New Eblasakimab Data Shows Promise for Patients With AD and Inadequate Response to Dupilumab

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals | Image Credit: ©Rafael Henrique - stock.adobe.com

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals unveiled new positive data during a virtual Key Opinion Leader (KOL) event this morning, shedding light on the potential of eblasakimab in treating patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) who have previously experienced inadequate responses to dupilumab (Dupixent; Sanofi and Regeneron). The event, titled “Treatment Options for Atopic Dermatitis Patients with an Inadequate Response to Dupilumab: Exploring the Potential of Eblasakimab in this Sizable New Market,” was held this morning and moderated by Seth Orlow, MD, PhD, from New York University, with other speakers including Lisa Beck, MD, from the University of Rochester, and Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, from Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical Schooland Dermatology Times' Fall Editor in Chief. The panelists engaged in discussions regarding the evolving landscape of AD treatment and the implications of the TREK-DX study results.¹

The initial findings, announced in April, highlighted statistically significant improvements in patients treated with eblasakimab compared to placebo. Notably, 60.0% of dupilumab-experienced patients with AD treated with 400mgeblasakimab weekly achieved at least a 90% reduction in their Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI) score, while 66.7% achieved clear or almost clear skin according to the validated Investigator Global Assessment(vIGA) score after 16 weeks.

During today's event, ASLAN executives presented additional data on investigator-assessed and patient-reported secondary endpoints, emphasizing the rapid onset of eblasakimab's efficacy. Notably, patients treated with eblasakimab demonstrated a swift reduction in itch scores, with significant improvement observed as early as week 2. Moreover, discontinuation rates were notably lower in the eblasakimab group compared to placebo.

Carl Firth, PhD, MBA, chief executive officer of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, expressed his satisfaction with the interim analysis results of the TREK-DX study, stating in the press release, “The numbers we have reported from the interim analysis of the TREK-DX study are unprecedented in previous biologics studies in AD and the new data continue to support our original conclusions announced in April.”

Peter Lio, MD, from Northwestern University, commented on the significance of these findings, stating, “Today’s discussions come at an important time as physicians see an emerging dupilumab-experienced AD patient population who are seeking alternative safe and long-term treatments to the existing therapies available today.”

The TREK-DX study, the first of its kind, aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eblasakimab in patients with moderate to severe AD who have previously received dupilumab treatment. With enrollment ongoing across North America and Europe, the trial is expected to provide crucial insights into the potential of eblasakimab as a novel treatment option for this patient population.

Eblasakimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-13 receptor, is a first-in-class treatment for AD by specifically blocking the type 2 receptor, thereby mitigating the inflammatory response underlying the disease. “Eblasakimab may indeed find its own unique niche of patients as we see further clinical development and a potential approval, but for now, the results from TREX-DX are especially interesting as we look to position therapies in relation to dupilumab, our first and most commonly used advanced therapy - which works well for many but not all patients. These data show that blocking IL-13R1 may be an effective and novel strategy to drive early and deep clearance in moderate-severe AD patients by targeting a key receptor complex in type 2 inflammation," said Chovatiya in a previous interview.

Last week, ASLAN announced it will continue its research collaboration with its partner, Zenyaku Kogyo Co, to develop new research projects comparing the mechanism of action of eblasakimab to other biologics for AD.² If you missed the live event this morning, you can watch it on ASLAN’s website within the Investor Relations “Recent Events” section. Looking ahead, ASLAN anticipates topline data from the TREK-DX study by the end of 2024.

References

1. ASLAN Pharmaceuticals to present additional data from interim analysis of TREK-DX phase 2 study of eblasakimab in dupilumab-experienced atopic dermatitis patients during virtual KOL event. News release. ASLAN Pharmaceuticals. May 7, 2024. Accessed May 7, 2024. https://ir.aslanpharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aslan-pharmaceuticals-present-additional-data-interim-analysis
2. Bader K. ASLAN expands collaboration with Zenyaku to investigate eblasakimab’s MOA compared to other biologics in AD. Dermatology Times. May 2, 2024. Accessed May 7, 2024. https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/aslan-expands-collaboration-with-zenyaku-to-investigate-eblasakimab-s-moa-compared-to-other-biologics-in-ad?ekey=RUtJRDowMDAwMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwMDAwMDAwMDA%3D&utm_source=hs&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%25emailname