Biogen Announces Second Positive Phase 2 Litifilimab Trial in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus at 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, Showing a Significant Reduction in Skin Disease Activity
- In the Phase 2 part of the AMETHYST study, litifilimab met the primary endpoint of reduction of disease activity in people living with CLE at Week 16, with more litifilimab participants achieving clear / almost clear skin
- Following positive Phase 2 LILAC results, litifilimab is the only investigational program with consistent, positive efficacy results in multiple CLE studies; if approved litifilimab could be the first targeted therapy for this disease
- CLE is a serious autoimmune disease that impacts the daily lives of patients and can lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) announced positive results from the Phase 2 part of the AMETHYST Phase 2/3 study (Part A) of litifilimab in people living with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Litifilimab is the first humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA2), which has the potential to become the first innovative therapy approved for CLE in 70 years. Part A of AMETHYST evaluated the efficacy and safety of litifilimab through week 24, with reductions in skin disease activity reported across several measures. Results are consistent with the earlier positive Phase 2 LILAC study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. Phase 2 results from LILAC and AMETHYST supported litifilimab’s recently granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Breakthrough Therapy Designation. Results are being presented today at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.
“We now have consistent results from two Phase 2 studies of litifilimab showing notable reductions in CLE skin disease activity, representing a significant moment for this program. I am encouraged by these results, which support the potential to bring litifilimab to patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus, a condition where no targeted therapies are currently approved and where there are significant unmet needs,” said Joseph F. Merola, M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology and Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Rheumatic Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center. “These findings, alongside the FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation, underscore the potential, if approved, of litifilimab for patients living with this challenging disease. In addition to the efficacy results, litifilimab demonstrated a safety profile consistent with prior studies. Importantly, this trial intentionally enrolled a globally representative population reflective of the heterogeneity of CLE, including many participants with moderate to severe disease at baseline.”
CLE is a complex, heterogenous disease that affects millions of people around the world. Today there are no targeted therapies approved to treat CLE.
AMETHYST is an ongoing seamless two-part, multicenter, double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of litifilimab compared to placebo in participants with a variety of CLE severities. Participants are randomized to receive subcutaneous treatment with litifilimab with standard of care (SoC) or placebo every four weeks in addition to SoC. All participants will receive litifilimab during the 28-week extended treatment period from Weeks 24 to 48. Results reported here are from the double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 (Part A) portion of AMETHYST, Week 0 to 24. In the study, 74% of participants are women and 33% are non-white. This demographic distribution is consistent with the epidemiology of CLE which disproportionately affects women and diverse ethno-racial groups. The Phase 3 part of the study is ongoing and results remain blinded.
AMETHYST Part A met its primary endpoint with litifilimab demonstrating a statistically significant 11.8% higher reduction in disease activity in people living with CLE (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39, 22.27; p < 0.05) as measured by the Cutaneous Lupus Activity Investigators’ Global Assessment Revised (CLA-IGA-R) erythema score of 0-1 (clear/almost clear) at Week 16, compared to placebo (14.7% vs. 2.9%). Secondary endpoints, including the following, were not adjusted for multiplicity in Part A and therefore statistical significance cannot be demonstrated. Litifilimab was associated with rapid and continued improvement in skin disease activity with separation from placebo observed as early as Week 4 (19.3% vs. 5.5%; Δ= 13.8; CI: 1.19, 26.46), as measured by Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index Activity-50 (CLASI-50) response through Week 24 (40.8% vs. 21%; Δ= 19.8; CI: 1.46, 38.15). More participants receiving litifilimab achieved a response compared to placebo (21.7% vs 5.8%), as measured by CLASI-70 at Week 24. CLASI-50 and CLASI-70 responses are defined as 50 percent and 70 percent improvements from baseline in CLASI-A score, respectively. Additionally, 1 in 6 participants receiving litifilimab achieved a CLASI 0-3 score, defined as no or minimal disease activity, compared to placebo at Week 24 (16.3% vs 0%; Δ= 16.3; CI: 7.07, 25.62).
Litifilimab was generally well tolerated in Part A of the AMETHYST study and tolerability was consistent with the safety profile established in completed studies, including the Phase 2 LILAC study. Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 74.6% (44/59) and 64.7% (22/34) of participants receiving litifilimab and placebo, respectively, in the 24-week period. Most AEs were mild to moderate in severity. Serious adverse events occurred in 6.8% (4/59) and 2.9% (1/34) of participants receiving litifilimab and placebo, respectively.
“Cutaneous lupus erythematosus not only leaves scars but can also have a profound emotional and social impact on those living with the disease. With no approved targeted disease-modifying treatments, options for people living with CLE are very limited,” said Daniel Quirk, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Biogen. “We are excited to see results from two studies in which litifilimab was generally well tolerated and was associated with improvement in skin disease in a representative population, giving us encouraging momentum as we advance the Phase 3 program. The work Biogen has done in lupus and in CLE in particular demonstrates Biogen’s commitment to tackling diseases where options are limited or nonexistent.”
About AMETHYST
AMETHYST is a two-part, Phase 2/3 multicenter, double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of litifilimab compared to placebo. The study aims to assess the efficacy of litifilimab in participants with active subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) and/or chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) who are refractory or intolerant to antimalarial therapy. The Phase 2 and Phase 3 parts of the study will each be 52 weeks in duration. Participants will be randomized to receive subcutaneous treatment with litifilimab or placebo every four weeks for 20 weeks with an additional dose at Week 2. All participants will receive litifilimab during the 28-week extended treatment period from Weeks 24 to 48. More information on the AMETHYST study (NCT05531565) is available at clinicaltrials.gov.
About Litifilimab (BIIB059)
Litifilimab (known as BIIB059), discovered and developed in-house by Biogen scientists, is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting BDCA2 and is being investigated for the potential treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). BDCA2 is a receptor that is predominantly expressed on a subset of human immune cells called Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (pDCs). Binding of litifilimab to BDCA2 has been shown to reduce production of pro-inflammatory molecules by pDCs, including type-I interferon (IFN-I) as well as other cytokines and chemokines.1,2 These pro-inflammatory mediators are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of systemic and cutaneous lupus.
Litifilimab is an investigational therapeutic candidate that has not yet been approved by any regulatory authority and its safety and effectiveness have not been established.
About Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE)
CLE, a type of lupus, is a serious chronic autoimmune skin disease that can occur with or without systemic manifestations; people with CLE frequently experience symptoms including rash, pain, itch and photosensitivity as well as skin damage that may worsen over time and can include irreversible scarring, alopecia and dyspigmentation that can be disfiguring and substantially impact quality of life.3-6 Currently, there are no approved targeted therapies for CLE and the last drug was approved in the 1950s.
About Biogen
Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines to transform patients’ lives and to create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply deep understanding of human biology and leverage different modalities to advance first-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior outcomes. Our approach is to take bold risks, balanced with return on investment to deliver long-term growth.
We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.biogen.com. Follow us on social media – Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube.
Biogen Safe Harbor
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including: the potential clinical effects of litifilimab; the potential of litifilimab to improve the health, wellbeing and outcomes for patients with CLE; the potential benefits, safety and efficacy of litifilimab; potential regulatory discussions, submissions and approvals and the timing thereof; potential therapeutic options for the treatment of CLE; the potential of Biogen’s commercial business and pipeline programs, including litifilimab; and risks and uncertainties associated with drug development and commercialization. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “prospect,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or the negative of these words or other words and terms of similar meaning. Drug development and commercialization involve a high degree of risk, and only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Results in early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of full results or results from later stage or larger scale clinical trials and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Given their forward-looking nature, these statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may be based on inaccurate assumptions and could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements.
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References:
- Furie R, Werth VP, Merola JF, et al. Monoclonal antibody targeting BDCA2 ameliorates skin lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus. J Clin Invest. 2019;129(3):1359-1371. doi:10.1172/JCI124466
- Pellerin A, Otero K, Czerkowicz JM, et al. Anti-BDCA2 monoclonal antibody inhibits plasmacytoid dendritic cell activation through Fc-dependent and Fc-independent mechanisms. EMBO Mol Med. 2015;7(4):464-476. doi:10.15252/emmm.201404719
- Drenkard C, Barbour KE, Greenlund KJ, Lim SS. The Burden of Living With Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Aug 8;9:897987. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.897987. PMID: 36017007; PMCID: PMC9395260.
- Ogunsanya ME, Brown CM, Lin D, et al (2018). Understanding the disease burden and unmet needs among patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus: A qualitative study. Int J Womens Dermatol. 4(3):152-158.
- Ogunsanya ME, Cho SK, Hudson A, Chong, BF (2019). Validation and reliability of a disease-specific quality of life measure in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Br J Dermatol. 180(6):1430-1437.
- Drenkard C, Parker S, Aspey LD, Gordon C, Helmick CG, Bao G, Lim SS. Racial Disparities in the Incidence of Primary Chronic Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in the Southeastern US: The Georgia Lupus Registry. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2019 Jan;71(1):95-103. doi: 10.1002/acr.23578. PMID: 29669194; PMCID: PMC6193862.
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