Long-term disease control in atopic dermatitis using biologics

Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory, itchy skin condition characterised by a fluctuating and chronic disease course. Effective therapies inhibit downstream immune signalling of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, IL-31, 1 Ratchataswan T Banzon TM Thyssen JP Weidinger S Guttman-Yassky E Phipatanakul W Biologics for treatment of atopic dermatitis: current status and future prospect. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021; 9: 1053-1065 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (42) Google Scholar and Janus kinase activity. 2 Thyssen JP Thomsen SF Treatment of atopic dermatitis with biologics and Janus kinase inhibitors. Lancet. 2021; 397: 2126-2128 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (5) Google Scholar Biologics that target upstream cytokines, such as IL-1α, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), have so far been unsuccessful. OX40, a cell-surface glycoprotein, which is highly expressed on T cells and dendritic cells in lesional atopic dermatitis skin, works downstream of TSLP; OX40 stimulates proliferation and survival of activated T cells, some of which might become memory T cells. 3 Elsner JSH Carlsson M Stougaard JK et al. The OX40 axis is associated with both systemic and local involvement in atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol. 2020; 100: adv00099-adv000105 Crossref PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar An anti-OX40 antibody to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b studyPatients treated with rocatinlimab had progressive improvements in atopic dermatitis, which was maintained in most patients after treatment discontinuation. Treatment was well tolerated. Full-Text PDF