL-33 (itepekimab, Regeneron/Sanofi) addresses the initiation phase of type 2 inflammation, covering low-eosinophil phenotypes inadequately served by IL-5 or IL-4R monotherapy. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has published guidance on phenotype-driven biologic selection in severe asthma.
Assignee & IP Landscape: Who Holds the Patents in Severe Asthma Biologics?
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Strategic Implications for IP, R&D, and Business Development Teams
Key strategic signals derived from retrieved patent and literature records in the IL-5 and IL-4R biologic pipeline.
IL-5 Axis Remains the Principal Therapeutic Battleground
Retrieved results demonstrate that anti-IL-5Rα (benralizumab) has generated specific patent claims addressing the asthma–nasal polyposis comorbidity — a population where approximately 60% of CRSwNP patients have concurrent asthma. Long-acting IL-5 agents (depemokimab) are well-situated to capture this market if equivalent or superior clinical outcomes can be demonstrated with 6-monthly dosing versus q8w benralizumab.
IL-4Rα (Dupilumab) Has Achieved the Broadest Multi-Indication IP Coverage
The IL-4Rα axis spans asthma, CRSwNP, COPD, pediatric asthma, and ABPA comorbidities across dozens of active patents in major jurisdictions through 2025. IP strategists evaluating freedom-to-operate in any type 2 airway biologic must account for the depth and breadth of Regeneron/Sanofi patent coverage. Access PatSnap Analytics for claim mapping.
Combination Approaches & Next-Generation Strategies in Severe Asthma Biologics
Retrieved patent signals from 2024–2025 reveal a shift toward multi-target and novel delivery strategies designed to address residual inflammation and underserved phenotypes.
IL-5R + IL-4R Dual Blockade (Bispecific)
Argenx BV's 2024 JP patent proposes bispecific antibodies carrying anti-IL-4Rα and anti-IL-5 binding domains, or combination antagonism of IL-5/IL-5R with IL-4/IL-4R or IL-13/IL-13R. Designed to address the residual inflammation not captured by single-axis inhibition in patients with overlapping eosinophilic and Th2 cytokine-driven pathology.
Early-stage IP positioningIL-13 + TSLP Dual Blockade for Low-Eosinophil Asthma
Sanofi's 2025 CN patent describes a compound simultaneously blocking IL-13 and TSLP, rationally designed to cover low-eosinophil asthma phenotypes where neither anti-IL-5 nor anti-IL-4R monotherapy may be fully effective. Claimed outcomes include FeNO reduction (≥18 ppb vs. placebo), FEV1 improvement, and eosinophil count reduction.
Low-eosinophil phenotype coverageIL-33 + IL-4R Upstream + Downstream Dual Blockade
Regeneron/Sanofi's 2021 SG patent explicitly provides for co-administration of anti-IL-33 (itepekimab) and anti-IL-4R (dupilumab) as a combination regimen in severe asthma, with ICS/LABA tapering as a secondary endpoint. This represents a clinically motivated upstream + downstream dual blockade strategy. The NIH has funded related combination biologic research in severe asthma.
ICS/LABA tapering endpointInhaled Biologics: Dry Powder Anti-IL-4Rα Lipocalin Muteins
AstraZeneca's CN patent (2023) discloses dry powder formulations of anti-IL-4Rα lipocalin muteins for oral inhalation, representing a novel delivery approach to achieve local airway target engagement at potentially lower systemic exposures. This is an emerging direction distinct from the current subcutaneous/IV standard for all approved biologics in this class. Track this via PatSnap Open API.
Novel inhaled biologic deliveryDepemokimab & IL-5 Inhibitors in Severe Asthma — Key Questions Answered
Depemokimab is a long-acting anti-IL-5 antibody developed by GSK, positioned as an ultra-extended dosing variant of mepolizumab. While mepolizumab directly neutralizes soluble IL-5 protein to reduce eosinophil differentiation, survival, and activation, depemokimab is designed for less frequent dosing — potentially 6-monthly — compared to the q8w schedule of benralizumab. The GSK COPD patent (2026, WO) signals expansion of the anti-IL-5 franchise into eosinophilic COPD using blood eosinophil biomarker selection.
Severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) are both type 2 (Th2)-polarized inflammatory disorders driven by eosinophil-centric cytokine cascades, particularly involving IL-5, IL-4, IL-13, and upstream alarmins such as TSLP and IL-33. Retrieved patent text from AstraZeneca highlights that approximately 60% of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis have asthma, establishing the epidemiological rationale for targeting this comorbid population with a single biologic agent.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Biotechnology hold the largest patent presence in this dataset, with more than 30 retrieved filings across jurisdictions claiming dupilumab (anti-IL-4Rα) methods in severe asthma, CRSwNP, COPD, pediatric asthma, and ABPA comorbidity. AstraZeneca AB holds multiple patents on benralizumab in severe asthma with nasal polyposis and late-onset asthma. GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property (No. 2) Limited holds the primary signal for the long-acting anti-IL-5 (depemokimab) franchise via a 2026 WO patent on anti-IL-5 in COPD.
Biomarkers referenced across retrieved results for patient selection include: blood eosinophil count (≥150–300 cells/µL thresholds), serum IgE, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), periostin, TARC (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine), eotaxin-3, and YKL-40. Blood eosinophil count (≥150–300 cells/µL) and FeNO are the dominant biomarker thresholds for patient stratification across both anti-IL-5 and anti-IL-4Rα platforms, per retrieved patent claims.
Retrieved results signal several combination and emerging directions. Argenx BV's 2024 JP patent proposes bispecific antibodies carrying anti-IL-4Rα and anti-IL-5 binding domains, or combination antagonism of IL-5/IL-5R with IL-4/IL-4R or IL-13/IL-13R. Sanofi's 2025 CN patent describes a compound that simultaneously blocks IL-13 and TSLP, rationally designed to cover low-eosinophil asthma phenotypes. Regeneron/Sanofi's 2021 SG patent explicitly provides for co-administration of anti-IL-33 (itepekimab) and anti-IL-4R (dupilumab) as a combination regimen in severe asthma.
The non-eosinophilic severe asthma population (NEA) represents a significant unmet need with limited IP coverage in retrieved results. Agents like anti-CD6 (itolizumab, Equillium) and anti-LIGHT (Avalon Therapeutics) are emerging as potential alternatives, and their IP positions appear relatively early-stage, suggesting opportunity for academic collaborators and biotech developers to establish foundational claims in non-Th2 severe asthma biology.
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References
- Methods for treating severe asthma in patients with nasal polyposis — AstraZeneca AB, 2021, WO [Patent]
- Methods for treating severe asthma in patients with nasal polyposis — AstraZeneca AB, 2021, US [Patent]
- Benralizumab for use in methods of treating late-onset asthma — AstraZeneca AB, 2022, SG [Patent]
- Postbronchodilator lung function improvements with benralizumab for patients with severe asthma — AstraZeneca Research and Development, 2020 [Paper]
- Method of treatment (anti-IL-5 in COPD) — GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property (No. 2) Limited, 2026, WO [Patent]
- Methods for treating chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps by administering an IL-4R antagonist — Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2019, US [Patent]
- Diagnosis and treatments relating to TH2 inhibition — F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, 2018, EP [Patent]
- Treatment of asthma with Anti-TSLP antibody — MedImmune LLC, 2019, SG [Patent]
- Methods for treating or preventing asthma by administering an IL-33 antagonist — Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2021, SG [Patent]
- Combined antagonists against IL-5/IL-5R and IL-4/IL-4R or IL-13/IL-13R — Argenx BV, 2024, JP [Patent]
- Treating asthma by blocking IL-13 and TSLP — Sanofi, 2025, CN [Patent]
- WHO Asthma Fact Sheet — World Health Organization
- TSLP and IL-33 in Type 2 Airway Inflammation — NIH/PubMed Central
- European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) — Severe Asthma Guidelines
All data and statistics on this page are sourced from the references above and from PatSnap's proprietary innovation intelligence platform. This report is derived from a limited set of patent and literature records retrieved across targeted searches and represents a snapshot of innovation signals within this dataset only.
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