Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are among the world’s leading chronic respiratory illnesses, affecting hundreds of millions of patients each year. Current treatments largely focus on symptom relief but fail to effectively address lung inflammation or tissue repair. Recent research indicates that eosinophil-driven inflammation is a key factor in disease progression, yet new drugs targeting this pathway internationally have shown limited efficacy.

A team from Taipei Medical University, led by Professor Hsiao-Chi Chuang, has pioneered the development of ITIH4 protein-based therapeutics using structural engineering. They demonstrated that ITIH4 can improve lung function and reduce eosinophil inflammation, overcoming the limitations of current therapies, and have secured patent protection. This innovation not only addresses a pressing global medical need but also opens a new direction for respiratory disease treatment.

Structural Engineering Adds Innovation, Combining Efficacy and Application Potential

The ITIH4 protein drug is highly water-soluble and can be administered via nasal or inhalation routes to act specifically on the respiratory system, reducing inflammation and promoting repair of lung epithelial cells. The team used cryo-electron microscopy to resolve its three-dimensional structure and applied protein engineering techniques to enhance stability, ensuring prolonged efficacy. Experimental data show that ITIH4 significantly reduces alveolar damage in COPD mouse models, improves lung elasticity and peak expiratory flow (PEF), and in asthma models, effectively suppresses airway resistance and allergic responses.

Mechanistically, ITIH4 inhibits eosinophil infiltration, reduces oxidative stress, and prevents cell apoptosis, simultaneously alleviating inflammation and promoting tissue repair. Compared with current monoclonal antibody therapies, ITIH4 not only demonstrates comparable efficacy but also offers dual benefits of anti-inflammatory action and tissue regeneration across different disease stages. Looking ahead, ITIH4 could potentially be applied to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), air pollution-induced lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, and other conditions, opening a new frontier for protein therapeutics.

Team Aims for International Clinical and Commercial Advancement

Professor Hsiao-Chi Chuang stated, “Our goal is not merely symptom control but to help patients restore lung health.” The team has obtained patents for ITIH4 in asthma treatment and completed multiple cell-based and animal studies. The next steps involve preclinical trials and IND applications, gradually advancing to clinical phases I–III. Future commercialization will focus on North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific, with plans to collaborate with international pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and clinical research centers to bring the drug to market. The team envisions ITIH4 as a cornerstone of precision medicine, aiming to reduce the global burden of respiratory diseases and provide patients with real hope for recovery.

Resource: 《新創動態》呼吸疾病治療瓶頸　ITIH4 蛋白質藥物技術盼突破