Pfizer's tilrekimig meets primary goal in phase 2 eczema trial

Pfizer reports positive Phase 2 results for its experimental eczema drug, tilrekimig, which met its primary endpoint of significant skin clearance after 16 weeks. The trispecific antibody, designed for monthly dosing, shows efficacy competitive with market leader Dupixent, which generated $11 billion in early 2026. While analysts note minimal differentiation from other upcoming therapies, Pfizer is advancing tilrekimig into Phase 3 trials for eczema and asthma, with full data expected in 2028.

Phase 2 trial efficacy results

• ▪In Stage 2 of Pfizer's Phase 2 trial, moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis patients receiving tilrekimig at doses of 400 mg, 200 mg, and 50 mg every four weeks achieved EASI-75 at rates of 58.5%, 61.0%, and 47.8% respectively, compared to 9.1% on placebo.
• ▪For the key secondary endpoint of clear or almost clear skin in Stage 1 of Pfizer's Phase 2 trial, 30.3% of patients in the 450 mg biweekly tilrekimig group achieved this outcome compared to 11.8% for placebo.
• ▪In Stage 1 of Pfizer's Phase 2 trial, 62.5% of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis patients receiving 450 mg of tilrekimig every two weeks achieved EASI-75 at Week 16, compared to 19.9% on placebo.
• ▪In Stage 2 of Pfizer's Phase 2 trial, 26% to 27% of patients across the monthly tilrekimig dosing groups achieved clear or almost clear skin, compared to 0% in the placebo group.

Phase 2 trial safety results

• ▪In Stage 2 of Pfizer's Phase 2 trial, adverse events occurred in 42.2% to 47.8% of tilrekimig patients compared to 52.2% of placebo patients, with Pfizer reporting the drug was well-tolerated with no dose-dependent safety signals.
• ▪In Stage 1 of Pfizer's Phase 2 trial, treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 46.7% of patients receiving tilrekimig 450 mg biweekly compared to 28.9% on placebo, with no serious adverse events related to the drug.

Mechanism and dosing of tilrekimig

• ▪RBC Capital Markets analyst Trung Huynh noted that it remains uncertain what thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) targeting adds to the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
• ▪Tilrekimig is an investigational trispecific antibody designed to simultaneously inhibit three proteins implicated in immune diseases: interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-13 (IL-13), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP).
• ▪Tilrekimig has an extended half-life of approximately 37 days, which is intended to support a monthly dosing administration schedule.

Analyst comparisons to competing eczema therapies

• ▪RBC Capital Markets analyst Trung Huynh stated that tilrekimig currently shows minimal differentiation from Eli Lilly's Ebglyss and AbbVie's late-stage antibody zumilokibart.
• ▪Analysts described Pfizer's Phase 2 results for tilrekimig as competitive with established therapies like Eli Lilly's Ebglyss and Sanofi and Regeneron's market-leading drug Dupixent.

Future clinical development of tilrekimig

• ▪Pfizer has initiated Phase 3 clinical trials of tilrekimig for atopic dermatitis and asthma, and is advancing a Phase 2b/3 study in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• ▪Full Phase 3 clinical trial data for Pfizer's tilrekimig are expected to be available in 2028 to fully assess the drug's commercial potential.

Market performance and patent outlook for Dupixent

• ▪Key patent protections for Sanofi and Regeneron's drug Dupixent are set to expire in 2031.
• ▪Sanofi and Regeneron's Dupixent, which first entered the eczema market in 2017, generated nearly $11 billion in net sales over the first six months of 2026.