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BACKGROUND: For children aged 6-11 years with uncontrolled severe atopic dermatitis (AD), 16 weeks of treatment with dupilumab resulted in substantial clinical benefit compared with placebo with an acceptable safety profile. However, longer-term safety and efficacy data are important to inform longitudinal AD management. OBJECTIVES: This analysis of data from an open-label extension study (LIBERTY AD PED-OLE, NCT02612454) reports the long-term safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of dupilumab in children with severe AD who had participated in the pivotal dupilumab LIBERTY AD PEDS study (NCT03345914). METHODS: Enrolled patients initially received subcutaneous dupilumab 300 mg every 4 weeks (q4w). The q4w regimen could be uptitrated to dupilumab dose regimens of 200 or 300 mg every 2 weeks (q2w; for body weight

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by increased itch, skin pain, poor sleep quality, and other symptoms that negatively affect patient quality of life. Upadacitinib, an oral selective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor with greater inhibitory potency for JAK1 than JAK2, JAK3, or tyrosine kinase 2, is approved to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of upadacitinib on patient-reported outcomes over 52 weeks in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Methods: Data from two phase III monotherapy trials of upadacitinib (Measure Up 1, NCT03569293; Measure Up 2, NCT03607422) were integrated. Changes in pruritus, pain, other skin symptoms, sleep, quality of life, mental health, and patient impression were evaluated. Patient-reported outcome assessments included the Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale, Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure, Dermatology Life Quality Index, Atopic Dermatitis Symptom Scale, Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis index, Patient Global Impression of Severity, Patient Global Impression of Change, and Patient Global Impression of Treatment. Minimal clinically important differences, achievement of scores representing minimal disease burden, and the change from baseline were evaluated in patients who received upadacitinib through week 52 and in patients who received placebo through week 16. Results: This analysis included 1609 patients (upadacitinib 15 mg, N = 557; upadacitinib 30 mg, N = 567; placebo, N = 485). Baseline demographics and disease characteristics were generally similar across all arms. The proportion of patients treated with upadacitinib reporting improvements in itch increased rapidly by week 1, increased steadily through week 8, and was sustained through week 52. Patients receiving upadacitinib also experienced improvements in pain and other skin symptoms by week 1, which continued through week 16; improvements were maintained through week 52. Patient reports of improved sleep increased rapidly from baseline to week 1, increased steadily through week 32, and were sustained through week 52. Patients experienced quality-of-life improvements through week 8, which were maintained through week 52. By week 1, patients in both upadacitinib groups experienced rapid improvements in emotional state, and by week 12, patients also achieved meaningful improvements in anxiety and depression. Improvements in mental health continued steadily through week 32 and were maintained through week 52. Patients treated with upadacitinib 30 mg generally experienced improvements in patient-reported outcomes earlier than those treated with upadacitinib 15 mg. Through week 16, patients receiving upadacitinib experienced greater improvements versus those receiving placebo in all assessed patient-reported outcomes. Conclusions: Adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis treated with once-daily upadacitinib 15 or 30 mg experienced early improvements in itch, pain, other skin symptoms, sleep, quality of life, and mental health that were sustained through week 52. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers NCT03569293 (13 August 2018) and NCT03607422 (27 July 2018). Plain Language Summary: Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a condition that causes painful itchy dry skin, which is burdensome for patients and has a negative impact on quality of life. These symptoms frequently lead to disruption of daily activities such as school and work, decreased self-confidence, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis, such as itch and sleep disturbance, can only be assessed by patients. Therefore, it is important to consider patients' perceptions of their symptoms and the related impact on their quality of life, especially when evaluating treatment benefits. Upadacitinib is an orally administered drug approved to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. In two clinical trials (Measure Up 1 and Measure Up 2), we investigated how treatment with upadacitinib (15-mg or 30-mg dose) given once daily to adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis would impact their symptoms and quality of life over a 1-year period. We measured changes over time in patients' assessments of itch, pain, other skin-related symptoms, sleep, daily activities, emotional state, mental health, and overall quality of life. Patients treated with upadacitinib experienced improvements in symptoms of atopic dermatitis and quality of life within the first 1–2 weeks of treatment. These improvements continued to steadily increase in the following weeks and lasted through 1 year of treatment. In conclusion, once-daily treatment with upadacitinib 15 or 30 mg led to early and lasting improvements in the well-being of patients with atopic dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic eczematous lesions. The effect of treatment withdrawal after response to upadacitinib oral treatment is not fully characterized. Objectives: Assess the effect of upadacitinib withdrawal on skin clearance and itch improvement in adult patients with moderate‐to‐severe AD and evaluate the kinetics of recovery on rescue treatment. Methods: Data from a phase 2b randomized, placebo‐controlled trial (NCT02925117) of upadacitinib in patients with moderate‐to‐severe AD were analysed. Patients were randomized 1:1:1:1 to receive upadacitinib 7.5 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg or placebo, and then at Week 16, patients were re‐randomized 1:1 to receive the same dose of upadacitinib (upadacitinib 30 mg for patients initialized to placebo) or placebo. From Week 20, those who experienced loss of response defined as Eczema Area and Severity Index <50% improvement from baseline (EASI 50) received rescue treatment with upadacitinib 30 mg. Results: Patients who withdrew from upadacitinib experienced a rapid loss of skin clearance response, while those who switched from placebo to upadacitinib gained response. Loss of skin clearance response occurred within 4 weeks and worsening of itch occurred within 5 days. In patients who originally received placebo or a lower dose of upadacitinib leading to a loss of EASI response, rescue treatment with upadacitinib 30 mg resulted in rapid recovery or improvement of both skin and itch responses; most patients who were re‐randomized to placebo achieved EASI 75 and IGA 0/1 by 8 weeks of rescue treatment. No new safety risks were observed. Conclusions: Continuous treatment with upadacitinib is suggested to maintain skin clearance and antipruritic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lebrikizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to interleukin (IL)-13, thereby blocking the downstream effects of IL-13 with high potency. Objectives: To report integrated safety of lebrikizumab in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis from phase 2 and 3 studies. Methods: Five double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled studies; one randomized open-label study; one adolescent open-label, single-arm study; and one long-term safety study were summarized in two datasets: (1) placebo-controlled week 0–16 (All-PC Week 0–16) in patients who received lebrikizumab 250 mg every 2 weeks (LEBQ2W) versus placebo and (2) patients who received any dose of lebrikizumab at any time during the studies (All-LEB). Exposure-adjusted incidence rates (IR)/100 patient-years (PY) are provided. Results: A total of 1720 patients received lebrikizumab (1637.0 PY exposure). In All-PC Week 0–16, the frequency of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was similar between treatment groups; most events were nonserious and mild or moderate in severity. The most frequently reported TEAEs were atopic dermatitis (placebo) and conjunctivitis (LEBQ2W). Frequencies of conjunctivitis cluster were 2.5% (placebo) and 8.5% (LEBQ2W), and all events were mild or moderate (All-LEB 10.6%, IR, 12.2). Frequencies of injection site reactions were 1.5% (placebo) and 2.6% (LEBQ2W; All-LEB 3.1%, IR, 3.3). Frequencies of adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were 1.4% (placebo) and 2.3% (LEBQ2W; All-LEB 4.2%, IR, 4.5). Conclusion: The safety profile for lebrikizumab consisted of TEAEs that were mostly nonserious, mild or moderate in severity, and did not lead to treatment discontinuation. The safety profile was similar in both adults and adolescents. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02465606, NCT02340234, NCT03443024, NCT04146363, NCT04178967, NCT04250337, NCT04250350, NCT04392154 87Goioj2s3YFhSk64fjZWv Safety of lebrikizumab in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: an integrated analysis of eight clinical trials (MP4 34165 KB) Plain Language Summary: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic (persistent) skin disease that occurs in up to 7% of adults and approximately 20% of children. Lebrikizumab is a monoclonal antibody that goes against interleukin-13, which is overexpressed in patients with AD. Lebrikizumab is given by injection and is being studied to treat AD. It has been tested in several studies in both adults and adolescents (patients age ≥ 12 – < 18 years). In some of those studies, patients used lebrikizumab by itself, and in other studies patients used lebrikizumab in combination with low-to-moderate strength topical (rubbed on the skin) corticosteroid medicines. We examined the safety of lebrikizumab by combining the data from eight of those studies and analyzing the data in two datasets. The first dataset compared the safety of lebrikizumab 250 mg injected every 2 weeks with placebo (no drug in the injection) in four 16-week studies in which neither patient nor physician knew whether lebrikizumab or placebo was being injected. The second dataset included four additional studies and examined the safety of lebrikizumab in all patients receiving at least 1 injection of lebrikizumab at any dose. A total of 1720 patients took lebrikizumab. In the first dataset the frequency of adverse events was similar between lebrikizumab and placebo, and most events that did occur were mild or moderate in severity and were not serious. The most common adverse event in patients treated with placebo was atopic dermatitis, and in patients treated with lebrikizumab it was conjunctivitis. Frequencies of adverse events in the conjunctivitis cluster, which included a search for the terms of conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, and giant papillary conjunctivitis, were 2.5% in placebo and 8.5% in lebrikizumab, and all events were mild or moderate. Frequencies of injection site reactions were 1.5% in placebo and 2.6% in lebrikizumab, and frequencies of adverse events that led to patients stopping treatment were 1.4% in placebo and 2.3% in lebrikizumab. In the second dataset, the rate of these adverse events did not increase with longer duration of lebrikizumab. The safety profile for lebrikizumab consisted of adverse events that were mostly nonserious, mild or moderate in severity, and did not lead to stopping treatment. The safety profile was similar in both adults and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional systemic immunosuppressants and advanced therapies improve signs and symptoms of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). However, data are limited in severe and/or difficult-to-treat AD. In the phase 3 JADE COMPARE trial of patients with moderate-to-severe AD receiving background topical therapy, once-daily abrocitinib 200 mg and 100 mg showed significantly greater reductions in the symptoms of AD than placebo and significantly greater improvement in itch response (with abrocitinib 200 mg) than dupilumab at week 2. Objective: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of abrocitinib and dupilumab in a subset of patients with severe and/or difficult-to-treat AD in a post hoc analysis of the JADE COMPARE trial. Methods: Adults with moderate-to-severe AD received once-daily oral abrocitinib 200 mg or 100 mg, dupilumab 300 mg subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks, or placebo with concomitant medicated topical therapy. Severe and/or difficult-to-treat AD subgroups were classified by baseline characteristics [Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) 4, Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) > 21, failure or intolerance to prior systemic agents (excluding patients who took only corticosteroids), percentage of body surface area (%BSA) > 50, upper quartiles of EASI (EASI > 38) and %BSA (%BSA > 65), and combined subgroup of IGA 4, EASI > 21, and %BSA > 50, and failure or intolerance to prior systemic agents (excluding patients who took only corticosteroids)]. Assessments included IGA score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) and a ≥ 2-point improvement from baseline, ≥ 75% and ≥ 90% improvement from baseline in EASI (EASI-75 and EASI-90), ≥ 4-point improvement from baseline in Peak Pruritus-Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS4), time to PP-NRS4, least squares mean (LSM) change from baseline in 14-day PP-NRS (days 2–15), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) up to week 16. Results: The proportion of patients achieving IGA 0/1, EASI-75, and EASI-90 responses was significantly greater with abrocitinib 200 mg than placebo (nominal p < 0.05) across all subgroups with severe and/or difficult-to-treat AD. Across most subgroups, PP-NRS4 response was significantly greater with abrocitinib 200 mg than placebo (nominal p < 0.01); the time to achieve this response was shorter with abrocitinib 200 mg (range 4.5–6.0 days) than abrocitinib 100 mg (range 5.0–17.0 days), dupilumab (range 8.0–11.0 days), and placebo (range 3.0–11.5 days). LSM change from baseline in POEM and DLQI was significantly greater with abrocitinib 200 mg than placebo (nominal p < 0.001) across all subgroups. Clinically meaningful differences were observed between abrocitinib and dupilumab for most evaluated endpoints across several subgroups, including in patients who failed or were intolerant to prior systemic therapy. Conclusions: Abrocitinib provided rapid and substantially greater improvements in skin clearance and quality of life compared with placebo and dupilumab in subgroups of patients with severe and/or difficult-to-treat AD. These findings support the use of abrocitinib for severe and/or difficult-to-treat AD. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03720470. Plain Language Summary: Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as atopic eczema, is a skin disease that causes itchy and red skin patches. People can be diagnosed with severe and/or difficult-to-treat AD if their signs and symptoms of AD are extremely severe and their AD cannot be adequately treated by common medicines. Abrocitinib is a treatment that has been shown in clinical trials to improve the symptoms of AD. We analyzed data from the JADE COMPARE study, which included 837 people who were treated with abrocitinib, dupilumab (another treatment for AD), or placebo. Many of these people had severe symptoms when they entered the study. Some had AD signs and symptoms that did not improve after they took common medicines for AD. We studied how well abrocitinib worked in these people with severe and/or difficult-to-treat AD. We found that these people achieved clear skin and itch relief at week 16 after treatment with abrocitinib 200 mg compared with placebo (no drug control). Additionally, they achieved significant relief from itch faster with abrocitinib 200 mg compared with abrocitinib 100 mg, dupilumab, or placebo. People reported less severe AD and better quality of life after treatment with abrocitinib compared with placebo. Together, the findings of our study provide important evidence for healthcare providers as they determine a treatment plan for people with severe and/or difficult-to-treat AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Itch is the most burdensome symptom of atopic dermatitis (AD) that severely affects sleep and overall and quality of life.1,2 Rapid control of itch could be instrumental in minimizing disease symptoms and the associated burden for patients.3,4 Nemolizumab, an interleukin-31 (IL-31) alpha antagonist, inhibits the IL-31 pathway of itch and inflammation in AD.5 Objectives To evaluate speed of onset of itch relief and sleep improvements with nemolizumab in moderate-to-severe AD. Methods ARCADIA-1 and ARCADIA-2 were two identical, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies. Patients (≥12 years) with moderate-to-severe AD and inadequate response to topical corticosteroids (TCS) were randomized (2:1) to receive nemolizumab 30mg every 4 weeks (60mg baseline loading dose) or matching placebo, both with background TCS of low/medium potency with/without topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCI). Results Significant improvements in itch (least squares [LS] mean±standard error [SE] change from baseline [CFB] in Peak Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale [PP-NRS]) were noted in nemolizumab-treated vs placebo-treated patients by Day 1 in ARCADIA-1 (-0.9±0.08 vs -0.4±0.10) and ARCADIA-2 (-1.1±0.09 vs -0.4±0.12), reaching -2.4±0.08 vs -1.2±0.11 and -2.3 ±0.09 vs -0.9±0.12 respectively at Day 14 (p <0.001 for all). Significantly greater proportions of nemolizumab-treated vs placebo-treated patients achieved ≥4-point improvement in PP-NRS by Day 2 in ARCADIA-1 (9.4% vs 3.4%, p<0.01) and Day 1 in ARCADIA-2 (8.2% vs 1.9%, p<0.001) and through Day 14 (ARCADIA-1: 22.7% vs 10.6%, p<0.0001; ARCADIA-2: 23.4% vs 6.8%, p <0.0001). Conclusions Treatment with nemolizumab plus TCS/TCI resulted in rapid, statistically and clinically significant improvements in itch in moderate-to-severe AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Background Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have an increased risk of cutaneous, extracutaneous, and systemic infections with a considerable associated cost burden. Certain treatments used to manage AD, such as immunosuppressants and Janus kinase inhibitors, can increase the risk of infection. Data from the LIBERTY AD open-label extension study (OLE; NCT01949311) indicate that continuous dupilumab treatment for up to 4 years in adults with moderate-to-severe AD is not associated with an increased risk of overall systemic or cutaneous infections.1 Objectives To report exposure-adjusted incidence rates (EAIR) of infections in adults with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab for up to 5 years. Methods The OLE was a phase 3, multicenter, open-label extension trial that enrolled adults with moderate-to-severe AD who had participated in any dupilumab parent study (phase 1–3). During the OLE, patients were treated with 300mg dupilumab weekly (qw). 226 patients transitioned to 300mg every 2 weeks starting from Week 108 to align with approved dosage. Concomitant topical treatments for AD were permitted. The EAIR (patients with ≥1 event/100 patient-years [nP/100PY]) was calculated for treatment-emergent infections (Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities [MedDRA] System Organ Class [SOC] infections and infestations) and skin infections for the overall study population (N=2,677). Skin infections were defined as adjudicated non-herpetic skin infections from the SOC infections and infestations plus, conservatively, all MedDRA Preferred Terms (PT) in MedDRA High Level Term herpes viral infections. Because the OLE lacked a control arm, infection data from adults with moderate-to-severe AD receiving placebo qw + topical corticosteroids (TCS) in the 1-year LIBERTY AD CHRONOS trial (NCT02260986; n=315) are included for comparison. Data are presented as observed. Results From the 2,677 patients enrolled, 2,207/557/334 completed treatment up to Week 52/148/260. The most common reasons for study withdrawal during the OLE were dupilumab approval and commercialization (810/1,380 patients; 58.7% of withdrawals) and patient withdrawal (248/1,380 [18.0%]). Treatment-emergent adverse events led to permanent discontinuation in 101 (3.8%) patients. The EAIR of patients with ≥1 treatment-emergent infection was lower in this OLE vs the placebo qw + TCS arm of the 1-year CHRONOS trial (70.7 vs 107.0 nP/100PY). Over this 5-year OLE, 50 patients (0.9 nP/100PY) had ≥1 serious infection, 53 (0.9 nP/100PY) had ≥1 severe infection, and 20 (0.3 nP/100PY) experienced ≥1 infection resulting in permanent treatment discontinuation. Skin infections were reported in 535 patients (11.0 nP/100PY), comprising non-herpetic skin infections (249 patients; 4.6 nP/100 PY) and herpes viral infections (343 patients; 6.6 nP/100 PY). The EAIR of skin infections decreased throughout the OLE (1 year: 17.2 nP/100 PY; 3 years: 11.9 nP/100 PY; 5 years: 11.0 nP/100 PY) and was lower than the CHRONOS placebo qw + TCS arm (29.5 nP/100 PY). The most common PTs (≥5.0 nP/100PY) from the SOC infections and infestations were nasopharyngitis (774 patients; 17.6 nP/100PY), upper respiratory tract infection (365 patients; 7.0 nP/100PY), and conjunctivitis (277 patients; 5.2 nP/100PY; representing conjunctivitis of unspecified or undetermined etiology, including non-infectious cases). Conjunctivitis was the most common infection PT leading to treatment discontinuation (10 patients; 0.2 nP/100PY). The EAIR of serious infections remained stable during the OLE (1 year: 0.8 nP/100PY; 3 years: 0.9 nP/100PY; 5 years: 0.9 nP/100PY). Conclusions Long-term dupilumab treatment in adults with moderate-to-severe AD does not increase risk of systemic or cutaneous infections. Rates of treatment-emergent infections, including skin infections, in the OLE for up to 5 years were low, compared with patients receiving placebo + TCS in a 1-year study. Serious infection rates remained low and stable over the 5-year OLE. This report reinforces the known long-term safety profile of dupilumab from an infection perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Background Pruritus is one of the essential features of atopic dermatitis (AD) and is consistently reported by patients as the most burdensome symptom of the disease. Itch not only impacts quality of life but also contributes to furthering AD pathogenesis through the itch-scratch cycle and additional breakdown of the epidermal barrier. A treat-to-target concept established goals to guide treatment with systemic therapies in AD, including those for itch.1-3 Objectives To assess onset and maintenance of optimal itch response according to the treat-to-target concept in adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab + concomitant topical corticosteroids (TCS). Methods LIBERTY AD CHRONOS (NCT02260986), a 52-week trial, enrolled patients aged ≥18 years with moderate-to-severe AD. Patients treated with dupilumab every 2 weeks + TCS or placebo + TCS were included in this post hoc analysis. Optimal itch response per the treat-to-target concept was defined as Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS) score of ≤4, achieved after 6 months of treatment1. We assessed time to optimal itch response, percentage of patients achieving optimal itch response, and maintenance of optimal itch response. For maintenance of optimal itch response, the total number and percentage of weeks with PP-NRS ≤4 were calculated for each patient, and maximum duration was assessed as the longest period of consecutive weeks with PP-NRS ≤4 for each patient. Results Median (interquartile range) PP-NRS score at baseline was 7.7 (6.6–8.5) for patients treated with dupilumab + TCS and 7.6 (6.3–8.6) for patients who received placebo + TCS. Median time (95% CI) to achieve optimal itch response was 29 (22–43) days for patients treated with dupilumab+ TCS and 64 (43–105) days for patients who received placebo + TCS (HR [95% CI] = 1.668 [1.292–2.153]; P < 0.0001). 61.3% of patients treated with dupilumab + TCS achieved optimal itch response at 6 months, compared with 26.7% of those who received placebo + TCS (P < 0.0001). Significantly more patients treated with dupilumab + TCS maintained optimal itch response than patients who received placebo + TCS through 52 weeks. In the dupilumab group, median (Q1–Q3) maintenance of optimal itch response was 40 (11–50) weeks, compared with 3 (0–23) weeks in the placebo group (P < 0.0001), which corresponds to 77.1% of the total study duration (52 weeks) in the dupilumab group, compared with 5.7% in the placebo group. Maximum consecutive duration with optimal itch response was also significantly longer in dupilumab-treated patients than in patients who received placebo (median [Q1–Q3]: 29.2 [4–50] weeks for dupilumab vs 2.0 [0–13] weeks for placebo; P < 0.0001). Conclusions Patients treated with dupilumab + TCS achieved optimal itch response rapidly and significantly faster than patients who received placebo + TCS; 29 days in dupilumab-treated patients compared with 64 days in those who received placebo. Significantly more patients treated with dupilumab + TCS achieved and maintained optimal itch response than patients who received placebo + TCS through 52 weeks. Dupilumab + TCS also led to a significantly longer maintenance of optimal itch response (40 weeks) compared with placebo + TCS (3 weeks). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moderate to severe AD can be successfully managed by systemic treatments. Current guidelines also recommend emollients or emollients 'plus' and eudermic cleansers for all AD patients to improve the skin barrier and provide anti‐irritant and anti‐pruritic effects. Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of skin care (in addition to systemic treatment) with an Emollient 'plus' balm designed to improve the skin barrier and skin microbiome plus a corresponding syndet compared to usual commercial emollients and cleansers. Methods: In a randomized controlled multicenter study, patients with moderate to severe AD (Severity scoring of atopic dermatitis [SCORAD] score ≥ 40) receiving systemic treatment (cyclosporin A, dupilumab or a Janus kinase inhibitor) were randomized 1:1 to apply twice daily for 10 weeks Emollient 'plus' after pre‐cleaning with the syndet (Emollient 'plus' group) or to continue with their usual emollient and cleanser (Control group). Assessments included SCORAD, pruritus on a Visual Analog Scale, Dermatology quality of life questionnaire (DLQI), efficacy and tolerance questionnaires. Results: Included were 57 patients with mean age of 38 years (range 19–70 years). The mean amount of emollient used after 10 weeks was 447.3 g (range 29–1099 g) and 613.2 g (range 97–2565 g) for the Emollient 'plus' versus the Control, respectively (p = 0.0277). After 10 weeks, subjects in the Emollient 'plus' had a significantly greater reduction in current pruritus (p = 0.0277) and a greater reduction in some DLQI items compared to the Control group. Conclusions: In patients with moderate to severe AD receiving systemic treatment, the Emollient 'plus' regimen significantly improved pruritus and quality of life items compared to the control, while using 23% less product over a 10‐week period. These results stress the importance of daily use of emollients, especially emollients 'plus' to improve signs, symptoms and quality of life in patients with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dupilumab was first approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) and blocks the signaling of interleukin (IL)-4 and -13. Several other chronic skin conditions share mechanistic overlaps with AD in their pathophysiology, i.e., are linked to type 2 inflammation. Most recently, dupilumab was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for prurigo nodularis (PN). Given its relatively good safety profile, effective off-label use of dupilumab has been reported for a multitude of dermatologic diseases and several clinical trials for dermatologic skin conditions are currently ongoing. We conducted a systematic review of applications of dupilumab in dermatology other than AD and PN by searching the databases PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library as well as the clinical trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov. We found several reports for effective treatment of bullous autoimmune diseases, eczema, prurigo, alopecia areata, chronic spontaneous urticaria, Netherton syndrome and a variety of other chronic inflammatory skin diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baricitinib, a selective Janus kinase (JAK)1/JAK2 inhibitor, is approved for treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults. We report integrated baricitinib safety data in patients with up to 3.9-years exposure. Three datasets from the integrated AD clinical trial program were analyzed: placebo-controlled, 2-mg–4-mg extended, and All-bari. Data cutoffs were up to 21-December-2021 for long-term extension studies. Proportions of patients with events and incidence rates (IR)/100 patient years (PY) at risk were calculated. 2636 patients received baricitinib for 4628.4 PY. Discontinuation due to adverse events was low (IR = 3.4). IRs in All-bari were: serious adverse events, 5.2; infection, 67.2 (any infection), 6.7 (herpes simplex), 2.8 (herpes zoster), and 0.3 (opportunistic infections). Adverse events of special interest in All-bari included seven patients with positively adjudicated major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (IR = 0.15), three pulmonary emboli (PE) (IR = 0.06), 14 malignancies excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer (IR = 0.3), one gastrointestinal perforation (IR = 0.02), and four deaths (IR = 0.1). No deep vein thromboses (DVT) or tuberculosis were reported. In this analysis, baricitinib maintained a similar safety profile to earlier analyses with no new safety signals. Rates of MACE, DVT/PE, malignancies, and serious infections were within ranges of background rates in patients with AD. NCT02576938 (JAHG), NCT03334396 (JAHL; BREEZE-AD1), NCT03334422 (JAHM; BREEZE-AD2), NCT03334435 (JAHN; BREEZE-AD3), NCT03428100 (JAIN; BREEZE-AD4), NCT03435081 (JAIW; BREEZE-AD5), NCT03559270 (JAIX; BREEZE-AD6), NCT03733301 (JAIY; BREEZE-AD7) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin 17C (IL-17C) modulates epithelial inflammation and has a possible role in atopic dermatitis (AD) pathology. Four randomized clinical studies (Phase 1 and 2) investigated the safety, tolerability, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic profile of the anti-IL-17C monoclonal antibody MOR106 for up to 12 weeks (NCT03568071: n = 207 adults with moderate–severe AD; NCT03689829 Part 1: n = 32 healthy males; NCT03689829 Part 2: n = 44 adults with moderate–severe AD; and NCT03864627: n = 76 adults with moderate–severe AD). In these studies, MOR106 was either administered intravenously (i.v.) every 2 or 4 weeks at doses between 1–10 mg/kg, or subcutaneously (s.c.), either as a single dose or doses every 2 weeks at 320 mg. Overall, MOR106 was well-tolerated, and the safety profile was consistent with monoclonal antibodies approved for AD. Bioavailability following s.c. dosing was 55%, and steady-state drug levels were reached at 2–4 weeks. Ongoing studies were terminated following a futility analysis of the Phase 2 placebo-controlled dose-finding study (NCT03568071) due to a low probability for achieving the primary efficacy endpoint. Cumulatively, MOR106 demonstrated ineffectiveness for the treatment of AD, but its safety and pharmacokinetic characteristics warrant further drug development in other indications. Funding: sponsored by Galapagos NV; funded by Novartis AG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease. Many patients are initiating a systemic therapy, if the disease is not adequately controlled with topical treatment only. Currently, there is little real-world evidence on the AD-related medical care situation in Germany. This study analyzed patient characteristics, treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with systemically treated AD for the German healthcare system. Methods: In this descriptive, retrospective cohort study, aggregated anonymized German health claims data from the InGef research database were used. Within a representative sample of four million insured individuals, patients with AD and systemic drug therapy initiation (SDTI) in the index year 2017 were identified and included into the study cohort. Systemic drug therapy included dupilumab, systemic corticosteroids (SCS) and systemic immunosuppressants (SIS). Patients were observed for one year starting from the date of SDTI in 2017. Results: 9975 patients were included (57.8% female, mean age 39.6 years [SD 25.5]). In the one-year observation period, the most common systemic drug therapy was SCS (> 99.0%). Administrations of dupilumab (0.3%) or dispensations of SIS were rare (cyclosporine: 0.5%, azathioprine: 0.6%, methotrexate: 0.1%). Median treatment duration of SCS, cyclosporine and azathioprine was 27 days, 102 days, and 109 days, respectively. 2.8% of the patients received phototherapy; 41.6% used topical corticosteroids and/or topical calcineurin inhibitor. Average annual costs for medications amounted to € 1237 per patient. Outpatient services were used by 99.6% with associated mean annual costs of € 943; 25.4% had at least one hospitalization (mean annual costs: € 5836). 5.3% of adult patients received sickness benefits with associated mean annual costs of € 5026. Conclusions: Despite unfavorable risk–benefit profile, this study demonstrated a common treatment with SCS, whereas other systemic drug therapy options were rarely used. Furthermore, the results suggest a substantial economic burden for patients with AD and SDTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Background Tralokinumab is a high-affinity, fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody that specifically targets interleukin-13, a key driver of atopic dermatitis (AD) disease progression. Clinical trials have shown that tralokinumab is efficacious in patients with moderate-to-severe AD and has a favorable safety profile, including a low frequency of adverse events such as conjunctivitis. Management of patients in routine clinical practice differs from those enrolled in clinical trials due to strict protocol criteria, and there is a lack of clinical data on tralokinumab use in the real-world setting. Objectives: TRACE is a real-world study in patients with AD, aiming to better understand the effectiveness, safety, and clinical use of tralokinumab in daily practice. Here, we describe baseline characteristics from the first patients enrolled into TRACE in Germany. Methods: TRACE is an observational, prospective, single-cohort study of adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD who are treated with tralokinumab, according to national approved labels. Eleven countries are participating in the study across Europe, North America and the Middle East. The primary objective is to assess changes in clinical signs and symptoms of AD in tralokinumab-treated patients. Secondary objectives are to investigate safety, quality of life, patient-reported outcomes and treatment adherence, among others. Results: Of the first 100 patients initiated on tralokinumab, the mean age (standard deviation [SD]) was 44.7 years (17.9) and 58% were male. Most patients had moderate-to-severe AD with a mean Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score of 3.5 (SD 0.7) and mean Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) of 22.5 (SD 12.9). Patients reported heavy symptomatic burden of disease; the mean eczema-related sleep numerical rating scale (NRS) was 5.6 (SD 2.9) and mean worst daily pruritus NRS was 6.2 (SD 2.7). Patients also reported a substantial impact on quality of life, demonstrated by a mean Dermatology Life Quality Index of 15.6 (SD 6.9). Overall, 79 patients were biologic-naïve and 19 were biologic-experienced (data missing; n=2). All biologic-experienced patients were previously treated with dupilumab, of whom most experienced one or more treatment failures. Reasons for switching from dupilumab included lack or loss of effectiveness, and adverse events, which most commonly included conjunctivitis. Conclusions: Initial findings showed that most adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD who were treated with tralokinumab were biologic-naïve, indicating tralokinumab is prescribed as firstline systemic treatment in real-world clinical practice, in line with European Dermatology Forum guidelines. The main reasons for switching from dupilumab were lack or loss of effectiveness, and adverse events, such as conjunctivitis, indicating the need for alternative biologic treatments such as tralokinumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most systemic agents used for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) may lead to adverse events requiring routine laboratory monitoring, increasing patient burden and possibly decreasing treatment adherence. To evaluate clinical laboratory findings in adults with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab up to 3 years. LIBERTY AD OLE (NCT01949311) was a phase 3, multicenter, open-label extension study in adults with moderate-to-severe AD receiving dupilumab 300 mg weekly. 2,677 patients were treated up to 3 years. No clinically meaningful changes in mean hematology/serum chemistry parameters from baseline were observed. Few laboratory abnormalities were reported as treatment-emergent adverse events. Serious events included one event each of thrombocytopenia, hematuria, and hemolytic anemia, all unrelated to treatment. Abnormalities leading to treatment withdrawal included thrombocytopenia (one patient), increased hepatic enzymes (two patients), and blood creatine phosphokinase increased (one patient). No patients had Grade 3 anemia or Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia; one patient had Grade 3 neutropenia (Week 100); two patients had Grade 3 eosinophilia (baseline visit); no eosinophil abnormalities were associated with clinically symptomatic events/permanent treatment discontinuation. Dupilumab treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe AD up to 3 years showed no clinically meaningful changes in mean laboratory parameters, supporting continuous long-term use without laboratory monitoring. NCT01949311 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In phase III trials in adolescents and children with atopic dermatitis (AD), dupilumab significantly decreased global disease severity. However, the effects of dupilumab on the extent and signs of AD across different anatomical regions were not reported. Here we characterize the efficacy of dupilumab in improving the extent and signs of AD across four different anatomical regions in children and adolescents. Methods: A post hoc subset analysis was performed using data from two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international multicenter, phase III trials of dupilumab therapy in adolescents aged ≥ 12 to < 18 years with moderate-to-severe AD and children aged ≥ 6 to < 12 years with severe AD. Endpoints included mean percentage change in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) signs (erythema, edema/papulation, excoriation, lichenification) and extent of AD (measured by percentage of body surface area [% BSA] involvement) from baseline to week 16 across four anatomical regions (head and neck, trunk, upper extremities, lower extremities). Results: Dupilumab improved both the extent and severity of AD signs across the four anatomical regions. Improvements were shown to be similar across the four anatomical regions for % BSA involvement and for reduction in EASI signs. Improvements in all signs were seen early, within the first 4 weeks of treatment, and were sustained through week 16, across all regions. Conclusions: In pediatric patients 6 years of age and older, treatment with dupilumab resulted in rapid and consistent improvement in the extent and signs of AD across all anatomical regions. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: LIBERTY AD ADOL (NCT03054428) and LIBERTY AD PEDS (NCT03345914). F7z4wqLwbkncM47ga-bUpB Does dupilumab provide improvement in atopic dermatitis across all anatomical regions in children and adolescents? (MP4 48,385 kb) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies of dupilumab in adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) showed no clinically meaningful adverse changes in laboratory parameters. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess laboratory outcomes in children aged 6–11 years with severe AD in a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trial of dupilumab. Methods: Children aged 6–11 years with severe AD were randomized 1:1:1 to 16 weeks of dupilumab 300 mg every 4 weeks, 100 or 200 mg every 2 weeks, or matching placebo, all with concomitant topical corticosteroids (TCS). Blood samples were collected at baseline and Weeks 4, 8, and 16; urine samples were collected at baseline and Weeks 4 and 16. Results: Of 367 patients enrolled in the study, 362 were included in the safety analysis, 351 completed study treatment, and 4 withdrew due to treatment-emergent adverse events not related to laboratory abnormalities. Both dupilumab + TCS groups showed overall trends toward increases in mean blood levels of eosinophils and alkaline phosphatase, and decreases in mean blood levels of platelets, neutrophils, and lactate dehydrogenase levels, without corresponding mean changes in the placebo + TCS group. None of these changes were associated with symptoms or clinically meaningful adverse outcomes, and none led to treatment modification. No clinically significant changes or trends were observed for other measured laboratory parameters. Conclusion: There were no clinically meaningful adverse changes in routine laboratory parameters attributable to treatment with dupilumab + TCS. Changes in platelet counts and lactate dehydrogenase levels likely reflect reduced inflammation. These results confirm similar findings in adults and adolescents, and suggest that there is no need for routine laboratory monitoring of children aged 6–11 years treated with dupilumab + TCS for severe AD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03345914. 4bTSAzFaRmrELnrwsHf1S6 Does treatment with dupilumab require routine laboratory monitoring in 6- to 11-year-old children with severe atopic dermatitis? (MP4 180482 kb) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with severe atopic dermatitis (AD) have limited treatment options.Objective: We report the efficacy and safety of dupilumab + topical corticosteroids (TCS) in children aged 6-11 years with severe AD inadequately controlled with topical therapies.Methods: In this double-blind, 16-week, phase 3 trial (NCT03345914), 367 patients were randomized 1:1:1 to 300 mg dupilumab every 4 weeks (300 mg q4w), a weight-based regimen of dupilumab every 2 weeks (100 mg q2w, baseline weight <30 kg; 200 mg q2w, baseline weight ≥30 kg), or placebo; with concomitant medium-potency TCS.Results: Both the q4w and q2w dupilumab + TCS regimens resulted in clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in signs, symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) versus placebo + TCS in all prespecified endpoints. For q4w, q2w, and placebo, 32.8%, 29.5%, and 11.4% of patients, respectively, achieved Investigator's Global Assessment scores of 0 or 1; 69.7%, 67.2%, and 26.8% achieved ≥75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index scores; and 50.8%, 58.3%, and 12.3% achieved ≥4-point reduction in worst itch score. Response to therapy was weight-dependent: optimal dupilumab doses for efficacy and safety were 300 mg q4w in children <30 kg and 200 mg q2w in children ≥30 kg. Conjunctivitis and injection-site reactions were more common with dupilumab + TCS than with placebo + TCS.Limitations: Short-term 16-week treatment period; severe AD only.Conclusion: Dupilumab + TCS is efficacious and well tolerated in children with severe AD, significantly improving signs, symptoms, and QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Management of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) commonly requires long-term treatment. Objective: The aim of this study was to report the safety and efficacy of dupilumab treatment for up to 3 years in adults with moderate-to-severe AD. Methods: This ongoing, multicenter, open-label extension study (LIBERTY AD OLE; NCT01949311) assessed dupilumab treatment in adults previously enrolled in dupilumab trials. Patients received dupilumab 300 mg weekly up to 148 weeks. The primary outcome was safety. Results: Of 2677 patients enrolled and treated, 347 reached week 148. Mean self-reported drug compliance was 98.2%. Safety data were consistent with previously reported trials (270.1 adverse events [AEs]/100 patient-years; 6.9 serious AEs/100 patient-years) and the known dupilumab safety profile. Common AEs (≥ 5% of patients) included nasopharyngitis, AD, upper respiratory tract infection, conjunctivitis, headache, oral herpes, and injection-site reactions. AD signs and symptoms showed sustained improvements during treatment with mean (standard deviation, mean percentage change from parent study baseline) Eczema Area and Severity Index 1.4 (3.2, − 95.4%) and weekly Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale 2.2 (1.8, − 65.4%) at week 148. Limitations: No control arm; fewer patients at later time points; regimen different from the approved 300 mg every 2 weeks dose. Conclusion: These safety and efficacy results support dupilumab as a continuous long-term treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe AD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01949311. Dupilumab provides favorable safety and sustained efficacy for up to 3 years in an open-label study of adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (MP4 139831 kb) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic skin lesions. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of multiple doses of the selective Janus kinase 1 inhibitor upadacitinib in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. In the 16-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-ranging portion of this 88-week trial in 8 countries (ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02925117 ; ongoing, not recruiting), adults with moderate to severe disease and inadequate control by topical treatment were randomized 1:1:1:1, using an interactive response system and stratified geographically, to once-daily upadacitinib oral monotherapy 7.5, 15, or 30 mg or placebo. The primary end point was percentage improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index from baseline at week 16. Efficacy was analyzed by intention-to-treat in all randomized patients. Safety was analyzed in all randomized patients who received study medication, based on actual treatment. Patients (N = 167) enrolled from November 21, 2016, to April 20, 2017. All were randomized and analyzed for efficacy (each upadacitinib group, n = 42; placebo, n = 41); 166 were analyzed for safety (each upadacitinib group, n = 42; placebo, n = 40). The mean (SE) primary efficacy end point was 39% (6.2%), 62% (6.1%), and 74% (6.1%) for the upadacitinib 7.5-, 15-, and 30-mg groups, respectively, versus 23% (6.4%) for placebo (P =.03, <.001, and <.001). Serious adverse events occurred in 4.8% (2 of 42), 2.4% (1 of 42), and 0% (0 of 42) of upadacitinib groups (vs 2.5% [1 of 40] for placebo). A dose-response relationship was observed for upadacitinib efficacy; the 30-mg once-daily dose showed the greatest clinical benefit. Dose-limiting toxicity was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Significant unmet need exists for long-term treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD).Objective: To assess the long-term safety and efficacy of dupilumab in patients with AD.Methods: This ongoing, multicenter, open-label extension study (NCT01949311) evaluated long-term dupilumab treatment in adults who had previously participated in phase 1 through 3 clinical trials of dupilumab for AD. This analysis examined patients given 300 mg dupilumab weekly for up to 76 weeks at data cutoff (April 2016). Safety was the primary outcome; efficacy was also evaluated.Results: Of 1491 enrolled patients (1042.9 patient-years), 92.9% were receiving treatment at cutoff. The safety profile was consistent with previously reported trials (420.4 adverse events/100 patient-years and 8.5 serious adverse events/100 patient-years), with no new safety signals; common adverse events included nasopharyngitis, conjunctivitis, and injection-site reactions. Sustained improvement was seen up to 76 weeks in all efficacy outcomes, including measures of skin inflammation, pruritus, and quality of life.Limitations: Lack of control arm, limited number of patients with 76 weeks or longer of treatment (median follow-up, 24 weeks), and patients not receiving the approved dose regimen of 300 mg every 2 weeks.Conclusion: The safety and efficacy profile from this study supports the role of dupilumab as continuous long-term treatment for patients with moderate to severe AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tralokinumab is a high-affinity, fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits interleukin-13 (IL-13), a key driver of atopic dermatitis (AD) disease progression. Clinical trials have shown that tralokinumab is efficacious in patients with moderate-to-severe AD and has a favorable safety profile, including a low frequency of adverse events (AEs) such as conjunctivitis. However, management of patients in routine clinical practice differ from those enrolled in clinical trials due to strict inclusion/exclusion criteria, and there is currently a lack of clinical data on tralokinumab use in the real-world setting. TRACE is an observational cohort study of patients with AD, which aims to better understand the effectiveness, safety and clinical use of tralokinumab in the real-world setting. This study aims to describe baseline characteristics and initial insights from the first 100 patients enrolled into TRACE in Germany. TRACE is a longitudinal, prospective, new user, noncomparative, observational, single-cohort study, with primary data collection of adult patients with AD who are treated with tralokinumab, according to national approved labels. The study is taking place across countries in Europe, North America and the Middle East. The primary objective is to assess changes in clinical signs and symptoms of AD in tralokinumab-treated patients. Secondary objectives are to investigate safety, quality of life, patient-reported outcomes and adherence, among others. This analysis includes the first 100 patients enrolled from 39 sites across Germany. Of the first 100 patients in TRACE initiated on tralokinumab in Germany, the majority were males. Most patients had moderate-to-severe disease as indicated by their mean Investigator's Global Assessment score and mean Eczema Area and Severity Index. Patients reported heavy symptomatic burden of disease, as demonstrated by their mean eczema-related sleep numerical rating scale (NRS) and mean worst daily pruritus NRS. Patients also reported a substantial impact on quality of life, as demonstrated by mean Dermatology Life Quality Index. Overall, approximately 4/5 of the patients were biologic-naïve. All biologic-experienced patients were previously treated with dupilumab, of whom most experienced one or more treatment failures. Reasons for switching from dupilumab included lack or loss of efficacy, and AEs, which included mainly conjunctivitis. Initial findings from the first 100 patients from TRACE in Germany showed that the majority of adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with tralokinumab were biologic-naïve, indicating that tralokinumab is prescribed as first-line systemic treatment in the real world, in line with European Dermatology Forum guidelines. Of patients who switched from dupilumab, the main reasons for switching were lack or loss of efficacy, and conjunctivitis, indicating the need for an alternative biologic treatment such as tralokinumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lebrikizumab (LEB) is a monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to interleukin (IL)-13, thereby blocking the downstream effects of IL-13 with high potency. To report integrated safety information in adult and adolescent patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis treated with LEB, from an integrated safety analysis of eight clinical Phase 2 and 3 trials. These data include adult and adolescent patients who received at least one dose of study drug from a total of eight atopic dermatitis clinical trials: ADvocate1, ADvocate2, ADhere, ADore, ADjoin (ongoing), ARBAN, TREBLE and a Phase 2b study. Treatment duration ranged from a single dose to 100 weeks. This analysis includes all placebo-controlled Week 0- to 16-safety data in patients treated with LEB 250 mg every 2 weeks (LEBQ2W, n = 783) compared with placebo (n = 404) known as ALL PC Weeks 0–16, and all patients who received at least one dose of LEB (n = 1720) known as ALL LEB. Conjunctivitis cluster is defined by MedDRA-preferred terms of conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis and giant papillary conjunctivitis. Exposure adjusted incidence rates (IR) are provided as per 100 patient-years. In ALL PC Weeks 0–16 analysis, the frequency of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) was 49.2% in LEBQ2W (n = 384) compared with 53.1% in placebo (n = 215). The majority of TEAEs reported were mild or moderate in severity with 2.3% (n = 18) reported as severe in LEBQ2W and 4.4% (n = 18) in placebo. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported by 1.3% (n = 10) in LEBQ2W and 1.9% (n = 8) in placebo. No deaths reported in LEBQ2W and one death in placebo. The most frequently reported TEAE in LEBQ2W was conjunctivitis and in placebo was atopic dermatitis. Conjunctivitis cluster was reported by 8.5% (n = 67) in LEBQ2W and 2.5% (n = 10) in placebo. All conjunctivitis cluster events were mild or moderate. Injection site reactions (ISRs) were reported by 2.6% (n = 20) in LEBQ2W and 1.5% (n = 6) in placebo. Adverse events leading to discontinuation were reported by 2.3% (n = 18) in LEBQ2W and 1.4% (n = 6) in placebo. In ALL LEB, the frequency of TEAEs was 64.3% (n = 1106, IR: 137.9), with the majority being mild or moderate in severity. Severe TEAEs were reported by 5.3% (n = 91). The incidence rates of TEAE did not increase with duration of treatment exposure. The SAEs were reported by 3.3% (n = 56, IR: 3.5). Three (0.2%) deaths occurred in ALL LEB. Conjunctivitis cluster was reported by 10.6% (n = 183, IR:12.2) with the majority being mild or moderate in severity and 0.3% (n = 6) being reported as severe. The ISRs were reported by 3.1% (n = 53, IR: 3.3). Adverse events leading to discontinuation were reported by 4.2% (n = 73, IR: 4.5). The overall safety profile for lebrikizumab consisted of AEs that were mostly nonserious, mild or moderate in severity, and did not lead to treatment discontinuation. Safety profile was similar in both adults and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) have increased infection risk, including skin infections and systemic infections. Immunomodulators (e.g., anti-tumor necrosis factors, anti-interleukin [anti-IL]-23, anti-IL-17, Janus kinase inhibitors) increase risk of infections. Dupilumab (a monoclonal antibody blocking the shared receptor component for IL-4 and IL-13) is approved for inadequately controlled moderate-to-severe AD and for moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral corticosteroid-dependent asthma. Objective: The aim was to determine the impact of dupilumab on infection rates in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. Methods: This analysis pooled data from seven randomized, placebo-controlled dupilumab trials in adults with moderate-to-severe AD. Exposure-adjusted analyses assessed infection rates. Results: Of 2932 patients, 1091 received placebo, 1095 dupilumab 300 mg weekly, and 746 dupilumab 300 mg every 2 weeks. Treatment groups had similar infection rates overall per 100 patient-years (placebo, 155; dupilumab weekly, 150; dupilumab every 2 weeks, 156; dupilumab combined, 152), and similar non-skin infection rates. Serious/severe infections were reduced with dupilumab (risk ratio 0.43; p < 0.05), as were bacterial and other non-herpetic skin infections (risk ratio 0.44; p < 0.001). Although herpesviral infection rates overall were slightly higher with dupilumab than placebo, clinically important herpesviral infections (eczema herpeticum, herpes zoster) were less common with dupilumab (risk ratio 0.31; p < 0.01). Systemic anti-infective medication use was lower with dupilumab. Conclusions: Dupilumab is associated with reduced risk of serious/severe infections and non-herpetic skin infections and does not increase overall infection rates versus placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01548404, NCT02210780, NCT01859988, NCT02277743, NCT02277769, NCT02260986, and NCT02755649. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In this pooled analysis dupilumab significantly improved signs and symptoms of AD. • Dupilumab treatment alleviated pain/discomfort on the EuroQoL-5D. • Patient distribution within responder categories improved over time with dupilumab. • No new safety signals were observed with dupilumab. • Dupilumab had an overall favorable benefit-risk profile. Two phase 3 trials with identical design, LIBERTY AD SOLO 1 (NCT02277743) and LIBERTY AD SOLO 2 (NCT02277769), confirmed dupilumab efficacy and safety versus placebo in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). To report a pooled analysis of these trials to further explore dupilumab's effects on AD clinical parameters, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), symptoms of anxiety/depression, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and safety. A pooled analysis of two 16-week phase 3 studies in adults with moderate-to-severe AD (N = 1379) inadequately controlled with/inadvisable for topical medications, randomized to dupilumab 300 mg once weekly (qw), every 2 weeks (q2w), or placebo. Dupilumab significantly improved all pre-specified efficacy endpoints versus placebo (P < 0.0001), including clinical severity outcomes and PROs, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and HRQoL, consistent with previously published results. In post-hoc analyses, among patients reporting at least some baseline pain/discomfort on the EuroQoL-5D, no pain/discomfort at Week 16 was reported by 43%/46%/14% of dupilumab qw/q2w/placebo-treated patients (P < 0.0001). The distribution of dupilumab-treated patients within pre-defined score categories on the Investigator's Global Assessment (0–1/2/3/4) and Eczema Area and Severity Index (≥90%/≥75–<90%/≥50–<75%/<50%) steadily and consistently improved over time versus marginal changes with placebo. Dupilumab significantly improved pruritus within 1–3 days of treatment initiation. No new safety signals were observed. Injection-site reactions and conjunctivitis were more common with dupilumab; AD exacerbation and non-herpetic skin infections more frequent with placebo. Dupilumab versus placebo significantly improved objective AD signs, subjective PROs, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and HRQoL, with a favorable benefit-risk profile in adults with moderate-to-severe AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: There is a need for new treatment options for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults. Dupilumab, a fully human anti-interleukin-4 receptor a monoclonal antibody, has recently been approved for this indication. Methods: A pooled analysis of a phase 2a (NCT01548404) and a phase 2b (NCT01859988) study and a subanalysis of the 2b study evaluated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous dupilumab 300 mg once weekly (qw) and every 2 weeks (q2w) in adults with moderate-to-severe AD. Results: Dupilumab significantly improved clinical outcomes in both analyses at week 12. Itch was significantly improved in the pooled analysis as measured by peak pruritus Numerical Rating Scale, 5-dimension pruritus scale, and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pruritus scores (all p < .0001 vs. placebo at week 12). Sleep loss was significantly improved (SCORAD VAS sleep loss score; p < .0001 vs. placebo at week 12); similar results were shown for the q2w dose. Dupilumab had an acceptable safety profile. Conclusions: Consistent with previous studies, dupilumab qw and q2w significantly improved signs and symptoms of AD at week 12, including improvements in itch and sleep loss. Implications for practice: Subcutaneous dupilumab is an effective new treatment option for adults with moderateto- severe AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data from early-stage studies suggested that interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 are requisite drivers of atopic dermatitis, evidenced by marked improvement after treatment with dupilumab, a fully-human monoclonal antibody that blocks both pathways. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of several dose regimens of dupilumab in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis inadequately controlled by topical treatments.Methods: In this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, we enrolled patients aged 18 years or older who had an Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score of 12 or higher at screening (≥16 at baseline) and inadequate response to topical treatments from 91 study centres, including hospitals, clinics, and academic institutions, in Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Poland, and the USA. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1:1:1), stratified by severity (moderate or severe, as assessed by Investigator's Global Assessment) and region (Japan vs rest of world) to receive subcutaneous dupilumab: 300 mg once a week, 300 mg every 2 weeks, 200 mg every 2 weeks, 300 mg every 4 weeks, 100 mg every 4 weeks, or placebo once a week for 16 weeks. We used a central randomisation scheme, provided by an interactive voice response system. Drug kits were coded, providing masking to treatment assignment, and allocation was concealed. Patients on treatment every 2 weeks and every 4 weeks received volume-matched placebo every week when dupilumab was not given to ensure double blinding. The primary outcome was efficacy of dupilumab dose regimens based on EASI score least-squares mean percentage change (SE) from baseline to week 16. Analyses included all randomly assigned patients who received one or more doses of study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01859988.Findings: Between May 15, 2013, and Jan 27, 2014, 452 patients were assessed for eligibility, and 380 patients were randomly assigned. 379 patients received one or more doses of study drug (300 mg once a week [n=63], 300 mg every 2 weeks [n=64], 200 mg every 2 weeks [n=61], 300 mg every 4 weeks [n=65], 100 mg every 4 weeks [n=65]; placebo [n=61]). EASI score improvements favoured all dupilumab regimens versus placebo (p<0·0001): 300 mg once a week (-74% [SE 5·16]), 300 mg every 2 weeks (-68% [5·12]), 200 mg every 2 weeks (-65% [5·19]), 300 mg every 4 weeks (-64% [4·94]), 100 mg every 4 weeks (-45% [4·99]); placebo (-18% [5·20]). 258 (81%) of 318 patients given dupilumab and 49 (80%) of 61 patients given placebo reported treatment-emergent adverse events; nasopharyngitis was the most frequent (28% and 26%, respectively).Interpretation: Dupilumab improved clinical responses in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in a dose-dependent manner, without significant safety concerns. Our findings show that IL-4 and IL-13 are key drivers of atopic dermatitis.Funding: Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. INSET: Panel: Research in context.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the systemic exposure of pimecrolimus cream 1% applied under occlusion in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Methods: A noncomparative, open-label study conducted in 3 groups of moderate to severe AD patients: A (adults, n = 9), B (adolescents, n = 4) and C (children, n = 6). Pimecrolimus cream 1% was applied twice daily for 8.5 days with overnight occlusion in patients with investigator's global assessment scores of ≥3 and AD involving at least 30% of their body surface area. Pimecrolimus blood concentrations were analyzed. Results: The highest pimecrolimus blood concentrations observed in adults, adolescents and children were 1.84, 0.55 and 1.29 ng/ml, respectively. Pimecrolimus blood concentrations and affected body surface area showed no apparent correlation. Conclusion: No measurable differences were found in pimecrolimus blood concentrations, efficacy and safety profile when pimecrolimus cream 1% was applied under occlusion versus application without occlusion. These findings reflect the high lipophilic properties of pimecrolimus. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Topical calcineurin inhibitors have developed a bad connotation because of a black-box warning that was based on safety concerns of hypothetic systemic absorption and because systemic treatment with calcineurin inhibitors in patients who receive organ transplants is associated with an increased cancer risk. A few case reports of lymphoma and skin cancer in patients treated with topical calcineurin inhibitors initiated the discussion. These drugs were recommended for use as second-line therapy for the short-term and noncontinuous treatment of atopic dermatitis in patients who do not respond adequately to topical corticosteroids or in whom they are contraindicated. According to the latest knowledge, there is no scientific evidence of an increased risk for malignancy due to a topical treatment with calcineurin inhibitors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nemolizumab, an interleukin (IL)-31 receptor subunit α antagonist, inhibits the IL-31 pathway of itch and skin inflammation in atopic dermatitis. Two international phase 3 studies were done to assess the efficacy and safety of nemolizumab in atopic dermatitis. In this Article we report results for the 16-week initial treatment period of both trials. ARCADIA 1 and ARCADIA 2 were identical 48-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials in adult and adolescent participants (aged ≥12 years) with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, associated pruritus, and inadequate response to topical steroids. Participants were enrolled from 281 clinics, hospitals, and academic centres in 22 countries across both trials, and were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive nemolizumab 30 mg subcutaneously (baseline loading dose 60 mg) or matching placebo once every 4 weeks with background topical corticosteroids (TCS) with or without topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCI; ie, TCS–TCI background treatment). Randomisation was done via interactive response technology and stratified by baseline disease and pruritus severity. Study staff and participants were masked throughout the study, with outcome assessors masked until database lock. Coprimary endpoints at week 16 post-baseline were Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) success (score of 0 [clear skin] or 1 [almost clear skin] with a ≥2-point improvement from baseline) and at least 75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index score from baseline (EASI-75 response). Outcome rates were compared between groups with the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test adjusting for randomisation strata. The key secondary endpoints were the proportion of participants with Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS) score improvement of at least 4 points at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 16; PP-NRS score below 2 at weeks 4 and 16; Sleep Disturbance Numerical Rating Scale score improvement of at least 4 points at week 16; EASI-75 response plus PP-NRS score improvement of at least 4 points at week 16; and IGA success plus PP-NRS score improvement of at least 4 points at week 16. Efficacy analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis; safety analyses included all participants who received one dose of nemolizumab or placebo. Both studies are completed (ClinicalTrials.gov : ARCADIA 1, NCT03985943 and ARCADIA 2, NCT03989349). Between Aug 9, 2019, and Nov 2, 2022, 1728 participants were enrolled across both trials: 1142 were allocated to nemolizumab plus TCS–TCI (620 in ARCADIA 1 and 522 in ARCADIA 2) and 586 to placebo plus TCS–TCI (321 in ARCADIA 1 and 265 in ARCADIA 2). ARCADIA 1 included 500 (53%) male participants and 441 (47%) female participants, and ARCADIA 2 included 381 (48%) male participants and 406 (52%) female participants. Mean age ranged from 33·3 (SD 15·6) years to 35·2 (17·0) years across the treatment groups. Both trials met the coprimary endpoints; at week 16, a greater proportion of participants receiving nemolizumab plus TCS–TCI versus placebo plus TCS–TCI had IGA success (ARCADIA 1: 221 [36%] of 620 vs 79 [25%] of 321, adjusted percentage difference 11·5% [97·5% CI 4·7–18·3], p=0·0003; ARCADIA 2: 197 [38%] of 522 vs 69 [26%] of 265, adjusted difference 12·2% [4·6–19·8], p=0·0006) and an EASI-75 response (ARCADIA 1: 270 [44%] vs 93 [29%], adjusted difference 14·9% [7·8–22·0], p<0·0001; ARCADIA 2: 220 [42%] vs 80 [30%], adjusted difference 12·5% [4·6–20·3], p=0·0006). Significant benefits were observed with nemolizumab for all key secondary endpoints including improvement in itch, as early as week 1, and sleep improvement by week 16. The safety profile was similar between nemolizumab plus TCS–TCI and placebo plus TCS–TCI. In the safety sets, 306 (50%) of 616 participants (ARCADIA 1) and 215 (41%) of 519 participants (ARCADIA 2) who received nemolizumab plus TCS–TCI had at least one treatment-emergent adverse event (serious treatment-emergent adverse events in six [1%] and 13 [3%], respectively); and 146 (45%) of 321 (ARCADIA 1) and 117 (44%) of 263 (ARCADIA 2) who received placebo plus TCS–TCI had at least one treatment-emergent adverse event (serious treatment-emergent adverse events in four [1%] and three [1%], respectively). Ten serious treatment-emergent adverse events possibly related to nemolizumab were reported in five (1%) participants in ARCADIA 2. No deaths occurred. Nemolizumab plus TCS–TCI was efficacious and showed statistically and clinically significant improvements in inflammation and itch in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Nemolizumab might offer a valuable extension of current therapies if approved. Galderma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Upadacitinib is an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor with greater inhibitory potency for JAK1 than JAK2, JAK3, and tyrosine kinase 2. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib compared with placebo for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.Methods: Measure Up 1 and Measure Up 2 were replicate multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials; Measure Up 1 was done at 151 clinical centres in 24 countries across Europe, North and South America, Oceania, and the Asia-Pacific region; and Measure Up 2 was done at 154 clinical centres in 23 countries across Europe, North America, Oceania, and the Asia-Pacific region. Eligible patients were adolescents (aged 12-17 years) and adults (aged 18-75 years) with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (≥10% of body surface area affected by atopic dermatitis, Eczema Area and Severity Index [EASI] score of ≥16, validated Investigator's Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis [vIGA-AD] score of ≥3, and Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale score of ≥4). Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) using an interactive response technology system to receive upadacitinib 15 mg, upadacitinib 30 mg, or placebo once daily for 16 weeks, stratified by baseline disease severity, geographical region, and age. Coprimary endpoints were the proportion of patients who had achieved at least a 75% improvement in EASI score from baseline (EASI-75) and the proportion of patients who had achieved a vIGA-AD response (defined as a vIGA-AD score of 0 [clear] or 1 [almost clear] with ≥2 grades of reduction from baseline) at week 16. Efficacy was analysed in the intention-to-treat population and safety was analysed in all randomly assigned patients who received at least one dose of study drug. These trials are registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03569293 (Measure Up 1) and NCT03607422 (Measure Up 2), and are both active but not recruiting.Findings: Between Aug 13, 2018, and Dec 23, 2019, 847 patients were randomly assigned to upadacitinib 15 mg (n=281), upadacitinib 30 mg (n=285), or placebo (n=281) in the Measure Up 1 study. Between July 27, 2018, and Jan 17, 2020, 836 patients were randomly assigned to upadacitinib 15 mg (n=276), upadacitinib 30 mg (n=282), or placebo (n=278) in the Measure Up 2 study. At week 16, the coprimary endpoints were met in both studies (all p<0·0001). The proportion of patients who had achieved EASI-75 at week 16 was significantly higher in the upadacitinib 15 mg (196 [70%] of 281 patients) and upadacitinib 30 mg (227 [80%] of 285 patients) groups than the placebo group (46 [16%] of 281 patients) in Measure Up 1 (adjusted difference in EASI-75 response rate vs placebo, 53·3% [95% CI 46·4-60·2] for the upadacitinib 15 mg group; 63·4% [57·1-69·8] for the upadacitinib 30 mg group) and Measure Up 2 (166 [60%] of 276 patients in the upadacitinib 15 mg group and 206 [73%] of 282 patients in the upadacitinib 30 mg group vs 37 [13%] of 278 patients in the placebo group; adjusted difference in EASI-75 response rate vs placebo, 46·9% [39·9-53·9] for the upadacitinib 15 mg group; 59·6% [53·1-66·2] for the upadacitinib 30 mg group). The proportion of patients who achieved a vIGA-AD response at week 16 was significantly higher in the upadacitinib 15 mg (135 [48%] patients) and upadacitinib 30 mg (177 [62%] patients) groups than the placebo group (24 [8%] patients) in Measure Up 1 (adjusted difference in vIGA-AD response rate vs placebo, 39·8% [33·2-46·4] for the upadacitinib 15 mg group; 53·6% [47·2-60·0] for the upadacitinib 30 mg group) and Measure Up 2 (107 [39%] patients in the upadacitinib 15 mg group and 147 [52%] patients in the upadacitinib 30 mg group vs 13 [5%] patients in the placebo group; adjusted difference in vIGA-AD response rate vs placebo, 34·0% [27·8-40·2] for the upadacitinib 15 mg group; 47·4% [41·0-53·7] for the upadacitinib 30 mg group). Both upadacitinib doses were well tolerated. The incidence of serious adverse events and adverse events leading to study drug discontinuation were similar among groups. The most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events were acne (19 [7%] of 281 patients in the upadacitinib 15 mg group, 49 [17%] of 285 patients in the upadacitinib 30 mg group, and six [2%] of 281 patients in the placebo group in Measure Up 1; 35 [13%] of 276 patients in the upadacitinib 15 mg group, 41 [15%] of 282 patients in the upadacitinib 30 mg group, and six [2%] of 278 patients in the placebo group in Measure Up 2), upper respiratory tract infection (25 [9%] patients, 38 [13%] patients, and 20 [7%] patients; 19 [7%] patients, 17 [16%] patients, and 12 [4%] patients), nasopharyngitis (22 [8%] patients, 33 [12%] patients, and 16 [6%] patients; 16 [6%] patients, 18 [6%] patients, and 13 [5%] patients), headache (14 [5%] patients, 19 [7%] patients, and 12 [4%] patients; 18 [7%] patients, 20 [7%] patients, and 11 [4%] patients), elevation in creatine phosphokinase levels (16 [6%] patients, 16 [6%] patients, and seven [3%] patients; nine [3%] patients, 12 [4%] patients, and five [2%] patients), and atopic dermatitis (nine [3%] patients, four [1%] patients, and 26 [9%] patients; eight [3%] patients, four [1%] patients, and 26 [9%] patients).Interpretation: Monotherapy with upadacitinib might be an effective treatment option and had a positive benefit-risk profile in adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.Funding: AbbVie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]