Peter A. Lio, MD
Credit: Northwestern Medicine
Long-Term Lebrikizumab Treatment Improves Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms
New research suggests that long-term use of lebrikizumab, a biologic treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), significantly improves patient-reported skin symptoms, sleep disturbances, and itch over a prolonged period. The findings were presented at the Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis Conference Mid-Year Virtual Update on December 8, 2024, in a study titled ‘Patients with lebrikizumab reported long-term improvement of symptoms from POEM in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.’
Lebrikizumab, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2024, has already shown efficacy in the short-term, particularly in skin symptom improvements observed by clinicians. This new study, however, takes a closer look at the long-term impact of lebrikizumab on patients’ lives.
Trial Design and POEM Assessment
Data from participants in the ADjoin study – who had received lebrikizumab therapy for up to 152 weeks – were analyzed. These individuals had responded positively to treatment in earlier trials (ADvocate 1 and 2), achieving EASI-75 or IGA 0/1 with no rescue medication. They were then randomized to receive maintenance doses of either 250 mg every four weeks (Q4W) or every two weeks (Q2W).
This study emphasizes the importance of using both physician- and patient-reported outcomes in clinical research to gain a comprehensive understanding of atopic dermatitis’s impact and severity from the patient’s perspective. The researchers utilized the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), a valuable tool that allows patients to record symptom frequency weekly using an electronic diary.
POEM covers seven major areas of AD symptoms: sleep disturbance, pruritus (itching), skin bleeding, cracking, oozing, flaking, and dryness. Patients rate the frequency of these symptoms over the past week, with scores ranging from 0 (“No days”) to 4 (“Every day”). A total score of 0-28 is possible, with higher scores indicating greater severity.
Notable Findings
The researchers found consistent improvements in all individual POEM items, including sleep disturbances, pruritus, and dryness, which were maintained throughout the study period. At baseline, participants had an average total POEM score of 20.6. This score decreased to 7.7 (Q4W) and 8.5 (Q2W) at the 16-week mark, further decreasing to 7.0 and 6.5, respectively, at 52 weeks, and finally to 5.3 and 5.5, respectively, at 152 weeks.
By the 152-week mark, a large proportion of the participants reported minimal symptoms. Specifically, 94.5% (Q4W) and 94.0% (Q2W) experienced minimal sleep disturbance, 69.1% (Q4W) and 66.0% (Q2W) reported little to no itch (0–1 days), and similar high percentages were observed for other symptoms. Notably, a significant number of participants reported no days with symptoms for individual items, including bleeding, itch, and fluid oozing.
Looking for Relief from Atopic Dermatitis?
If you’re struggling with the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, talk to your dermatologist about lebrikizumab or other treatment options that may be right for you.