Jasper Therapeutics

Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: JSPR) is a clinical-stage biotechnology firm focused on developing therapies for mast cell-driven diseases. The company was founded in 2018 by Dr. Judith Shizuru and Dr. Susan Prohaska and officially launched on December 6, 2019, with a $35 million Series A financing round. The founders' journey originated at Stanford University, where Dr. Shizuru, a hematopoietic stem cell transplant expert, and Dr. Prohaska, an immunologist and stem cell biologist, recognized the severe toxicity of traditional conditioning regimens for stem cell transplants. Their research, particularly Dr. Shizuru's work funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), led to the development of a novel antibody approach to deplete hematopoietic stem cells more safely.

The company's core asset is briquilimab (formerly JSP191), a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the c-Kit (CD117) receptor. By blocking the stem cell factor (SCF) from binding to this receptor, briquilimab disrupts a critical survival signal, leading to the apoptosis (programmed cell death) of mast cells. This mechanism aims to remove the underlying cause of inflammation in various mast cell-driven diseases. Jasper Therapeutics became a public company in 2021 through a business combination with Amplitude Healthcare Acquisition Corporation. As a clinical-stage entity, Jasper's business model is centered on research and development, funded by equity financing and potential future revenue from strategic collaborations, licensing agreements, and milestone payments.

Jasper's primary focus is on advancing briquilimab through clinical trials for several indications. The pipeline includes studies for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), where the drug has shown positive preliminary data. The company is also exploring briquilimab for allergic asthma. Initially, the therapy was developed as a conditioning agent to prepare patients for hematopoietic cell transplants in the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The company is conducting multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, such as the BEACON study for CSU and the SPOTLIGHT study for CIndU, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of briquilimab administered subcutaneously. Recent corporate restructuring has narrowed the company's focus primarily to its chronic urticaria programs to extend its cash runway.

Keywords: Jasper Therapeutics, briquilimab, JSPR, clinical-stage biotechnology, mast cell diseases, c-Kit inhibitor, CD117, monoclonal antibody, chronic spontaneous urticaria, chronic inducible urticaria, stem cell transplant conditioning, hematopoietic stem cells, Judith Shizuru, Susan Prohaska, BEACON study, SPOTLIGHT study, immunology, anti-KIT antibody, mast cell depletion, biopharmaceutical