Exploring A New Way To Stabilize Immune Response

Learn how obefazimod is believed to work.

Abivax is exploring the ability to treat chronic inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis in a new way. Obefazimod, Abivax’s lead drug candidate, is the first and only molecule that enhances the expression of microRNA-124 (miR-124), a natural regulator of the inflammatory response. Preclinical studies showed that under dysregulated inflammatory conditions, enhanced expression of miR-124 resulted in stabilized levels of multiple cytokines and chemokines, bringing them back to homeostatic levels.

We believe that simultaneously restoring multiple pathways to homeostatic levels may lower the potential for compensatory immune escape mechanisms, which may result in more durable, long-term efficacy.

We believe this approach has the potential to transform treatment for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases and possibly other related diseases in the future.

Enhancing The Expression Of microRNA To Regulate The Inflammatory Response

What is microRNA (miRNA)?

MicroRNAs like miR-124 work by interacting with specific messenger RNA targets, decreasing their translation into their respective proteins.

Enhanced expression of miR-124 stabilizes the inflammatory response only in the presence of dysregulation, with no effect in its absence, potentially indicating preservation of immune competence.

Our Investigational Therapy