Allakos is developing antibody-based therapeutics to treat allergic and inflammatory diseases. Eosinophils and mast cells, both types of immune cells, play a role in pathogenesis of many acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Allakos is targeting receptors expressed on the surface of different immune cells with therapeutic antibodies. Allakos’ lead therapeutic target, AK002, binds a receptor on eosinophils to deplete them as they are elevated in patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. The receptor is Siglec-8, which when activated by the antibody, induces apoptosis in eosinophils. Positive clinical activity of AK002 has already been seen and Allokos is continuing to test the drug in more eosinophil-driven diseases.