AT-005 (Arctic Therapeutics)

AT-005 is a preclinical-stage therapeutic candidate being developed by Arctic Therapeutics as an inhalable treatment for severe asthma. It is a small interfering RNA (siRNA) designed to target and knock down the expression of cadherin-related family member 3 (CDHR3) in the airway epithelium. CDHR3 has been identified as the primary cellular entry receptor for rhinovirus type C (RV-C), a major driver of severe asthma exacerbations and hospitalizations, particularly in children. By reducing the availability of the CDHR3 receptor, AT-005 aims to block RV-C entry into host cells, thereby preventing the viral infections that trigger allergic asthma attacks. This approach targets a specific genetic susceptibility factor, as certain variants of CDHR3 are strongly associated with increased risk of severe asthma exacerbations.