Protein display drug ANDI may help people with allergic asthma
Official title: Protein display drug ANDI reduces asthmatic airway hyperreactivity
Funded at Aaiit LLC · NIH-11326302 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new drug approach (ANDI) is being tested to help people with severe allergic asthma by targeting the IgE molecules attached to mast cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Aaiit LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $320,863 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AI186551-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326302 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with severe allergic asthma who have an IgE-mediated component to their disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose asthma is not driven by IgE-mediated mechanisms or who cannot receive the experimental therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on blocking IgE that sits on mast cells in the airways, which contributes to severe allergic asthma. Researchers are developing a bifunctional IgE antagonist and dissociator (ANDI) that could complement existing therapies. The study uses an NIH-funded R43 award to explore how ANDI can disrupt the IgE-mast cell interaction and reduce airway inflammation. If successful, this work could lead to fewer asthma flare-ups and better lung function for patients. The project is conducted by AAIIT LLC in San Diego and involves collaboration with experts in IgE biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, ANDI could offer a new treatment option to reduce asthma symptoms and improve lung function for patients with severe allergic asthma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous therapies that neutralize free IgE reduced symptoms, but did not fully address IgE bound to mast cells; this work aims to go further by dissociating receptor-bound IgE.
Where this research is happening
-
Aaiit LLC
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Swey-Shen — Aaiit LLC
- Study coordinator: Chen, Swey-Shen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.