On Friday, biotech company Lycia Therapeutics (LYCA.US), which focuses on treatments for allergies and autoimmune diseases, made its debut on the US stock market. Its shares surged more than 32% after the opening bell, reaching $23.90. The IPO price was set at $18.
Lycia Therapeutics is dedicated to developing therapies designed to degrade disease-causing extracellular proteins, with an initial focus on autoimmune, inflammatory, and allergic diseases. Its technology platform, called LYTAC (lysosome-targeting chimera), is based on research conducted at Stanford University by Nobel laureate Carolyn Bertozzi.
Its lead drug candidate, LCA-0061, is designed to degrade immunoglobulin E (IgE) for the treatment of allergic diseases including food allergies, and is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials.