Eli Lilly and Company Reports Up to Four Years of Sustained Disease Control with EBGLYSS (lebrikizumab-lbkz) in Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Eli Lilly and Company has unveiled compelling new long-term data demonstrating that its biologic therapy EBGLYSS (lebrikizumab-lbkz) can deliver sustained skin clearance and meaningful relief from persistent itch for up to four years in patients living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema. These findings, drawn from an ongoing open-label extension study, reinforce the therapy’s potential to fundamentally shift expectations for long-term disease control in a condition that has historically been difficult to manage consistently.
The data will be presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting 2026, a premier global gathering of dermatology experts, researchers, and clinicians. The conference, taking place from March 27 to March 31 in Denver, provides a key platform for showcasing innovations that could reshape clinical practice and improve patient outcomes across a wide range of dermatologic conditions.
Transforming Expectations in Atopic Dermatitis Care
Moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disorder characterized by intense itching, visible skin lesions, and a significant impact on quality of life. Patients often cycle through topical therapies, systemic treatments, and biologics in search of relief, yet many continue to experience unpredictable flares and incomplete disease control.
Against this challenging therapeutic backdrop, EBGLYSS has emerged as a promising targeted treatment designed to address the underlying drivers of inflammation rather than simply alleviating symptoms. The newly reported long-term data highlight the therapy’s ability to deliver durable results, offering patients the possibility of sustained remission-like states and fewer disruptions to daily life.
Adrienne Brown, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Immunology at Eli Lilly and Company, emphasized the broader significance of these findings. She noted that the results reflect a continued commitment to pushing beyond traditional treatment goals, which have often focused primarily on symptom management rather than long-term disease control.
According to Brown, EBGLYSS represents a meaningful evolution in the treatment paradigm—one that allows patients to envision a life less defined by frequent flare-ups, repeated topical applications, and ongoing discomfort. By enabling more consistent disease control, the therapy has the potential to improve not only physical symptoms but also the emotional and psychological burden associated with chronic skin disease.
Mechanism of Action: Targeting IL-13
EBGLYSS is a monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin-13 (IL-13), a key cytokine involved in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis. IL-13 plays a central role in driving type 2 inflammation in the skin, contributing to hallmark disease features such as impaired skin barrier function, persistent itch, thickened skin, and increased susceptibility to infections.
By binding to IL-13 with high affinity and demonstrating a slow dissociation rate, EBGLYSS effectively blocks downstream inflammatory signaling pathways. This targeted approach allows for more precise modulation of the immune response compared to broader immunosuppressive therapies, potentially translating into improved efficacy and a favorable safety profile.
The ability to directly address the underlying inflammatory cascade distinguishes EBGLYSS from traditional treatments and supports its role as a disease-modifying therapy rather than a purely symptomatic intervention.
ADlong Study: Long-Term Efficacy and Durability
The findings presented at the upcoming American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting 2026 are derived from the ADlong Phase 3b study, an ongoing clinical trial designed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of EBGLYSS in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
The study includes an open-label extension phase, allowing researchers to assess outcomes over an extended period of continuous treatment. Importantly, the trial also evaluates a once-monthly maintenance dosing regimen, which could offer a more convenient option for patients compared to more frequent dosing schedules.
Interim results from the first year of the ADlong study, combined with long-term extension data, reveal that the majority of patients achieved and maintained high levels of disease control over a period of up to four years.
Key Efficacy Outcomes
The data demonstrate impressive and sustained improvements across multiple clinically meaningful endpoints:
- Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75): Approximately 94% of patients achieved at least a 75% reduction in disease severity from baseline.
- EASI-90: Around 75% of patients reached a 90% reduction in disease severity, indicating near-complete skin clearance.
- Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA 0/1): About 68% of patients were assessed as having “clear” or “almost clear” skin.
- Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale (NRS ≤4): Approximately 78% of patients experienced significant itch reduction, with scores indicating mild or minimal itch.
These outcomes underscore the therapy’s ability to deliver both visible skin improvements and meaningful symptom relief—two critical goals in the management of atopic dermatitis.
Reduced Reliance on Topical Therapies
A notable aspect of the ADlong study is the reduced need for adjunctive topical treatments. The majority of participants—77%—were maintained on EBGLYSS monotherapy, and 80% achieved their clinical outcomes without the use of topical corticosteroids.
This finding is particularly significant given the burden associated with frequent topical applications, which can be time-consuming, inconvenient, and sometimes associated with side effects. The ability to achieve disease control with a single systemic therapy administered once monthly represents a meaningful advancement in treatment convenience and patient adherence.
Furthermore, 80% of patients were able to maintain their results with monthly dosing, highlighting the potential for EBGLYSS to offer a simplified and sustainable long-term treatment regimen.
Safety Profile and Tolerability
Safety remains a critical consideration for any long-term therapy, particularly in chronic conditions requiring ongoing treatment. The ADlong study findings indicate that EBGLYSS maintains a safety profile consistent with previous clinical data.
During the first year of the study, no new safety signals were identified, and the majority of adverse events were mild to moderate in severity. Importantly, these events rarely led to treatment discontinuation, suggesting that the therapy is generally well tolerated.
The most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events included:
- Conjunctivitis (6.9%)
- Injection-site reactions (0.6%)
These rates are in line with expectations for biologic therapies targeting similar pathways and do not appear to pose significant barriers to continued treatment.
Ongoing Research and Additional Insights
The ADlong study is continuing, with an additional year of treatment planned to further evaluate long-term outcomes. These ongoing data will provide even deeper insights into the durability of response and long-term safety of EBGLYSS.
Complementing these findings, a post-hoc analysis presented at the Maui Derm Hawaii 2026 examined stable responders who achieved EASI-75. The analysis revealed that patients experienced fewer than one flare per year on average when maintained on monthly EBGLYSS monotherapy.
This reduction in flare frequency is particularly meaningful for patients, as flares are often associated with significant discomfort, disruption to daily activities, and increased healthcare utilization.
Expert Perspective
Emma Guttman-Yassky, a leading expert in dermatology and immunology, highlighted the ongoing unmet need in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. She emphasized that many patients continue to struggle with unpredictable disease activity and insufficient control despite available therapies.
According to Guttman-Yassky, the four-year data for EBGLYSS provide strong evidence that targeting IL-13 can deliver durable disease control, reducing both the frequency and severity of flares. She noted that the therapy’s ability to maintain efficacy with or without topical treatments further enhances its clinical value.
Her perspective reinforces the broader significance of these findings within the dermatology community, where there is a growing emphasis on achieving long-term remission and improving overall quality of life for patients.
Broader Immunology Strategy at Lilly
The progress of EBGLYSS is part of a broader strategic effort by Eli Lilly and Company to expand its leadership in immunology and dermatology. The company continues to invest heavily in next-generation therapies targeting a range of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.
Recent developments include the TOGETHER-PsA and TOGETHER-PsO clinical trials, which are exploring the combined use of ixekizumab—an IL-17 inhibitor—and incretin-based therapies for patients with psoriatic disease and metabolic comorbidities. These studies reflect a growing interest in addressing the intersection of immune-mediated diseases and metabolic health.
Lilly’s pipeline also includes investigational therapies such as DC-853, an oral IL-17 inhibitor being studied for psoriasis, and eltrekibart, a monoclonal antibody targeting neutrophil-driven inflammation in hidradenitis suppurativa. Together, these programs underscore the company’s commitment to advancing innovative treatment approaches across dermatology and immunology.
Global Collaboration and Commercialization
EBGLYSS is being developed and commercialized through a global collaboration. Eli Lilly and Company holds exclusive rights for development and commercialization in the United States and other regions outside Europe.
In Europe, the therapy is being developed and marketed by Almirall, a partner with established expertise in dermatology. This partnership enables broader global access to the therapy and supports its continued development across multiple indications.
The long-term data for EBGLYSS represent a significant milestone in the management of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. By demonstrating sustained efficacy, reduced reliance on topical therapies, and a consistent safety profile, the therapy offers a compelling option for patients seeking durable disease control.
As additional data from the ADlong study become available, they will further clarify the therapy’s role in clinical practice and may help redefine treatment goals for atopic dermatitis. For patients and clinicians alike, the prospect of achieving long-term control with a convenient, once-monthly therapy marks an important step forward in addressing the challenges of this chronic condition.
Ultimately, the findings presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting 2026 highlight not only the progress made with EBGLYSS but also the broader momentum in dermatology research aimed at delivering more effective, targeted, and patient-centered treatments.
About ADlong
ADlong (NCT05916365) open-label extension study is evaluating the long-term safety and efficacy of EBGLYSS 250 mg dosed every four weeks (Q4W) in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis for a total of 108 weeks. Adult and adolescent (ages 12–17, weighing ≥40 kg) patients from select countries in Europe who completed the 100-week ADjoin extension study, including patients who completed the ADore trial (52 weeks), the ADhere trial (16 weeks), and Week 16 responders who completed the ADvocate 1 and 2 trials (52 weeks), were eligible to enroll in ADlong.
Patients (N=174) in this analysis receive open-label EBGLYSS 250 mg Q4W, regardless of their previous treatment in ADjoin (Q2W or Q4W dose). The approved maintenance dose of EBGLYSS is 250 mg once monthly, after taking EBGLYSS every two weeks for the four-month initial dosing phase (or later once achieving adequate clinical response).8 Intermittent use of topical rescue medications and short-term systemic treatments was allowed.1 If response was below EASY-50, Q2W could be used and thereafter Q4W could be resumed.
About EBGLYSS
EBGLYSS is a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets and neutralizes IL-13 with high binding affinity and a slow dissociation rate.3,4,8 EBGLYSS binds to the IL-13 cytokine at an area that overlaps with the binding site of the IL-4Rα subunit of the IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα heterodimer, preventing formation of this receptor complex and inhibiting IL-13 signaling. IL-13 is implicated as a primary cytokine tied to the pathophysiology of eczema, driving the type-2 inflammatory loop in the skin, and EBGLYSS selectively targets IL-13.8
The EBGLYSS Phase 3 program in atopic dermatitis consists of seven key global studies evaluating over 1,600 patients, including two monotherapy studies (ADvocate 1 and 2), a combination study with topical corticosteroids (ADhere), long-term extension (ADjoin), adolescent open-label (ADore) and pediatric (ADorable 1 and 2) studies. EBGLYSS is also being studied in allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
EBGLYSS was approved in the LOUSE, Japan and Canada in 2024 and in the European Union in 2023. EBGLYSS is a first-line biologic treatment with the option of monotherapy that offers once-monthly maintenance dosing for adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg) with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with topical prescription therapies.8
EBGLYSS 250 mg/2 mL injection is dosed as a single monthly maintenance injection following the initial phase of treatment. The recommended initial starting dose of EBGLYSS is 500 mg (two 250 mg injections) at Week 0 and Week 2, followed by 250 mg every two weeks until Week 16 or later when adequate clinical response is achieved; after this, maintenance dosing is a single monthly injection (250 mg every four weeks) which can be used with or without topical corticosteroids.8
Lilly is committed to serving patients living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and is working to enable broad first-line biologic access to EBGLYSS for patients not well controlled with topical prescription therapy through commercial insurance. Lilly has coverage with all three major national pharmacy benefit managers and 94% of commercially insured patients have coverage through national health plans. We have expanded Medicaid coverage and are pursuing similarly broad Medicare coverage as part of Lilly’s health equity and affordability initiative. Through Lilly Support Services, Lilly offers a patient support program including co-pay assistance for eligible, commercially insured patients.
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