A company called Kyowa Kirin has decided to stop all trials of a new eczema drug called rocatinlimab. This drug was once thought to be a big success, but recent safety reviews have shown that the risks might be too high compared to the benefits. In a statement, the company said that a review done with their former partner Amgen found some worrying signs of cancer linked to the drug. These included one confirmed and one suspected case of Kaposi’s sarcoma, a type of cancer that affects the skin. While the number of cases is low, the way the cancer appeared is concerning and might be related to how the drug works. All studies will stop after the participants finish their safety check-ups. Rocatinlimab is part of a group of drugs called anti-OX40 antibodies, which some companies hoped could treat eczema and other immune diseases. Another company, Sanofi, also has a similar drug called amlitelimab. Both drugs have shown some promise but also have side effects that could cause problems in the future. Last year, rocatinlimab was shown to be better than a placebo in reducing skin lesions, but it wasn’t better than the top treatment on the market, Dupixent. Amgen gave up its rights to the drug earlier this year, but Kyowa Kirin said they were still confident and planned to submit it to drug regulators. However, after the safety review, those plans changed. Abdul Mullick, the president of Kyowa Kirin, said that even though this outcome is disappointing, the research has still contributed to the understanding of the OX40 pathway. Sanofi’s drug, amlitelimab, also had mixed results in its trials and one case of Kaposi’s sarcoma. Sanofi still plans to seek approval for the drug, but some experts think it might only be useful for a small group of patients. Two other studies of rocatinlimab are still ongoing, testing it for conditions like prurigo nodularis, moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, and moderate-to-severe asthma.