Evommune Inc. said its investigational drug EVO756 failed to meet its primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase 2b trial for atopic dermatitis, marking a setback for the Palo Alto-based biotech's dermatology pipeline.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 121 adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and compared multiple doses of EVO756 against placebo over a 12-week treatment period, with follow-up through Week 14. None of the doses studied achieved statistical significance on either the primary or any secondary endpoint.
Based on the results, Evommune said it does not plan to advance EVO756 as a therapy for atopic dermatitis. The company will instead continue Phase 2b development of the drug in migraine prophylaxis, a separate indication where EVO756 remains under evaluation.
EVO756 is described as a first-in-class oral small-molecule antagonist of the Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2), a receptor predominantly expressed on mast cells and peripheral sensory neurons. Dr. Eugene Bauer, the company's chief medical officer, said EVO756 was generally well tolerated and that its safety profile remained consistent with prior clinical studies.
With EVO756 exiting the atopic dermatitis space, Evommune will look to its alternative program, EVO301, to carry the dermatology franchise. EVO301 is an IL-18BP fusion protein designed as a long-acting injectable to neutralize upregulated IL-18 activity, a pathway implicated in the inflammatory cascade of atopic dermatitis. The company cited positive Phase 2a proof-of-concept data for EVO301 and said it plans to launch a Phase 2b trial for the asset in mid-2027.
On the balance-sheet front, Evommune stated it has financial resources supporting operations into 2029.
