AnaptysisBio said it is discontinuing clinical development of its anti-interleukin-36R antibody imsidolimab after the treatment failed to demonstrate improvement over placebo in a phase 2 trial in patients with moderate-to-severe acne.

The primary endpoint in the 123-patient study was the mean change in facial inflammatory lesion count at week 12. The secondary endpoint was improvement in the facial investigator global assessment (IGA) score, in which investigators report how much the medicine has cleared up acne on a five-point scale.

The company said it would continue enrollment in a phase 3 trial of imsidolimab in patients with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic skin condition featuring lumps in places, such as the armpits or groin. Data from a phase 2 trial of the drug in that indication is anticipated in the second half of 2022.