Biologic ‘comes up trumps’ for teen eczema

The monoclonal antibody has 'excellent efficacy' and this real-world study demonstrates its safety, researchers say

Dupilumab is a highly effective and safe treatment option for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in teenagers, a multicentre study shows.

In fact, Italian dermatologists say improvements in clinical symptom scores documented in their cohort were greater than or comparable to those observed in recent clinical trials.

Using data from 139 adolescents (mean age 15) with moderate to severe eczema, the team from the University of Perugia examined the efficacy and safety profile of dupilumab in a 16-week prospective observational study.

Flexural, head and neck, and hand atopic dermatitis were the most frequently diagnosed phenotypes, and almost all participants reported prior systemic treatment including with antihistamines, corticosteroids and cyclosporine A.