Mount Sinai Dermatologist Reports Phase 3 Success for Rocatinlimab in Moderate-to-Severe Eczema
Two global trials show durable improvements in skin clearance, itch, and quality of life by targeting OX40 immune receptor
An international team of investigators led by Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, Waldman Professor and System Chair of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has reported results from the first phase 3 clinical trials of rocatinlimab, a novel treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema). The landmark findings from the ROCKET-IGNITE and ROCKET-HORIZON studies were published today in The Lancet.
Eczema affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is notoriously difficult to treat due to its complex and chronic inflammatory pathways. Current biologics focus on blocking “allergy” cytokines but fail to address the memory T cells that sustain disease activity. Rocatinlimab is the first antibody to selectively block the OX40 receptor on effector and memory T cells, rebalancing the immune system and altering the long-term course of disease.
Across the two global, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized phase 3 clinical trials, nearly 1,500 patients were followed for 24 weeks, and rocatinlimab showed robust and lasting benefits. Patients receiving the treatment were three times more likely to achieve significant improvement in eczema severity, as measured by EASI and vIGA-AD scores, compared to those on placebo. Improvements continued beyond week 24, suggesting that the benefits strengthen over time. The therapy also led to meaningful reductions in itch, pain, and sleep disturbances, enhancing overall quality of life. Importantly, rocatinlimab was well tolerated, with adverse events comparable to placebo, and demonstrated high selectivity by reducing only the OX40R+ CD4+ T cells responsible for eczema’s persistence, without off-target effects.
“These findings represent a major advance for patients living with eczema, who often face years of uncontrolled symptoms and few effective options,” said physician scientist, Dr. Guttman-Yassky, lead author of the study. “By targeting memory T cells through OX40, rocatinlimab not only clears the skin and relieves itch, but continues to improve patients’ lives over time with a strong safety profile. This is the first phase 3 proof that rebalancing these immune cells can transform how we treat atopic dermatitis.”
The results establish OX40 as a validated treatment target in eczema and position rocatinlimab as a potential first-in-class therapy. Patients from the phase 3 trials are now being followed in the ROCKET-ASCEND extension study, which will track outcomes for up to two years. Additional research will explore its role in pediatric patients, in combination with other therapies, and in direct comparisons to existing systemic treatments.
The studies were conducted with international partners and funded by Amgen Inc. and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.
About the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is internationally renowned for its outstanding research, educational, and clinical care programs. It is the sole academic partner for the seven member hospitals* of the Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest academic health systems in the United States, providing care to New York City’s large and diverse patient population.
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai offers highly competitive MD, PhD, MD-PhD, and master’s degree programs, with enrollment of more than 1,200 students. It has the largest graduate medical education program in the country, with more than 2,600 clinical residents and fellows training throughout the Health System. Its Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences offers 13 degree-granting programs, conducts innovative basic and translational research, and trains more than 560 postdoctoral research fellows.
Ranked 11th nationwide in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is among the 99th percentile in research dollars per investigator according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. More than 4,500 scientists, educators, and clinicians work within and across dozens of academic departments and multidisciplinary institutes with an emphasis on translational research and therapeutics. Through Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (MSIP), the Health System facilitates the real-world application and commercialization of medical breakthroughs made at Mount Sinai.
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* Mount Sinai Health System member hospitals: The Mount Sinai Hospital; Mount Sinai Brooklyn; Mount Sinai Morningside; Mount Sinai Queens; Mount Sinai South Nassau; Mount Sinai West; and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.
About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.
Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 10 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweek’s® “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals” and by U.S. News & World Report's® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2025-2026.
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