"Therapeutic Drugs on the Horizon in Atopic Dermatitis"
There are now multiple target treatments to utilize in patients with atopic dermatitis, but there is still a very large unmet need for better treatment in this disease, according to Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, a Sol and Clara Kest professor of dermatology at Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. “Two years ago, I would summarize my lecture in 5 minutes, now I have difficulty determining what not to include in my 20-minute talk,” she said. “Many are not aware that atopic dermatitis is the most common inflammatory skin disease in the US, impacting 7% of adults and up to 25% of children worldwide, and 20% to 30% will have moderate to severe disease.” Dupilumab is FDA approved for adolescents aged 12 years and older and is ongoing for approval in children aged 6 to 11 years. Surprisingly, less efficacy is seen in adolescents. “We know that adolescents don’t like to apply creams. Maybe there are differences in phenotypes that need to be considered,” she added. “We still see many adolescents clearing with this drug.” A phase 1 study of KHK4083 (Kyowa Hakko Kirin) demonstrated 80% lower EASI scores in patients with AD. “I think this is a very hopeful, potential new treatment that will happen in the future,” she said.
— Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, Professor, Dermatology, Clinical Immunology, Medicine, Vice Chair, Research, Department of Dermatology, Director, The Center for Excellence in Eczema, Director, Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
