Pfizer reports positive phase 2 results for atopic dermatitis drug

Pfizer Inc. announced promising results from a Phase 2 study of tilrekimig, an experimental trispecific antibody for severe eczema, according to a press release. The research demonstrated that patients receiving tilrekimig showed significant improvement compared to those given a placebo. In the first stage of the trial, 62.5% of patients receiving 450mg of tilrekimig every two weeks experienced a reduction in eczema severity of at least 75%, compared to only 19.9% of those in the placebo group.

In the second stage, patients who received tilrekimig at doses of 400mg, 200mg, and 50mg every four weeks achieved an EASI-75 score at rates of 58.5%, 61.0%, and 47.8%, respectively, compared to 9.1% for the placebo group. The drug works by targeting three different proteins involved in the immune response that contribute to eczema.

Tilrekimig has a long half-life of about 37 days, which allows for monthly dosing. A key secondary measure showed that 30.3% of patients in the 450mg every two weeks group achieved clear or nearly clear skin, compared to 11.8% in the placebo group. In Stage 2, 26% to 27% of patients in the every four weeks groups achieved this outcome, compared to none in the placebo group.

Side effects were generally mild, with 46.7% of patients in the 450mg every two weeks group reporting adverse events, compared to 28.9% in the placebo group. In Stage 2, 42.2% to 47.8% of tilrekimig patients experienced side effects, compared to 52.2% of placebo patients. No serious side effects were attributed to tilrekimig. Pfizer is now conducting Phase 3 trials of tilrekimig for eczema and asthma, and is advancing a Phase 2b/3 study for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.