AD biologic non-responders benefit from extended Tx
- John Evans
- 19 minutes ago
- 1 min read
New research reveals that patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) who did not initially respond to biologic treatment with lebrikizumab may still achieve significant clinical improvements with continued therapy.
The findings, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, highlight the efficacy of extended lebrikizumab treatment up to 52 weeks and suggest a potential approach to more personalized, patient-centered management of AD.
Researchers analyzed data from two international clinical trials—ADvocate1 and ADvocate2. At 16 weeks, 38.1% of lebrikizumab-treated patients failed to meet strict trial criteria for response. However, 58.1% had already achieved at least a 50% improvement in their Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores. By 52 weeks, 75.5% had reached a 75% improvement (EASI 75), 44.2% had achieved a 90% improvement (EASI 90), and 66.4% reported a significant reduction in itching.
“This is a significant breakthrough because it shows that people who do not respond to lebrikizumab treatment right away should not give up,” said lead author Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, in a press release. “Initial non-response at 16 weeks does not mean treatment failure. By sticking with treatment longer (52 weeks), most patients saw their eczema improve significantly.”
Dr. Guttman-Yassky is Waldman Professor and Chair of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York.
“This research supports a more personalized approach to care,” Dr. Guttman-Yassky said. “It offers new hope for patients with difficult-to-treat eczema and may help guide treatment decisions in clinical practice.”