Eli Lilly has shared positive phase 3 results of its investigational medicine, lebrikizumab, to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) across a range of skin tones.

Recently presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, the ADmirable study, dedicated to people with skin of colour, demonstrated that lebrikizumab improved skin clearance and itch relief.

Otherwise known as eczema, AD is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the skin that is characterised by recurrent inflammation associated with intense pruritus or itching.

The study evaluated lebrikizumab in 50 patients with moderate-to-severe AD and darker skin tones, including individuals of Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native descent, as measured by the Fitzpatrick scale.

The results at 16 weeks showed a significant improvement of at least 75% in disease extent and severity in 68% (EASI-75) of patients and at least EASI-90 in 46% of patients, while 39% of patients achieved clear or almost clear skin with a reduction of at least two points from baseline and 56% experienced clinically meaningful itch relief, with no new safety signals or serious adverse events reported.

Using the newly developed PDCA-Derm scale, the study also included a physician assessment of changes in post-inflammatory pigmentations.

The results reinforce lebrikizumab’s “potential to be a first-line biologic treatment following topical prescription therapies for people across a range of skin tones with moderate-to-severe AD,” the company said.

Lebrikizumab is an investigational monoclonal antibody that targets IL-13 with high binding affinity and a slow dissociation rate.

The medicine has already received approval in the EU and is licenced to be developed and commercialised as a treatment for dermatology indications in Europe by Almirall, while Eli Lilly has exclusive rights for the development and commercialisation of the drug in the US and the rest of the world.