Amgen released data from two pivotal trials on Tuesday that showed its experimental drug rocatinlimab succeeded in a Phase 3 test in atopic dermatitis, while its approved drug Uplizna also yielded positive results in myasthenia gravis.
The data are a boost to Amgen’s immunology hopes, and the success with rocatinlimab — an anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody — will solidify its advantage over Sanofi’s asset amlitelimab, which goes after a related target.
The rocatinlimab results are the first of eight different Phase 3 trials Amgen is running for the drug. In Tuesday’s trial, called ROCKET-Horizon, rocatinlimab met its primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints by a statistically significant margin, Amgen said. The drug induced at least a 75% reduction in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75) in 32.8% of patients, compared with 13.7% on placebo after 24 weeks.
Amgen said that the study’s other co-primary endpoints, also measuring skin clearance, were successful as well.
Sanofi has positioned amlitelimab, which binds to OX40-Ligand, as one of its key growth drivers in its pivot to immunology. But its first Phase 3 readout won’t take place until the end of 2026. In the meantime, Amgen has at least four other Phase 3 trials for rocatinlimab expected to report data before next July, including studies looking at different doses, the drug’s use as a combination or maintenance therapy, and a trial in adolescents.
Jay BradnerAmgen will likely have a significant market advantage by filing for rocatinlimab approval much earlier, although on a conference call Tuesday, CSO Jay Bradner didn’t say when it might file with the FDA.
Amgen licensed rocatinlimab from Kyowa Kirin in 2021, a few months after it reported Phase 2 results, paying $400 million upfront and promising another $850 million in milestones. Sanofi acquired amlitelimab in its $1.1 billion buyout of Kymab in 2021.
Sanofi is still hoping for big things from amlitelimab. Earlier this year, an early look at Phase 2b data prompted the company to amend its Phase 3 trial protocol to allow for increased time off-drug.
Uplizna passes another test
Amgen also said Tuesday that its rare disease drug Uplizna hit its primary endpoint in a Phase 3 trial for the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis.
In a measurement scale called the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living, or MG-ADL, two doses of Uplizna produced an improvement of -4.2 points after 26 weeks, compared with -1.9 points on placebo (p<0.0001). Four of the study’s five secondary endpoints were also statistically significant, Bradner said.
The win comes a few months after Uplizna recorded a successful Phase 3 study in IgG4-related disease back in June. Uplizna was first approved in 2020 for an autoimmune disease that affects the eyes called neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, or NMOSD.