Eblasakimab Shows Promise in Phase 2 Study for Atopic Dermatitis Patients After Dupilumab

A recent Phase 2 study has yielded promising results for eblasakimab, a drug being developed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adult patients who have previously received dupilumab. The interim analysis of 22 patients revealed that 60% of those treated with eblasakimab at a dosage of 400mg weekly achieved EASI-90, which denotes a significant 90% or more reduction in their Eczema Area Severity Index score. Additionally, 66.7% of these patients achieved a vIGA score of 0 or 1, indicating clear or almost clear skin after 16 weeks of treatment. This is a notable improvement compared to the 14.3% of patients on placebo who achieved these results.

Remarkably, 20% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved EASI-100, a complete 100% reduction in their EASI score, a figure not seen in any of the placebo group. Furthermore, among the six patients who had not responded adequately to dupilumab and were treated with eblasakimab, 66.7% reached EASI-90 and a vIGA score of 0 or 1 after 16 weeks.

Eblasakimab also demonstrated rapid and significant relief from itching, with a mean reduction in peak pruritus numerical rating scale (PP-NRS) score of 58.9% for treated patients, significantly higher than the 12.9% reduction observed in the placebo group.

The study, TREK-DX, which is still enrolling participants, is the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial focusing on AD patients who have discontinued dupilumab treatment. It aims to enroll 75 patients across North America and Europe. The interim data from 22 patients showed that eblasakimab was well-tolerated, with no new safety concerns identified.

Dr. Carl Firth, CEO of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, the company developing eblasakimab, expressed satisfaction with the results, highlighting that the high percentage of patients achieving EASI-90 and vIGA of 0 or 1 is unprecedented in other biologics AD studies. He also noted that eblasakimab's unique mechanism of action could make it an important new therapy for patients who have not responded well to dupilumab.

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on immunology, aiming to develop innovative treatments that can significantly improve patients' lives. The company is also developing farudodstat, a potential treatment for alopecia areata, and is expected to announce the full dataset results from the TREK-DX study by the end of the year.