Study Compares Effectiveness of Systemic Atopic Dermatitis Treatments

A comprehensive review and meta-analysis found that lebrikizumab, a monoclonal antibody for atopic dermatitis, showed similar efficacy to Dupixent (dupilumab) in improving signs, symptoms and quality of life for adult patients with the chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the skin and skin barrier defects. Both drugs are part of a growing field of systemic treatments, compared to conventional options including topical corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.

The study, published in JAMA Dermatology in July 2024 and led by Aaron M. Drucker, M.D., of the University of Toronto and Women’s College Hospital, analyzed data from 98 trials involving 24,707 patients. It compared the efficacy and safety of systemic immunomodulatory treatments for atopic dermatitis, including lebrikizumab, approved by the European Medicines Agency in November 2023 and marketed as Ebglyss, and Dupixent, approved by the FDA in 2017.

Researchers found moderate-certainty evidence that lebrikizumab and Dupixent had comparable effectiveness in reducing symptoms after 16 weeks of treatment. Dupixent was associated with higher odds of achieving efficacy in binary outcomes. The study noted that high-dose Rinvoq (upadacitinib) and Cibinqo (abrocitinib), both Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, demonstrated the numerically highest relative efficacy among all treatments studied.

The findings “support lebrikizumab as another effective biologic medication for treating atopic dermatitis,” Drucker and colleagues wrote. “Although binary efficacy outcomes favored dupilumab, the differences in efficacy between dupilumab and lebrikizumab on continuous scales were small.”

Previous studies of lebrikizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis demonstrated the drug maintained skin clearance and itch relief up to two years.

Lebrikizumab, developed by Eli Lilly, blocks Interleukin-13, a cytokine that is overexpressed in atopic dermatitis and can alter the skin’s microbiome. In October 2023, the FDA issued a complete response letter to Lilly for lebrikizumab after conducting an inspection of a third-party manufacturing company. The FDA indicated there were no concerns about the safety or labeling of lebrikizumab.

More recently, in March 2024, Lilly announced lebrikizumab showed improvement in skin clearance and itch relief in a first-of-its-kind phase 3 trial specifically designed for people with skin of color. The results were presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. In April, Lilly said in a new release about its first quarter earnings report that it had resubmitted lebrikizumab to the FDA for approval.