MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dermira, Inc. (NASDAQ: DERM), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing biotech ingenuity to medical dermatology by delivering differentiated, new therapies to the millions of patients living with chronic skin conditions, today announced dosing of the first patient in a Phase 3 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of lebrikizumab in adult and adolescent patients ages 12 and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema.
Lebrikizumab is a novel, investigational, monoclonal antibody designed to bind IL-13 with very high affinity, specifically preventing the formation of the IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα heterodimer complex and subsequent signaling, thereby inhibiting the biological effects of IL-13 in a targeted and efficient fashion. IL-13 is believed to be a central pathogenic mediator that drives multiple aspects of the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis by promoting type 2 inflammation and mediating its effects on tissue, resulting in skin barrier dysfunction, itch, skin thickening and infection.
“The positive results of our Phase 2b dose-ranging study suggest specifically targeting IL-13 with lebrikizumab has the potential to deliver a best-in-disease therapy for people living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis,” said Tom Wiggans, chairman and chief executive officer of Dermira. “Our Phase 3 clinical program is designed to confirm those findings and hopefully bring an important new treatment option to the millions of people living with this chronic and often debilitating disease. We expect to report findings from the 16-week induction period of the monotherapy studies in the first half of 2021.”
“The initiation of the Phase 3 study combined with the positive results of the Phase 2b study underscore our confidence and excitement around the potential of lebrikizumab for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis,” said Peter Guenter, chief executive officer of Almirall, Dermira’s collaboration partner in Europe. “Almirall is fully committed to this partnership and to offering breakthrough treatments, like lebrikizumab, that have the potential to make a meaningful difference for patients living with severe skin conditions.”
Lebrikizumab Phase 3 Program
The lebrikizumab Phase 3 program includes two identical, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase 3 studies designed to confirm the safety and efficacy of lebrikizumab as monotherapy in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The studies are expected to enroll a total of approximately 800 adult and adolescent patients ages 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis at approximately 200 sites in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Key patient inclusion criteria for the monotherapy studies include the presence of chronic atopic dermatitis for at least one year, an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of 3 or 4 (on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 to 4), an Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI) score of 16 or greater and body surface area (BSA) involvement of at least 10 percent at screening and baseline.
The studies will evaluate a 250 mg dose of lebrikizumab administered by subcutaneous injection every two weeks, following a loading dose of 500 mg administered at baseline (day 0) and week 2, compared to placebo for 16 weeks (the induction period). Following the end of the 16-week induction period, study patients who respond during the induction period (as evidenced by achievement of an IGA 0/1 response, representing a reduction of 2 or more points in IGA score from baseline to a final score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear), or an EASI-75 response, representing an improvement in EASI score of at least 75 percent from baseline) will be re-randomized to one of the following treatment groups for an additional 36-week maintenance period:
- Group A: Lebrikizumab 250 mg given every two weeks;
- Group B: Lebrikizumab 250 mg given every four weeks; or
- Group C: Placebo given every two weeks.
Patients who do not achieve an IGA of 0/1 response or an EASI-75 response at week 16 and patients who do not maintain an EASI-50 response during the maintenance period will be assigned to receive lebrikizumab 250 mg as open-label treatment every two weeks through week 52.
The primary efficacy endpoint of the studies is the percentage of patients with an IGA 0/1 response from baseline to week 16.
Key secondary efficacy endpoints that will be evaluated during the 16-week induction period include: the percentage of patients achieving EASI-75; the percentage of patients achieving EASI-90; the percentage of patients with a pruritus (itch) numerical rating (NRS) score of at least 4 at baseline who achieve a reduction of at least 4 points; percentage changes in pruritus and sleep-loss scores; and change in BSA.
The company expects to report topline findings from the 16-week induction period in the first half of 2021. In addition to the two monotherapy studies, the company plans to include a study in the Phase 3 program that evaluates lebrikizumab when used in combination with topical corticosteroids. The impact of lebrikizumab treatment on quality of life will also be assessed across a number of additional measures.
About Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is the most common and severe form of eczema, a chronic inflammatory condition that can present as early as childhood and continue into adulthood. A moderate-to-severe form of the disease is characterized by rashes on the skin that often cover much of the body, as well as intense, persistent itching. The condition can have a negative impact on patients’ mental and physical functioning, limiting their daily activities and health-related quality of life. Patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis have reported a larger impact on quality of life than patients with psoriasis.
About Lebrikizumab
Lebrikizumab is a novel, investigational, monoclonal antibody designed to bind IL-13 with very high affinity, specifically preventing the formation of the IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα heterodimer complex and subsequent signaling, thereby inhibiting the biological effects of IL-13 in a targeted and efficient fashion. IL-13 is believed to be a central pathogenic mediator that drives multiple aspects of the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis by promoting type 2 inflammation and mediating its effects on tissue, resulting in skin barrier dysfunction, itch, skin thickening and infection.
About Dermira and Almirall Collaboration Agreement
In February 2019, Almirall, S.A. (BME: ALM) and Dermira entered into an option and license agreement under which Almirall acquired an option to obtain exclusive license rights to develop lebrikizumab for the treatment or prevention of dermatology indications, including but not limited to atopic dermatitis, and commercialize lebrikizumab for the treatment or prevention of all indications in Europe. Almirall exercised the option in June 2019. Under the terms of the agreement, Dermira received payments relating to the option and option exercise and is entitled to receive additional payments upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory and sales milestones, including in connection with the initiation of certain Phase 3 clinical studies, as well as royalty payments representing percentages of net sales of lebrikizumab in Europe.
About Dermira
Dermira is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing biotech ingenuity to medical dermatology by delivering differentiated, new therapies to the millions of patients living with chronic skin conditions. Dermira is committed to understanding the needs of both patients and physicians and using its insight to identify, develop and commercialize leading-edge medical dermatology products. The company’s approved treatment, QBREXZA™ (glycopyrronium) cloth, is indicated for pediatric and adult patients (ages 9 and older) with primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating). Please see the QBREXZA prescribing information. Dermira is currently evaluating lebrikizumab in a Phase 3 clinical development program for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (a severe form of eczema) and also has early-stage research and development programs in other areas of dermatology. Dermira is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif. For more information, please visit http://www.dermira.com. Follow Dermira on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
In addition to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), press releases, public conference calls and webcasts, Dermira uses its website (www.dermira.com), LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/dermira-inc-), corporate Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/dermira_inc/) and corporate Twitter account (@DermiraInc) as channels of distribution of information about its company, product candidates, planned financial and other announcements, attendance at upcoming investor and industry conferences and other matters. Such information may be deemed material information and Dermira may use these channels to comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Therefore, investors should monitor Dermira’s website, LinkedIn page, Instagram and Twitter accounts in addition to following its SEC filings, news releases, public conference calls and webcasts.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements with respect to: Dermira’s goal of building a leading medical dermatology company dedicated to delivering differentiated, new therapies to the millions of patients living with chronic skin conditions; the design, description of and enrollment expectations for Dermira’s Phase 3 program evaluating lebrikizumab for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis; the successful completion of, and timing expectations for the receipt and announcement of topline data from, the Phase 3 program; the potential of lebrikizumab to deliver a best-in-disease therapy for people living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis; Dermira’s plan to include a study in the Phase 3 program that evaluates lebrikizumab when used in combination with topical corticosteroids; and the potential milestone payments and royalties payable to Dermira under the terms of the option and license agreement entered into between Almirall and Dermira. These statements deal with future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as those relating to the design, implementation and outcomes of Dermira’s clinical trials; the impact of competitive clinical trials, products and therapies; Dermira’s dependence on third-party clinical research organizations, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors; the outcomes of future meetings with regulatory agencies; Dermira’s ability to develop and maintain collaborations and license products and intellectual property; Dermira’s ability to attract and retain key employees; Dermira’s ability to obtain necessary additional capital; market acceptance of Dermira’s current and potential products; Dermira’s ability to manage the growth and complexity of its organization; Dermira’s ability to maintain, protect and enhance its intellectual property; and Dermira’s ability to continue to stay in compliance with its material contractual obligations, applicable laws and regulations. You should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” set forth in Dermira’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Dermira’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings Dermira makes with the SEC from time to time for a discussion of important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by Dermira’s forward-looking statements. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Dermira undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements or reasons why actual results might differ, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
