Eli Lilly’s EBGLYSS improved skin clearance, itch, pain and patient satisfaction in moderate-to-severe hand and foot atopic dermatitis in the Phase 3b ADtouch study.
Written By: Saniya Katakdhond, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Eli Lilly reported positive Phase 3b ADtouch results showing that EBGLYSS (lebrikizumab-lbkz) significantly improved hand and foot skin clearance, itch and pain in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). The study also reported improvements in patient satisfaction and quality of life, along with reduced use of rescue medication compared with placebo.
ADtouch (NCT06921759) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 221 adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe hand and foot AD who had an inadequate response to topical therapies. Participants received EBGLYSS 250 mg every two weeks (Q2W) or placebo following an initial loading dose and were evaluated for 16 weeks.
The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving clear or almost clear hands and feet, defined as a Hand and Foot Investigator Global Assessment (HF-IGA) score of 0 or 1 with at least a two-point improvement from baseline.
At Week 16, 53% of EBGLYSS-treated patients achieved the primary endpoint compared with 27% receiving placebo. The difference was also observed at Week 4, with response rates of 17% and 6%, respectively.
Table 1. Skin Clearance
Endpoint | Timepoint | EBGLYSS | Placebo |
HF-IGA 0/1 with ≥2-point improvement | Week 16* | 53% | 27% |
HF-IGA 0/1 with ≥2-point improvement | Week 4* | 17% | 6% |
*Statistically significant under multiplicity control.
Rapid Improvements in Itch
Among patients with a baseline HF-Peak Pruritus NRS score of at least 4, 57% of patients receiving EBGLYSS achieved at least a four-point improvement at Week 16 compared with 19% receiving placebo. Improvements were also observed at Week 4 and Week 2.
Table 2. Itch Outcomes
Outcome | Timepoint | EBGLYSS | Placebo |
HF-Peak Pruritus NRS ≥4-point improvement | Week 16* | 57% | 19% |
Week 4* | 27% | 8% | |
Week 2 | 16% | 1% |
*Statistically significant under multiplicity control. Results were assessed among patients with HF-Peak Pruritus NRS ≥4 at baseline. Week 2 results are reported descriptively.
Pain Improvements Were Observed Early
Among patients with baseline HF-Peak Pain NRS scores of at least 4, 59% of EBGLYSS-treated patients achieved at least a four-point improvement at Week 16 compared with 19% receiving placebo. Early improvements were also observed, with response rates of 24% versus 3% at Week 2 and 8% versus 0% at Week 1.
Table 3. Pain Outcomes
Outcome | Timepoint | EBGLYSS | Placebo |
HF-Peak Pain NRS ≥4-point improvement | Week 16* | 59% | 19% |
Week 2 | 24% | 3% | |
Week 1 | 8% | 0% |
*Statistically significant under multiplicity control. Pain results were assessed among patients with HF-Peak Pain NRS ≥4 at baseline. Lilly did not provide a statistical-significance marker for the Week 1 or Week 2 pain results.
Patient Satisfaction and Quality of Life
Among patients dissatisfied with their hand dermatitis clearance at baseline, 77% of EBGLYSS-treated patients were satisfied or very satisfied with hand clearance at Week 16 compared with 40% receiving placebo, based on the Atopic Hand Dermatitis Clearance Satisfaction scale.
The mean improvement in the impact of hand disease on quality of life, measured using the Quality of Life in Hand Eczema Questionnaire, was 57% with EBGLYSS compared with 28% with placebo. Fewer EBGLYSS-treated patients required rescue medication through Week 16, at 6% versus 18% with placebo.
Safety Findings
The safety profile of EBGLYSS was consistent with its known profile, with no new safety signals observed. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 41.8% of EBGLYSS-treated patients and 39.6% of placebo-treated patients, with reported events described as mild or moderate. The most common adverse reactions occurring in at least 5% of EBGLYSS-treated patients were nasopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infection.
Adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 0.9% of patients receiving EBGLYSS compared with 2.7% receiving placebo.
Regulatory Status and Path Forward
Lilly has submitted the ADtouch data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and plans to submit the findings to selected global regulatory authorities for a potential label update covering localized AD with moderate-to-severe hand and foot involvement. The findings will also be presented as late-breaking data at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress in Vienna.
The ADtouch findings provide additional evidence for EBGLYSS in patients with moderate-to-severe hand and foot AD, with improvements in skin clearance, itch, pain and patient-reported outcomes observed over 16 weeks.
Reference
New Phase 3b data show Lilly’s EBGLYSS (lebrikizumab-lbkz) delivered significant and rapid improvements in skin clearance, itch, pain, and patient satisfaction in people with moderate-to-severe hand and foot atopic dermatitis, Eli Lilly, 30 September 2026
A Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Lebrikizumab in Participants with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Hand and Foot Dermatitis (ADtouch), ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06921759
About the Writer
Saniya Sanjay Katakdhond (Linkedin) is a Doctor of Pharmacy professional with hands-on experience in patient case review, clinical documentation, medical record analysis, and patient care.
Her hospital experience has strengthened her understanding of clinical conditions, treatment approaches, and multidisciplinary healthcare practices.
With ICH-GCP certification and a research-oriented approach, she brings clinical insight and attention to detail to healthcare content development.
As a healthcare writer, Saniya focuses on translating clinical knowledge and patient-care experience into clear, accurate, and evidence-informed medical content.