BOSTON, MA, July 20, 2026
Kinaset Therapeutics announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 2b PANAIRAMA clinical trial evaluating frevecitinib (KN-002), an investigational inhaled pan-JAK inhibitor, for patients with severe asthma that remains inadequately controlled despite treatment with medium-to-high dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta agonist (ICS/LABA) therapy. The milestone marks a significant advancement in the development of a potential first- and best-in-class inhaled pan-JAK therapy designed to target multiple inflammatory pathways associated with severe asthma. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-ranging Phase 2b study will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of three dose levels of frevecitinib while identifying the optimal regimen for future pivotal clinical studies. The trial will enroll patients across multiple clinical sites in the United States and internationally, supporting the continued advancement of Kinaset’s respiratory disease pipeline.
Phase 2b PANAIRAMA Trial Designed to Optimize Frevecitinib Development
The PANAIRAMA study is designed to determine the most effective and safest dosing strategy for frevecitinib while generating clinical data to support future registrational development. The trial will evaluate three dose levels of the inhaled therapy in patients whose asthma remains uncontrolled despite standard maintenance treatment with ICS/LABA therapy. Researchers will assess clinical efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic characteristics, providing important evidence for selecting the recommended dose for later-stage studies. According to Kinaset, frevecitinib was engineered to deliver therapeutic drug concentrations directly to the lungs while maintaining minimal systemic exposure, an approach intended to maximize anti-inflammatory activity while reducing the risk of systemic adverse effects commonly associated with oral JAK inhibitors.
Frevecitinib Targets Multiple Inflammatory Pathways in Severe Asthma
Frevecitinib is currently the only inhaled pan-JAK inhibitor in clinical development targeting JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2, allowing simultaneous inhibition of multiple inflammatory signaling pathways involved in severe asthma. Unlike biologic therapies that primarily target Th2-driven inflammation, frevecitinib is designed to suppress both Th2- and Th1-mediated immune responses, potentially expanding treatment options for patients with non-eosinophilic asthma, a population with limited therapeutic alternatives. Earlier Phase 1 clinical studies demonstrated clinically meaningful reductions in fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), an established biomarker of airway inflammation, across patients with mild asthma, moderate-to-severe asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The therapy also showed dose-proportional pharmacokinetics while maintaining plasma concentrations below pharmacologically active systemic levels, supporting its favorable preliminary safety profile.
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Expanding Treatment Options for Patients with Uncontrolled Severe Asthma
The initiation of the Phase 2b PANAIRAMA trial represents an important milestone in Kinaset Therapeutics’ strategy to develop innovative inhaled therapies for serious respiratory diseases. Severe asthma continues to affect millions of patients worldwide, with many experiencing persistent symptoms, reduced lung function, and frequent exacerbations despite currently available maintenance therapies. By combining broad anti-inflammatory activity with targeted pulmonary drug delivery, frevecitinib aims to provide a differentiated treatment option capable of addressing multiple disease mechanisms while limiting systemic exposure. Successful completion of the Phase 2b program could position frevecitinib as a potential first-in-class inhaled pan-JAK inhibitor, offering a new therapeutic approach for patients whose disease remains uncontrolled with existing standards of care.
Source: Kinaset Therapeutics, press release
