Efficacy of lebrikizumab in patients who did not achieve protocol-defined criteria for response after initial 16 weeks of therapy

Abstract Lebrikizumab demonstrated robust efficacy during the first 16 weeks of treatment in ADvocate1 and ADvocate2. This study aims to describe the 52-week results of lebrikizumab-treated patients who did not meet the protocol-defined criteria for response at 16 weeks of treatment. During the induction period, patients were randomized 2 : 1 to lebrikizumab 250 mg or placebo every 2 weeks (Q2W) for 16 weeks. Protocol-defined criteria for response were characterized as achieving a 75% Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI75) or an Investigator’s Global Assessment of 0 or 1 (IGA 0,1) with a ≥2-point improvement and without rescue medication use. At Week 16, patients from the lebrikizumab treatment arm, who did not reach the criteria for response, were assigned to the Escape arm (n = 215). These patients continued to receive lebrikizumab 250 mg Q2W for an additional 36 weeks. Endpoints and measurements included at week 52 were EASI75, EASI90, IGA (0,1) and pruritus. Pruritus was assessed using an 11-point Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Data are presented as observed results with no imputation for missing data. Pooled results for patients who did not respond to lebrikizumab and entered the escape arm show 36.1% achieved IGA (0,1) with 2-point improvement at Week 52. In the same population, 75.5% achieved EASI75, 44.2% achieved EASI90 and 66.4% reported 4-point improvement in Pruritus NRS. These results suggest that patients, who do not achieve protocol-defined response at 16 weeks of treatment, can be slow responders and derive benefit from continuing long-term therapy with lebrikizumab.