Jasper Therapeutics to reduce workforce by 50%, focus on Chronic Urticaria

Jasper Therapeutics (JSPR) announced a corporate reorganization to extend its cash runway, including a workforce reduction of approximately 50%. As part of the reorganization, Edwin Tucker, M.D., is departing as Jasper’s CMO, and Daniel Adelman, M.D., a member of Jasper’s Scientific Advisory Board, will assume the role of Acting CMO. In order to focus resources on the development of briquilimab in chronic urticaria, Jasper is halting its other clinical and preclinical programs. “While we are taking steps to significantly streamline our operations, we remain committed to the development of briquilimab in chronic urticaria, where we have seen rapid, deep and durable responses along with a favorable safety profile in both CSU and CIndU,” said Ronald Martell, CEO. “We look forward to sharing additional data from the BEACON and open label extension studies later this year. While it is very difficult to part with so many talented and valued members of our team, we view this as a necessary step to ensure we closely manage our capital to execute on our mission to deliver a differentiated therapeutics option to patients in need. I’d like to thank those leaving Jasper for their important contributions to the company, and in particular, I’d like to thank Dr. Tucker for his leadership as we advanced briquilimab into multiple clinical studies in mast cell diseases.” In order to focus on developing briquilimab in chronic urticaria and completing the BEACON, SPOTLIGHT and open label extension studies, Jasper is halting its other clinical and preclinical programs, including the ETESIAN study in asthma, the SCID study and the ongoing investigator-sponsored studies. Jasper no longer plans to initiate additional mast cell focused clinical development program this year.