Biological medication in atopic dermatitis

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder associated with intense itch/pruritus and skin lesions. Several modalities of treatment including topical therapy, systemic agents, and biologics are available for the treatment of disease. Despite this, management poses challenge due to chronic nature and recurrent episodes in many patients. Biologics represent an important option of treatment for patients who do not respond to the traditional treatment.

Areas covered

In this article, we focused on efficacy and safety of biologics in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Other therapies are out of the scope of this review. Articles from PubMed and Google scholar and cross references of retrieved articles were used to write the narrative review.

Expert opinion

Biologics play an important role in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Every biologic has its own place in the treatment considering pharmacological profile, efficacy, and safety. Several biologics have been studied in the treatment of moderate-to-severe cases who failed to provide adequate response to traditional treatment. Dupilumab, is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Tralokinumab and nemolizumab have shown promising results in patients with atopic dermatitis.

KEYWORDS:

• Atopic dermatitis
• biologics
• efficacy
• treatment

Article highlights

• Despite availability of several treatment options, management of many patients with moderate-to-severe cases of atopic dermatitis is challenging.

• Different biologics have been evaluated for their effects in patients with moderate-to-severe cases who did not provide adequate response to traditional treatment.

• Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody is effective in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Tralokinumab and nemolizumab have also shown promising results patients with atopic dermatitis.

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose. Papers of special note have been highlighted as either of interest (•) or of considerable interest (••) to readers.