LEO Pharma announces European Commission approval of Adtralza (tralokinumab) as the first and only treatment specifically targeting IL-13 for adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis

LEO Pharma A/S, a global leader in medical dermatology, today announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved Adtralza® (tralokinumab) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy. The European approval makes Adtralza the first high affinity, fully human monoclonal antibody approved to specifically bind to and inhibit the IL-13 cytokine, a key driver of atopic dermatitis signs and symptoms.

Adtralza will be available in a 150 mg/mL prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection with an initial dose of 600 mg followed by 300 mg every other week.1 Adtralza can be used with or without topical corticosteroids (TCS).

“This European Commission approval of Adtralza means that clinicians across Europe now have an important new treatment option for adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, which is a chronic, unpredictable skin disease,” said Stephan Weidinger, MD, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany and tralokinumab clinical trial investigator. “By specifically targeting IL-13 with high affinity, Adtralza has demonstrated that it can reduce atopic dermatitis signs and symptoms and sustain improvements over time.”

The approval is based primarily on efficacy and safety results from the ECZTRA 1, 2 and ECZTRA 3 pivotal Phase 3 trials, which included more than 1,900 adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.1 Safety data was evaluated from a pool of five randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, including ECZTRA 1, 2 and ECZTRA 3, a dose-ranging trial, and a vaccine response trial.

“This European Commission approval of Adtralza is an important development for the millions of adults in Europe who are living with this often uncontrolled skin disease,” said Catherine Mazzacco, President and CEO of LEO Pharma. “We are proud to have the opportunity to offer a new long-term treatment option for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and are working closely with key stakeholders to enable access to Adtralza for eligible patients.”

The European Commission decision is valid in all European Union Member States, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. Additional regulatory filings are underway with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom and other health authorities worldwide.

About Adtralza (tralokinumab)

Adtralza (tralokinumab) is a fully human, monoclonal antibody developed to specifically neutralize the IL-13 cytokine, which plays a key role in the immune process underlying atopic dermatitis signs and symptoms. Adtralza specifically binds to the IL-13 cytokine with high affinity, thereby preventing interaction with the IL-13 receptor α1 and α2 subunits (IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2).

About the pivotal ECZTRA 1, 2, and ECZTRA 3 Trials

ECZTRA 1 and ECZTRA 2 (ECZema TRAlokinumab trials Nos. 1 and 2) were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational 52-week trials, which included 802 and 794 adult patients, respectively, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Adtralza (300 mg) as monotherapy in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who were candidates for systemic therapy.

ECZTRA 3 (ECZema TRAlokinumab trial No. 3) was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multinational 32-week trial, which included 380 adult patients, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Adtralza (300 mg) in combination with TCS in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who are candidates for systemic therapy.

About atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory, skin disease characterized by intense itch and eczematous lesions.6 Atopic dermatitis is the result of skin barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation, leading to chronic inflammation.7 Type 2 cytokines, including IL-13, play a central role in the key aspects of atopic dermatitis pathophysiology.

About LEO Pharma

LEO Pharma helps people achieve healthy skin. The company is a leader in medical dermatology with a robust R&D pipeline, a wide range of therapies and a pioneering spirit. Founded in 1908 and owned by the LEO Foundation, LEO Pharma has devoted decades of research and development to advance the science of dermatology, setting new standards of care for people with skin conditions. LEO Pharma is headquartered in Denmark with a global team of 6,000 people, serving 93 million patients in 130 countries. In 2020, the company generated net sales of DKK 10,133 million.