LEO Pharma announces European Commission approval of Adtralza® (tralokinumab) as the first and only treatment specifically targeting IL-13 for adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
22.6.2021 08:00:00 CEST | LEO Pharma | Press release
- The European Commission regulatory approval is primarily supported by data from the ECZTRA 1, 2 and ECZTRA 3 pivotal Phase 3 trials, in which Adtralza demonstrated significant improvements in atopic dermatitis signs and symptoms, with treatment response rates gradually improved and maintained over time1-3
- Adtralza was generally well tolerated with an overall frequency and severity of adverse events comparable with placebo1-3
- Adtralza was also shown to reduce itch and improve health-related quality of life1-3
Adtralza will be available in a 150 mg/mL prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection with an initial dose of 600 mg followed by 300 mg every other week.1 Adtralza can be used with or without topical corticosteroids (TCS).1
"This European Commission approval of Adtralza means that clinicians across Europe now have an important new treatment option for adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, which is a chronic, unpredictable skin disease,” said Stephan Weidinger, MD, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany and tralokinumab clinical trial investigator. “By specifically targeting IL-13 with high affinity, Adtralza has demonstrated that it can reduce atopic dermatitis signs and symptoms and sustain improvements over time.”
The approval is based primarily on efficacy and safety results from the ECZTRA 1, 2 and ECZTRA 3 pivotal Phase 3 trials, which included more than 1,900 adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.1 Safety data was evaluated from a pool of five randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, including ECZTRA 1, 2 and ECZTRA 3, a dose-ranging trial, and a vaccine response trial.1
“This European Commission approval of Adtralza is an important development for the millions of adults in Europe who are living with this often uncontrolled skin disease,” said Catherine Mazzacco, President and CEO of LEO Pharma. “We are proud to have the opportunity to offer a new long-term treatment option for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and are working closely with key stakeholders to enable access to Adtralza for eligible patients.”
The European Commission decision is valid in all European Union Member States, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.Additional regulatory filings are underway with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom and other health authorities worldwide.
About Adtralza (tralokinumab)
Adtralza (tralokinumab) is a fully human, monoclonal antibody developed to specifically neutralize the IL-13 cytokine, which plays a key role in the immune process underlying atopic dermatitis signs and symptoms. Adtralza specifically binds to the IL-13 cytokine with high affinity, thereby preventing interaction with the IL-13 receptor α1 and α2 subunits (IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2).4,5
About the pivotal ECZTRA 1, 2, and ECZTRA 3 Trials
ECZTRA 1 and ECZTRA 2 (ECZema TRAlokinumab trials Nos. 1 and 2) were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational 52-week trials, which included 802 and 794 adult patients, respectively, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Adtralza (300 mg) as monotherapy in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who were candidates for systemic therapy.2
ECZTRA 3 (ECZema TRAlokinumab trial No. 3) was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multinational 32-week trial, which included 380 adult patients, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Adtralza (300 mg) in combination with TCS in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who are candidates for systemic therapy.3
About atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory, skin disease characterized by intense itch and eczematous lesions.6 Atopic dermatitis is the result of skin barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation, leading to chronic inflammation.7 Type 2 cytokines, including IL-13, play a central role in the key aspects of atopic dermatitis pathophysiology.4
References
- Adtralza® (tralokinumab) EU Product Information. LEO Pharma; June 2021.
- Wollenberg A, et al. Tralokinumab for moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis: results from two 52‐week, randomized, double‐blind, multicentre, placebo‐controlled phase III trials (ECZTRA 1 and ECZTRA 2). Br J Dermatol. 2021; 437-449.
- Silverberg JI, et al. Tralokinumab plus topical corticosteroids for the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis: results from the double‐blind, randomized, multicentre, placebo‐controlled phase III ECZTRA 3 trial. Br J Dermatol. 2021; 450-463.
- Bieber T. Interleukin-13: targeting an underestimated cytokine in atopic dermatitis. Allergy. 2020; 75:54-62.
- Popovic B, et al. Structural characterisation reveals mechanism of IL-13-neutralising monoclonal antibody tralokinumab as inhibition of binding to IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2. J Mol Biol. 2017; 429:208–19.
- Weidinger S, et al. Atopic dermatitis. Lancet. 2016; 387:1109-1122.
- Boguniewicz M, et al. Atopic dermatitis: a disease of altered skin barrier and immune dysregulation. Immunol Rev. 2011;242(1):233-46.
Contacts
Contacts
Linda Mayer
Global Product Communications
+1 973 908 7924
limay@leo-pharma.com
Henrik Kyndlev
Global External Communications
+45 3140 6180
hdtdk@leo-pharma.com
Documents
About LEO Pharma
About LEO Pharma
LEO Pharma helps people achieve healthy skin. The company is a leader in medical dermatology with a robust R&D pipeline, a wide range of therapies and a pioneering spirit. Founded in 1908 and owned by the LEO Foundation, LEO Pharma has devoted decades of research and development to advance the science of dermatology, setting new standards of care for people with skin conditions. LEO Pharma is headquartered in Denmark with a global team of 6,000 people, serving 93 million patients in 130 countries. In 2020, the company generated net sales of DKK 10,133 million. For more information please visit www.LEO-Pharma.com.
Subscribe to releases from LEO Pharma
Subscribe to all the latest releases from LEO Pharma by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from LEO Pharma
LEO Pharma to showcase its broadest ever scientific program at EADV 202624.9.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Pressemeddelelse
LEO Pharma will present 28 accepted abstracts at the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress, taking place from 30 September to 3 October in Vienna, Austria. The EADV 2026 program reflects the strength and breadth of LEO Pharma’s portfolio, showcasing what’s now and what’s next in medical dermatology with new evidence across nine disease areas, six routes of administration and nine modes of action; including biologic injectables, topical formulations, and covering data across established dermatology brands and new innovation. The program underscores LEO Pharma’s continued commitment to advancing medical dermatology through evidence that addresses both highly prevalent chronic skin diseases and complex or rare, hard-to-treat conditions with significant unmet needs.
LEO Pharma receives positive CHMP opinion recommending Anzupgo® (delgocitinib) cream for adolescents with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema in the EU18.9.2026 10:00:00 CEST | Pressemeddelelse
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended expanding the use of Anzupgo® (delgocitinib) cream to adolescents aged 12 to 17 years with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema for whom topical corticosteroids are inadequate or inappropriate. If approved by the European Commission, Anzupgo® would become the first therapy in the EU specifically approved for adolescents with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema, a patient population for whom there are currently no specifically approved treatment options. The positive CHMP opinion is supported by results from DELTA TEEN, a phase 3 trial investigating the efficacy and safety of Anzupgo® in adolescents with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema.1
LEO Pharma announces FDA acceptance of dersimelagon NDA with Priority Review and closes acquisition from Tanabe Pharma18.9.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Pressemeddelelse
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for dersimelagon for filing and granted it Priority Review, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date expected by the end of February 2027. LEO Pharma has successfully closed the acquisition of dersimelagon from Tanabe Pharma, strengthening its late-stage pipeline and further leveraging its global dermatology platform. Dersimelagon is an investigational, once-daily oral melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) agonist for the treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP), two rare genetic skin diseases with significant unmet medical need.
LEO Pharma delivers 10% revenue growth at CER and strengthens late-stage pipeline18.8.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Pressemeddelelse
Ballerup, Denmark, 18 August, 2026 – In H1 2026, LEO Pharma delivered strong revenue growth, driven by the dermatology portfolio, with an improved gross margin alongside significantly increased investments in commercial and innovation activities. In August, LEO Pharma agreed to acquire the global rights for dersimelagon, an investigational first-in-class oral therapy with potential launch in 2027. Together with the acquisition of Replay, announced in April 2026, the agreement further strengthens LEO Pharma’s pipeline in rare genetic skin diseases. Financial highlights LEO Pharma’s revenue increased by 7% to DKK 7,257 million, and by 10% at constant exchange rates (CER). The revenue growth was led by North America (38% at CER) and Rest of World (10% at CER), while sales in Europe (0% at CER) were broadly stable compared to H1 2025. Revenue from the Dermatology portfolio grew by 12% (CER), driven by the strategic brands Anzupgo®, Spevigo® and Adtralza®/Adbry®, which combined had a revenu
LEO Pharma further strengthens late-stage pipeline with the acquisition of dersimelagon18.8.2026 08:58:00 CEST | Pressemeddelelse
Acquisition adds dersimelagon to LEO Pharma’s rare dermatology pipeline, an investigational once-daily oral melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) agonist for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) that has completed Phase 3 development and for which a New Drug Application (NDA) has been submitted to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review in June 2026.1 Leverages LEO Pharma's six decades of dermatology expertise to advance innovation for patients with rare skin diseases through the addition of this oral late-stage asset, building on LEO Pharma’s recent acquisition of Replay and partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim for Spevigo® (spesolimab). EPP and XLP are rare, devastating lifelong genetic disorders that cause severe sunlight-induced skin pain, as well as rash, swelling, redness, burning sensations and, in some cases, liver damage.2,3 Under the terms of the agreement, LEO Pharma will acquire worldwide rights to dersimelagon from Tanabe Pharma for up
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
