Chih-ho Hong, MD, FRCPC, is a board certified dermatologist from Vancouver, BC, who runs a community based dermatology clinic with a focus on clinical investigations.

Chi-ho Hong, MD, FRCPC

 suggest temtokibart, an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to target the interleukin (IL)-22RA1 receptor subunit, was linked with significant improvements in different measures of disease severity and activity for atopic dermatitis biomarkers.

These data were announced by LEO Pharma and presented at the 

European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2025 Congress

 team sat down with Chih-ho Hong, MD, FRCPC, a trial investigator on this phase 2b randomized, double-blind trial (NCT05923099), to discuss the findings on temtokibart.

Discussing Phase 2b Findings on Temtokibart for Atopic Dermatitis, With Chih-ho Hong, MD, FRCPC

“Temtokibart is a new molecule that's being looked at for treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis,” Hong explained. “It's a monoclonal antibody that specifically blocks the IL-22 receptor alpha subunit. It blocks IL-22 signaling, but it also blocks some other cytokines that use this receptor as well. So there's going to be some downstream modulation of a number of cytokines because of the blockade of temtokibart. In this phase 2 dose-ranging study, there were four different doses that were looked at compared to placebo.”

The primary endpoint Hong and coauthors had evaluated was patients’ percent change in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score from baseline to Week 16. A key secondary endpoint was the number of treatment-emergent adverse events at the same timepoint.

“We found that temtokibart was able to reduce the EASI score in different doses compared to placebo,” Hong said. “So that was very helpful in validating that this is a pathway that's relevant in atopic dermatitis. By blocking this pathway, we can achieve a clinical and therapeutic effect in patients with atopic dermatitis, suggesting that a larger phase three program should be done to fully elucidate the efficacy and safety of this molecule.”

Hong also highlighted the significance of the findings for atopic dermatitis, noting the current prevalence of biologics blocking IL-13 signaling.

“We know that IL-22 is highly expressed by keratinocytes in the epidermal layer, and so potentially targeting something in the epidermis that's keratinocyte-related is another mechanism of action that we can utilize for our patients,” Hong said. “One of the challenges right now is that not all patients respond to the level that we would like with the currently available biologics, and some patients will develop adverse events. One of the notable findings from the phase two temtokibart study is that conjunctivitis and ocular side effects were not really identified in patients treated with temtokibart, which makes it quite different than the currently available biologics.”

For any additional information on late-breaking findings presented at EADV, view the latest coverage of the conference.

Hong has reported serving as an investigator, speaker, consultant, and advisory board member for Abbvie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Dermavant, Dermira, Eli Lilly, Galderma, GSK, Incyte, Leo Pharma, Medimmune, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Regeneron, Sanofi Genzyme, and Valeant.

Leo Pharma. LEO Pharma presents two late-breaking abstracts for temtokibart reporting positive Phase 2b efficacy, safety and biomarker results in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis at the 2025 EADV Annual Meeting in Paris. Leo-pharma.com. Published September 17, 2025. Accessed September 20, 2025. 

https://www.leo-pharma.com/media-center/news/2025-temtokibart-late-breaker-press-release

Campbell P. Temtokibart Shows Benefit, Effect on Biomarkers in Phase 2b Atopic Dermatitis Trial. HCPLive. September 18, 2025. Accessed September 20, 2025. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/temtokibart-shows-benefit-effect-on-biomarkers-in-phase-2b-atopic-dermatitis-trial

Videos

In this interview at EADV, Hong speaks about his team’s findings on IL-22RA1 antagonism with temtokibart and its impact on atopic dermatitis.

Chi-ho Hong, MD, FRCPC

Articles