MOR106 clinical development in atopic dermatitis was stopped for futility

This is a Phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study of repeated doses of MOR106 administered as IV infusion. MOR106, is an antibody which is being developed as a treatment for diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. An antibody is a protein that is made by the body in a defense reaction against viruses and bacteria or other small particles. In this case, MOR106 will act against IL-17C interleukin by binding to it. This way it could be possible to act against these diseases.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female between 18-65 years of age (extremes included), on the day of signing informed consent form (ICF).

• Able and willing to give voluntary written informed consent and meet all of the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria before being enrolled in the study. The subjects must sign the informed consent form prior to any study-related procedures and agree to the schedule of assessments.

• A body mass index (BMI) between ≥18 and ≤30 kg/m².

• Diagnosis of chronic atopic dermatitis with at least 1 year since first diagnosis, as per the Hanifin and Rajka Criteria, fulfilling the following criteria:

  1. EASI ≥12 at screening and ≥16 at baseline (Day 1 pre-dose).
  2. Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score ≥3 (on the 0 to 4 IGA scale, in which 3 is moderate and 4 is severe) at screening and at baseline.
  3. Greater than or equal to 10% body surface area (BSA) of atopic dermatitis involvement at screening.
  4. Willingness to continue stable use of an additive free, basic, bland emollient twice daily for at least 7 days before baseline and throughout the study.
  5. Subject is a candidate for systemic therapy and has a history of inadequate response or has a contraindication to topical corticosteroids and/or topical calcineurin inhibitors before screening visit, as per investigator's opinion.

• Willing to adhere to the following contraceptive restrictions:

  1. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening, and a negative urine pregnancy test at baseline.
  2. Female subjects of childbearing potential must use a highly effective method of contraception from 28 days prior to the first dose of study drug, during the study, and for at least 24 weeks after the last dose of study drug.
  3. Non-vasectomized male subjects with a female partner of childbearing potential must agree to a highly effective form of contraception during the study, and for at least 24 weeks after last dose of study drug.
  4. All male subjects must agree to use a condom from the first dose of Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP), during the study and for at least 24 weeks after the last dose of IMP.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known hypersensitivity to study drug ingredients or history of any significant allergic reaction to any drug as determined by the investigator, such as anaphylaxis requiring hospitalization.

• Prior treatment with MOR106.

• Positive serology for hepatitis B (positive hepatitis B surface [HBs] antigen and/or positive hepatitis core antibody [HBc]), or hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody or any history of hepatitis from any cause with the exception of hepatitis A. Subjects who are immune to hepatitis B because of vaccination can be included.

• History of or current immunosuppressive condition (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection), including history of invasive opportunistic infections (e.g., TB, histoplasmosis, listeriosis, coccidioidomycosis, pneumocystosis, aspergillosis), despite infection resolution or unusually frequent, recurrent, or prolonged infections, per investigator judgment.

• Subjects with a history of Varicella zoster virus who experienced any episode or recurrence of Herpes Zoster infection within 1 year of screening or ≥ one episode or Herpes Zoster within 1 year of screening must be excluded. (A history of Herpes simplex types 1 and 2 and vaginal candidiasis are permitted.)

• Pregnant or breast feeding female or subject is intending to become pregnant or breastfeed.

• Any concurrent illness, condition, disability, or clinically significant abnormality (including laboratory tests, ≥ New York Heart Association Classification (NYHA) III/IV) or clinically significant illness in the 3 months prior to initial study drug administration that, in the investigator's opinion, represents a safety risk for the subject's participation in the study, may affect the interpretation of clinical safety or efficacy data, or may prevent the subject from safely completing the assessments required by the protocol.

• Any of the following laboratory findings:

  1. White blood cell count <3.0 x 109 cells/L
  2. Neutrophil count <1.5 x 109 cells/L
  3. Platelet count <100 x 109 cells/L
  4. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) >2 x upper limit of normal (ULN)

• History of malignancy within the past 5 years prior to screening with the exception of non-metastatic basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, carcinoma in situ of the cervix or of the breast, prostate cancer T1a or T1b using the TNM (tumour, nodes, metastasis) clinical staging system.

• Clinically significant abnormalities at the discretion of the investigator detected on vital signs or physical examination (other than atopic dermatitis) at screening or baseline (Day 1 pre-dose).

• History of eczema herpeticum in the last 12 months prior to screening.

• Subjects who have had an attenuated vaccination within 4 weeks of baseline or are expected to have one during the course of the study.

• Participation in another experimental therapy study within 5 times the half-life (if known) or 12 weeks (if not known) of the experimental therapy, prior to baseline, or current enrollment in any other interventional study.

• Having used any of the following treatments:

  1. Exposure to a biologic therapy for atopic dermatitis
  2. Immunosuppressive/ immunomodulating drugs (e.g., systemic corticosteroids, cyclosporine, mycophenolate-mofetil, interferon-gamma, azathioprine, methotrexate) within 4 weeks of baseline
  3. Phototherapy (ultraviolet [UV] B or psoralen and ultraviolet A [PUVA]) for atopic dermatitis within 4 weeks of baseline
  4. Treatment with topical corticosteroids or topical calcineurin inhibitors within 2 weeks of baseline
  5. Treatment with biologics (for non atopic dermatitis indications within 5 half-lives (if known) or 12 weeks prior to baseline (if unknown)
  6. Regular use (more than 2 visits per week) of a tanning booth/parlour within 4 weeks of screening

• Active chronic or acute infection requiring treatment with systemic (oral, SC or IV) antibiotics, antivirals, antiparasitics, antiprotozoals, or antifungals, within 4 weeks of baseline, or clinical signs of infective eczema within 1 week before baseline. Note: subjects may be rescreened after infection resolves.

• Investigator, research assistant, pharmacist, study coordinator, or other staff or relative thereof, who is directly involved in the conduct of the study.

• Not able to manage the electronic diary (e-diary) as per assessment of the investigator.