Apogee Secures Blackstone Financing, Advances Zumilokibart to Phase 3 After 65.9% EASI-75
APGE•Apogee Therapeutics' mid-dose zumilokibart produced a 65.9% EASI-75 rate in Phase 2 APEX Part B, a 41.9-percentage-point improvement over placebo, meeting all primary and secondary endpoints with high statistical significance. A financing pact with Blackstone Life Sciences will fund Phase 3 development in atopic dermatitis, asthma and EoE through commercialization.
1. Phase 2 APEX Part B Efficacy and Safety
In the randomized, placebo-controlled APEX Part B trial, 346 adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis received high, mid or low doses of zumilokibart or placebo. Mid-dose achieved 65.9% EASI-75 at Week 16 versus 23.4% for placebo (p<0.001) and met all secondary endpoints including 47.4% EASI-90 and 20.6% very low disease activity, with a safety profile consistent with class and a mid-dose pooled conjunctivitis rate of 10.6%.
2. Blackstone Financing and Phase 3 Advancement
A financing pact with Blackstone Life Sciences secures funding through commercialization across atopic dermatitis, asthma and eosinophilic esophagitis. Apogee will advance the mid-dose into pivotal Phase 3 trials in the second half of 2026 following regulatory engagement.
3. Extended Dosing and Pipeline Expansion
The four-dose induction regimen represents a significant reduction in treatment burden compared to nine dosing days for standard biologics, and prior maintenance data support dosing intervals of every three to six months. Plans are in place to initiate Phase 2 studies of zumilokibart in eosinophilic esophagitis in H2 2026 and in asthma in H1 2027.
