J&J and Eli Lilly Face New Dermatology Challenges: 74% Respond Well to Tremfya

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Eli Lilly (LLY), two major players in the pharmaceutical industry, are poised to unveil new data regarding their pivotal drugs in the highly competitive dermatology sector.

Johnson & Johnson has been assessing the efficacy of its medication, Tremfya, in patients with moderate plaque psoriasis affecting particular areas of low body surface area that have not responded to localized treatment. In a press release, the company clarified that "special sites" refer to sensitive or highly visible regions affected by psoriasis, such as the scalp, face, skin folds, and genitals.

The SPECTREM study is the first extensive trial to evaluate skin clearance and other outcomes in this specific patient group. The results revealed that 74.2% of those treated with Tremfya reached the primary goal by achieving disease clearance or minimal disease, compared to just 12.4% in the placebo group.

Tremfya also demonstrated advantages in secondary endpoints and measures reported by patients regarding their quality of life. According to Johnson & Johnson, despite the significant impact of psoriasis on patients' daily lives, a large portion of the patient population remains underserved by systemic treatments.

Tremfya is anticipated to be a robust successor in the face of increasing biosimilar competition and the impending effects of the Inflation Reduction Act on the company's star immunosuppressant, Stelara. The biologic recently gained recognition for treating ulcerative colitis, positioning it against AbbVie's Humira successor, Skyrizi.

Simultaneously, Eli Lilly has been testing its IL-13 inhibitor, Ebglyss, in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis who had previously been treated with Regeneron and Sanofi's immune therapy, Dupixent (dupilumab). The Phase 3b ADapt study indicated that 57% of patients using Ebglyss showed at least a 75% improvement in their eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75) score by week 16. This study evaluated the extent and severity of skin disorders.

By week 24, 60% of patients treated with Ebglyss experienced this level of improvement. Eli Lilly noted in a press release that these findings were largely consistent with previous studies of the drug in patients who had not used Dupixent. By week 16, 46% of Ebglyss patients who had an insufficient response to Dupixent met the EASI-75 criteria.

Mark Genovese, M.D., senior vice president of Eli Lilly's immunization division, stated in a company release: "This trial adds to the growing body of data suggesting that healthcare providers can confidently use Ebglyss as a first-line biologic therapy for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. It also highlights that Ebglyss offers significant benefits to individuals who have already tried other biologic therapies, like dupilumab, and might have a more difficult-to-treat condition."

Ebglyss received its initial FDA approval for atopic dermatitis last month, following its European approval in 2023. It is the third biologic that Lilly has developed in its expanding immunology segment and will compete against the dominant Dupixent in an increasingly crowded market.