Lebrikizumab has been approved for treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adolescents (12 years and older) and adults who require systemic therapy. This treatment received approval from the European Commission and the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in December 2023.
In the UK, approximately 5.2 million adults (7.7% of those aged 18-74) and 2.5 million children (18% of those aged 0-17) suffer from moderate or severe atopic dermatitis, also known as atopic eczema.
Andrew Proctor, Chief Executive of the National Eczema Society, highlights the significant impact of atopic eczema on patients’ lives, affecting daily decisions and requiring extensive skincare regimens. He welcomes the NICE recommendation for lebrikizumab as an additional treatment option, emphasizing the importance of diverse treatment choices tailored to individual patient needs.
Jorgen Damsbo, General Manager at Almirall, UK, underscores lebrikizumab’s efficacy, maintenance dosing every 4 weeks, and favorable safety profile, aligning with their commitment to improving patients’ quality of life.
Professor Tony Bewley from Barts Health NHS Trust emphasizes the psychosocial burden of atopic dermatitis, including stigma, loss of confidence, and psychological challenges, noting the therapeutic benefit of targeted biological therapies like lebrikizumab.
Professor Richard Weller of the University of Edinburgh acknowledges the chronic nature of atopic dermatitis and welcomes lebrikizumab’s reimbursement by NICE, expanding treatment options in biologic therapies for this challenging condition.
