The main purpose of this phase 2 study was to assess the efficacy and safety of CMK389 in patients with atopic dermatitis.

This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, non-confirmatory, investigator and participant blinded study in adult participants with moderate to severe AD. The study consisted of up to 4 weeks screening period to assess participants eligibility, the baseline visit, 4-weekly administrations of CMK389 within the first 12 weeks of the 16-week treatment period, and an approximately 12 weeks follow up period which finished with the end of study visit (EoS). In addition, for women of child-bearing potential, pregnancy tests were done for 6 months after the last dose of CMK389.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult male or female participants with chronic atopic dermatitis, aged 18 to 65 years, present for at least 1 year before screening.
• Participants with Moderate to severe AD defined by IGA score of ≥ 3 (on a scale of 0 to 4, in which 3 is moderate and 4 is severe) at Baseline, EASI score of ≥ 12 at Baseline and Pruritus (NRS) of at least ≥ 3 at Baseline
• Participants who are candidates for a systemic therapy, defined as e.g. inadequate response to treatment with topical medications, or for whom topical treatments are otherwise medically inadvisable (e.g. because of important side effects or safety risks, patients with large affected body surface areas) as assessed by the investigator.
• Participants must have a body mass index (BMI) at screening within the range of 18 to ≤35 kg/m2.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any skin disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, would confound the diagnosis or evaluation of AD disease activity.

• Participants taking prohibited medication not completing the wash out period

• Use of other investigational drugs at the time of enrolment, or within 5 half-lives of enrolment, or until the expected PD effect has returned to baseline, whichever is longer; or longer if required by local regulations.

• Any active, recent or recurrent systemic or localized infection at screening or prior to first treatment which in the opinion of the investigator immunocompromises the participant and/or places the participant at unacceptable risk for immunomodulatory therapy, such as:

  • Any acute bacterial, fungal, or viral skin/mucosal infection that has not resolved within 2 weeks prior to first treatment or within 12 months in case of eczema herpeticum.
  • Clinically infected AD within 4 weeks prior to first treatment.
  • Any other infection requiring treatment with systemic antibiotics, antivirals, antiparasitics, antiprotozoals, or antifungals within 4 weeks prior to first treatment.
  • Tuberculosis (TB), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C

• Any other current or past clinically significant medical condition, including psychiatric condition, which in the Investigator's opinion may interfere with safety of the participant, study objectives or adherence to the protocol.

• Participants with confirmed abnormal absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of <1.5 x 10^9/L or with thrombocytopenia of < 75.0 x 10^9/L at screening and baseline

• History of malignancy of any organ system (other than localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin), treated or untreated, within the past 5 years, regardless of whether there is evidence of local recurrence or metastases.

• History of hypersensitivity to any component of the study drug product, or to drugs of similar chemical classes.

• History of severe or serious allergy or hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylactic shock, asthma, or uncontrolled urticaria.

• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women.

Novartis is committed to sharing with qualified external researchers, access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies. These requests are reviewed and approved by an independent review panel on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided is anonymized to respect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations.

This trial data availability is according to the criteria and process described on www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com