Mast Cell Therapeutics: A New Frontier in Dermatology Innovation & Investment. Interview with Dr. Brian Kim

Mast Cell Therapeutics: A  New Frontier in Dermatology Innovation and Investment

An Interview with Dr. Brian Kim

William Ju, MD, FAAD, president of Advancing Innovation in Dermatology, Inc., recently interviewed Brian S. Kim, MD, MTR, FAAD, the Sol & Clara Kest Professor of Dermatology & Vice Chair of Research, Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Lead of the Allen Discovery Center for Neuroimmune Interactions.

Dr. Kim is a world-renowned immunology and neuroimmunology scientist, entrepreneur, and dermatologist. Their discussion shed light on the groundbreaking developments in mast cell therapeutics, a field poised to potentially transform the landscape of dermatology and adjacent therapeutic areas.

You have organized and are chairing a session at the 2025  Dermatology Summit around the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. It’s  titled "The New Paradigm of Mast Cell Therapies." Could you give us a high-level view of this paradigm and why it is significant to the health sciences product innovation community? 

This new paradigm has come about because research is showing that mast cells play critical roles not only in allergic reactions but also in chronic inflammatory conditions, including dermatologic, respiratory,  and gastrointestinal diseases, and in pathological pain and itch that is neuroimmune-mediated.  In addition, research has identified new therapeutic targets for regulating mast cell activation and mediator release and reducing mast cell numbers. This forms the basis for a new frontier for breakthrough products.

What are the druggable targets?

We see numerous companies working in mast cell therapies that are in clinical and late-preclinical development. These include  Incyte, Evommune, Celldex Therapeutics, Jasper Therapeutics, Novartis, Allakos,  Granular Therapeutics, and Septerna. Among the targets are BTK, MRGPRX2, c-KIT, and Siglec-6. Regarding dermatological diseases,  innovative mast cell treatments are being developed for chronic spontaneous urticaria, chronic inducible urticaria, mast cell activation syndrome, atopic dermatitis, and others.

Could you give us a sneak preview of what will be presented in your session at the Dermatology Summit in San Francisco on January 12? 

Several of these forward-thinking companies I’ve mentioned have agreed to speak about the intriguing products in their development pipelines. We also plan to have a lively discussion after the presentations. I think the audience will come away with a unique, state-of-the-art understanding of the exciting and immense promise of mast cell drugs for addressing unmet needs that patients have in dermatology and in multiple other therapeutic areas.

Join the conversation at our Annual Dermatology Summit on January 12, 2025 in San Francisco. 
Register and purchase tickets here!