Project description:Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases that affect both children and adults with a prevalence of 30% and 10%, respectively. Even though most of patients respond satisfactory to topical anti-inflammatory drugs, about 10% require one or more systemic treatments to achieve good control of their illness. The progressive and increasingly detailed knowledge in the immunopathogenesis of AD has allowed research on new therapeutic targets with very promising results in the field of biological therapy. In this article, we will review the different biological treatments with a focus on novel drugs. Their mechanism of action, current status and results from clinical trials and observational studies will be specified.
Project description:Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic or chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease which results from a complex, multifaceted interaction between environmental factors in genetically predisposed patients. Epidermal barrier impairment, alteration of the cutaneous microbiota, effect of external antigens, neurosensory dysfunction, and inflammatory and immune dysregulation all play a pivotal role in inducing and maintaining AD lesions. AD significantly impacts the patient's quality of life and general well-being and is often associated with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Classical treatment options include topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, phototherapy, and systemic immunosuppression with oral corticosteroids, cyclosporine, methotrexate, and azathioprine in more severe cases. A turning point in facing AD was accomplished when the efficacy and safety of dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor α subunit, led to its approval for the treatment of moderate-to-severe or severe AD in children, adolescents, and adults. Subsequently, a more extensive understanding of AD etiology and pathogenesis has allowed the development of several topical and systemic novel therapy options. Most of these drugs are monoclonal antibodies which interfere with the type 2 inflammatory cascade, especially its key cytokines IL-4 and IL-13, or its downstream Janus kinase signaling pathway. However, considering the relevance of other subtypes of T helper (Th) cells, such as Th1 and Th22, and the important role of specific cytokines (IL-31) in generating pruritus, the horizon of potential therapeutic targets has widened extremely. In this review, we aim to present the most promising systemic agents currently under investigation and illustrate the most significant aspects of their efficacy, safety, and tolerability.
Project description:BackgroundPatient-focused approaches to capturing day-to-day variability in sleep disturbance are needed to properly evaluate the sleep benefits of new treatments. Such approaches rely on patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures validated in the target patient population.MethodsUsing atopic dermatitis (AD) as an example of a disease in which sleep is commonly disturbed, we developed a strategy for measuring sleep disturbance in AD trials. In developing this strategy, we conducted a targeted literature review and held concept elicitation interviews with adolescents and adults with AD. We subsequently identified potentially suitable PRO measures and cognitively debriefed them. Finally, we evaluated their psychometric properties using data from phase 2b (NCT03100344) and phase 3 (NCT03985943 and NCT03989349) clinical trials.ResultsThe literature review confirmed that sleep disturbance is a key impact of AD but failed to identify validated PRO measures for assessing fluctuations in sleep disturbance. Subsequent concept elicitation interviews confirmed the multidimensional nature of sleep disturbance in AD and supported use of a single-item measure to assess overall sleep disturbance severity, complemented by a diary to capture individual components of sleep disturbance. The single-item sleep disturbance numerical rating scale (SD NRS) and multi-item Subject Sleep Diary (SSD)-an AD-adapted version of the Consensus Sleep Diary-were identified as potentially suitable PRO measures. Cognitive debriefing of the SD NRS and SSD demonstrated their content validity and their understandability to patients. Psychometric analyses based on AD trial data showed that the SD NRS is a well-defined, reliable, and fit-for-purpose measure of sleep disturbance in adults with AD. Furthermore, the SD NRS correlated with many SSD sleep parameters, suggesting that most concepts from the SSD can be covered using the SD NRS.ConclusionsUsing these findings, we developed an approach for measuring sleep disturbance in AD trials. Subject to further research, the same approach could also be applied to future trials of other skin diseases where itch causes sleep disturbance.
Project description:Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory cutaneous disease that is characterized by complex immune dysregulation and skin barrier dysfunction with a wide variety of clinical phenotypes. Until recently, conventional therapeutic modalities for AD remained rather non-specific despite AD's complex etiology. Failing to take into account the underlying inflammatory pathways led to treatments with inadequate efficacy or unacceptable long-term toxicities. We are currently in the midst of a therapeutic renaissance in AD. Recent progress in molecular medicine provides us a better understanding of the AD pathogenesis, suggesting a dominant helper T cell (Th) 2/Th22 response with a varying degree of Th1/Th17 overexpression. Targeted therapeutic agents including biologics and small molecule inhibitors in development hold promises for more effective and safer therapeutic approaches for AD. A better understanding of individual differences amongst AD patients will allow for a more tailored approach in the future. This review aims to cover the most promising emerging therapies in the field of atopic dermatitis utilizing recently published manuscripts and up-to-date conference abstracts and presentations.
Project description:Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin condition that, depending on its severity, can cause enormous morbidity. Corticosteroids and systemic immunosuppression, traditionally standard of care for difficult-to-treat disease, have many undesirable side effects. The desire for targeted treatments along with an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of AD has spurred the development of novel treatments. In this article, we review promising new treatments and discuss how their targets-IL-13, IL-31, OX40 (CD134), and the Janus kinase family of proteins-participate in the pathogenesis of AD. We review the published phase II and III data for dupilumab, tralokinumab, lebrikizumab, nemolizumab, anti-OX40 antibody, baricitinib, abrocitinib, and upadacitinib. The introduction of new agents may offer new options, but it remains to be seen how narrow-acting agents, like single interleukin inhibitors, will compare in safety and efficacy to broad-acting agents such as JAK inhibitors.
Project description:BackgroundAs novel systemic therapeutics for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are developed, ethical and methodological concerns regarding placebo-controlled-trials (PCT) have surfaced.ObjectiveTo guide the design and implementation of PCT in AD, focusing on trials with systemic medications.MethodsA subgroup of the International Eczema Council (IEC) developed a consensus e-survey, which was disseminated to IEC members.ResultsThe response rate was 43/82 (52%). Consensus was reached on 24/27 statements and on 3/11 options from multiple-selection statements, including: performing monotherapy studies in proof-of-concept phases; avoiding concomitant topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors until a predefined timepoint as rescue (borderline consensus); selection of sites and assessors with recognized expertise in AD clinical trials; clear definition and identification of baseline disease severity; minimizing time and proportion of patients on placebo; using daily emollients with several options provided; instigating open-label extension studies for enrolment after a predefined timepoint; and including outcomes which set a higher bar for disease clearance.ConclusionConducting PCT in AD requires balancing several, sometimes opposing principles, including ethics, methodology, regulatory requirements and real-world needs. This paper can provide a framework for conducting PCT with systemic medications for patients with AD.
Project description:Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic, inflammatory skin disease which predominately affects children and usually clears up during infancy or childhood. However, AD may persist with a chronic relapsing course until adulthood or develop at a later age. AD treatment can often be complicated. Treating moderate-to-severe AD can be challenging: only a few therapeutic options are available, with cyclosporine being the only approved and labeled systemic drug. In the last few years, advances in the knowledge of AD pathogenesis have been made that can provide the basis for developing new topical and systemic drugs. Among them, biologic drugs targeting specific cytokines involved in the development of the disease will probably revolutionize AD therapy. Currently, dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to the shared alpha chain subunit of the receptors for IL-4 and IL-13, is the only biologic drug licensed for the treatment of AD in adults. However, other biologic drugs that selectively target some key cytokines in AD pathogenesis (IL-13, IL-31, and IL-22) are also being studied. In this review, we discuss all of the biologic drugs that have been studied for AD treatment.
Project description:BackgroundPatients 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.ObjectiveThe aim was to determine the impact of dupilumab on infection rates in patients with moderate-to-severe AD.MethodsThis analysis pooled data from seven randomized, placebo-controlled dupilumab trials in adults with moderate-to-severe AD. Exposure-adjusted analyses assessed infection rates.ResultsOf 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.ConclusionsDupilumab 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 identifiersNCT01548404, NCT02210780, NCT01859988, NCT02277743, NCT02277769, NCT02260986, and NCT02755649.
Project description:BackgroundConjunctivitis is a known comorbidity of atopic dermatitis. Dupilumab clinical trials for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults showed a higher conjunctivitis incidence for dupilumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients, whereas trials for uncontrolled asthma reported lower rates for both dupilumab and placebo.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of conjunctivitis in dupilumab clinical trials in adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis or uncontrolled asthma.MethodsWe evaluated the incidence of conjunctivitis in adolescents (aged 12 to < 18 years) in three phase III trials. Ocular events were diagnosed and treated based on patient-reported symptoms and an external eye examination by study investigators, in most cases without an ophthalmologic referral. In LIBERTY AD ADOL (16-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial), adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis were randomized to subcutaneous placebo, dupilumab 300 mg every 4 weeks, or dupilumab every 2 weeks (200 mg, patients < 60 kg at baseline; 300 mg, ≥ 60 kg at baseline). In LIBERTY AD PED-OLE (open-label extension), pediatric patients from previous dupilumab atopic dermatitis trials received dupilumab 2 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg weekly (up to 300 mg) or 300 mg every 4 weeks. In LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST (randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial), patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma were randomized to 52 weeks of add-on therapy with dupilumab 200 or 300 mg every 2 weeks or matched-volume placebo.ResultsIn ADOL, more dupilumab-treated (17/165; 10.3%) than placebo-treated patients (4/85; 4.7%) reported one or more conjunctivitis event. All events were mild to moderate in severity; 12 (7.3%) dupilumab-treated and 4 (4.7%) placebo-treated patients received treatment. Most patients with conjunctivitis (dupilumab, 12/17; placebo, 4/4) recovered/resolved during the treatment period. The risk of conjunctivitis showed no relationship with dupilumab serum concentration. In PED-OLE, 12/275 adolescents (4.4%) reported one or more conjunctivitis event. Most conjunctivitis events were mild to moderate. Ten patients received treatment for conjunctivitis. Ten patients recovered/resolved during the study. In QUEST, similar low proportions of dupilumab-treated (2/68, 2.9%) and placebo-treated (1/39, 2.6%) adolescents reported one or more conjunctivitis event. All events were mild to moderate. One dupilumab-treated patient received treatment for conjunctivitis. All cases recovered/resolved during the study. No patients in these trials discontinued study treatment temporarily or permanently because of conjunctivitis. In ADOL, one case of unspecified viral keratitis (specific viral etiology not known) in the dupilumab 300-mg every 4 weeks group and one case of allergic blepharitis in the placebo group were reported; both events resolved during the treatment period, and neither led to treatment discontinuation.ConclusionsDupilumab-treated adolescents in atopic dermatitis trials had a higher incidence of conjunctivitis than placebo-treated patients, whereas overall rates of conjunctivitis among adolescents in the asthma trial were lower than in atopic dermatitis trials and were similar for dupilumab- and placebo-treated patients. Most events were mild to moderate, most recovered/resolved, and none prompted study withdrawal. These results are similar to those reported in adult trials and support a drug-disease interaction. CLINICALTRIALS.Gov identifiersNCT03054428, NCT02612454, NCT02414854. Conjunctivitis in Dupilumab Clinical Trials for Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis or Asthma (MP4 18453 kb).
Project description:Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common highly pruritic chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting 5-20% of children worldwide, while the prevalence in adults varies from 7 to 10%. Patients with AD experience intense pruritus that could lead to sleep disturbance and impaired quality of life. Here, we analyze the pathophysiology of itchiness in AD. We extensively review the histamine-dependent and histamine-independent pruritogens. Several receptors, substance P, secreted molecules, chemokines, and cytokines are involved as mediators in chronic itch. We also, summarize the new emerging antipruritic drugs in atopic dermatitis.