New long-term data suggest pharma powerhouse Eli Lilly’s eczema treatment EBGLYSS may offer sustained relief for patients battling moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, delivering clearer skin and reduced itching for up to four years.

 

Findings from an ongoing late-stage trial will be unveiled at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Denver, where researchers are expected to highlight the drug’s (lebrikizumab-lbkz) potential to shift how the chronic condition is managed.

 

"These data underscore our unwavering commitment to expanding what people with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis can achieve with treatment," said Adrienne Brown, executive vice president and president, Lilly Immunology. 

 

"For too long the focus has been around symptom management and many patients struggle to achieve consistent disease control despite cycling through topical treatments. EBGLYSS is helping transform this treatment paradigm—allowing people the opportunity to reimagine life without the frequent interruptions caused by flares or topicals applied 2-3 times per day."

 

The therapy works by targeting interleukin-13, a key driver of inflammation behind eczema symptoms such as itching, skin damage, and infection. By blocking this pathway, the drug aims to address the disease at its source rather than simply easing flare-ups.

 

In the ADlong study, most patients achieved near-complete skin clearance and significant itch reduction, with results lasting throughout the four-year treatment period. Notably, 77% of participants relied solely on EBGLYSS, and 80% maintained results without the need for topical steroids. The same proportion achieved outcomes with a once-monthly maintenance dose.

 

Safety data from the first year showed no new concerns. Most side effects were mild or moderate, with conjunctivitis reported in 6.9% of patients and injection-site reactions in 0.6%.

 

The trial is still ongoing, with another year of treatment planned. Additional analysis presented earlier this year indicated patients experienced fewer than one flare annually while on monthly EBGLYSS monotherapy.

 

"There is still an unmet need for people with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who frequently experience unpredictable flares and are in need of treatment options that go beyond just symptomatic relief and address the underlying inflammation driving skin symptoms and persistent itch," said Emma Guttman-Yassky, The Waldman Professor and Health System Chair, Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. 

 

"These four-year findings reinforce that EBGLYSS has the potential to deliver durable disease control, helping patients flare less with or without topicals."