ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Ltd. ASLN skyrocketed 160.8% on Mar 11 due to encouraging preliminary data reaffirming the potential of its investigational candidate, eblasakimab, to effectively treat atopic dermatitis (AD, also called eczema) patients. The intended patient population includes those previously treated with Sanofi SNY and Regeneron’s REGN blockbuster drug Dupixent (dupilumab).

Eblasakimab, a novel monoclonal antibody, is an inhibitor of the IL-13 receptor sub-unit of the Type 2 receptor, which is responsible for several allergic and inflammatory diseases.

The company is currently evaluating the safety and efficacy of eblasakimab in a phase II TREK-DX study in the AD patient population. The TREK study is expected to enroll approximately 75 patients who have discontinued treatment with Sanofi/Regeneron’s Dupixent for any reason, including inadequate control of AD, loss of access or an adverse event.

The preliminary data readout is from 22 enrolled patients who have a baseline Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score of 16. Out of the 22 eczema patients, 17 completed the 16-week treatment period and five discontinued before completion. Among these 17 patients, 10 (45%) achieved at least a 90% reduction in EASI score and 11 (50%) achieved clear or almost clear skin after 16 weeks.

Furthermore, out of the nine patients who previously had an inadequate response to Sanofi/Regeneron’s Dupixent, five achieved at least a 90% reduction in EASI score and five patients attained clear or almost clear skin.

Such preliminary data from the TREK-DX study suggest that eblasakimab, with its unique mechanism of action, could have the potential to be effective in AD patients who do not achieve an adequate response to the highly successful medicine, Dupixent.

In the past year, shares of ASLAN have plunged 36.3% compared with the industry’s 4.8% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company also reported that eblasakimab has been well tolerated to date, with no new safety signals. Additionally, there were no reports of conjunctivitis or injection site reactions. Top-line data from the full dataset of the TREK-DX study is anticipated by 2024-end.

In the same press release, ASLAN announced a protocol update in the ongoing TREK-DX study, based on the findings from its TREK-AD study, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of eblasakimab as monotherapy in biologic-naïve adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD who are candidates for systemic therapy.

Per the company, findings of the TREK-AD study highlighted the changing AD patient population in the United States, which called for tightening of the inclusion criteria to enroll patients with a baseline EASI score of at least 18, instead of 16.