WALTHAM, Mass. — Fortitude Biomedicines, Inc. announced that preclinical data on its lead drug candidate, FTB-918, will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2026, scheduled for November 6-11 in Orlando, Florida.
The company’s research has been selected for an oral presentation on November 11, highlighting the potential of FTB-918 as a treatment for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints.
FTB-918 is an investigational, first-in-class antibody fusion designed to target two disease mechanisms simultaneously. The therapy aims to eliminate pathogenic TRBV9+ CD8+ T cells while neutralizing IL-17A, an inflammatory protein associated with disease progression.
Although existing treatments, including IL-17 and TNF-alpha inhibitors, can reduce inflammation, many patients fail to achieve sustained disease control. Fortitude believes its dual-targeting approach could offer benefits beyond currently available therapies.
“We are excited to showcase FTB-918 and to share compelling preclinical data supporting its advancement into the clinic in the first half of 2027,” said Dr. Joseph Leveque, Chief Medical Officer of Fortitude. “While IL-17 and TNF-alpha inhibitor-based therapies are used to block inflammatory cytokine pathways contributing to axSpA symptoms, they do not remove the pathogenic T cells that are responsible for initiating and driving disease progression.”
Leveque said FTB-918 is designed to address both mechanisms and could potentially be applied to other diseases driven by TRBV9+ T cells.
Atul Deodhar, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Rheumatology Clinics at Oregon Health & Science University, said the combination of targeted T-cell depletion and IL-17A neutralization represents a promising scientific approach.
“What makes FTB-918 scientifically compelling is that it combines this targeted cell depletion with IL-17A neutralization, a mechanism with well-established clinical benefit in axSpA,” Deodhar said. “Each approach individually leaves other disease pathways unaddressed; combining them in one therapeutic has the potential to offer patients more meaningful benefits.”
Deodhar will present the research, titled “FTB-918: A Dual Targeting Antibody With TRBV9+ T Cell Depletion and IL-17A Neutralization for the Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis,” during the conference’s spondyloarthritis treatment session on November 11 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Fortitude expects FTB-918 to enter clinical development in the first half of 2027. The therapy remains in preclinical development, and its safety and effectiveness in humans have not yet been established.
