On April 25, 2023, the research team led by Professor Ku, Cheng-Lung, Director of the Molecular and Clinical Immunology Center at Chang-Gung University, in collaboration with Elixiron Immunotherapeutics, published a research paper titled "Targeting the Elevated IFN-γ in Vitiligo Patients by Human Anti-IFN-γ Monoclonal Antibody Hampers Direct Cytotoxicity in Melanocyte" in the Journal of Dermatological Science. The article revealed the critical role of IFN-γ in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, demonstrating for the first time that IFN-γ mediates oxidative stress-related ferroptosis cell death, leading to the death of melanocytes in patients' skin. The study also discovered that EI-001, a fully human anti-IFN-γ monoclonal antibody developed by Elixiron, effectively prevents IFN-γ-induced damages to melanocytes and restores the melanin-producing capability, providing a new perspective for the treatment of vitiligo. (for more details see here)
