Background: A monoclonal anti-interleukin-13 antibody, lebrikizumab, has demonstrated favorable efficacy for atopic dermatitis (AD). However, it is unclear whether early responses to lebrikizumab may be maintained for a longer term or whether patients without early responses may achieve delayed responses in real-world clinical practice.Objectives:To evaluate the sustainability of clinical outcomes achieved at week 16 of lebrikizumab plus topical corticosteroids (TCS) treatment for AD through week 48 and the achievement of delayed responses in patients without early clinical outcomes.Methods:This prospective study included 134 Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with lebrikizumab plus TCS. Patients who achieved Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) 50, EASI 75, EASI 90, EASI 100, Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) 0/1, or Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS) 4 at week 16 were evaluated for maintenance rates of respective outcomes, while week 16 nonachievers were evaluated for delayed achievement rates of respective outcomes at weeks 24, 36, and 48.Results:In week 16 achievers, week 48 maintenance rates of EASI 50, EASI 75, EASI 90, and EASI 100 were 100%, 94.9%, 100%, and 87.5%, respectively, while those of IGA 0/1 and PP-NRS 4 were 86.7% and 97.1%, respectively. In week 16 nonachievers, week 48 achievement rates for EASI 50, EASI 75, EASI 90, and EASI 100 were 50.0%, 50.0%, 36.5%, and 3.4%, respectively, and those for IGA 0/1 and PP-NRS 4 were 26.5% and 23.1%, respectively.Conclusion:Improvements of rash and pruritus achieved at week 16 of lebrikizumab plus TCS treatment were mostly sustained through week 48. Some patients without week 16 responses could achieve delayed responses at later time points.
Takahashi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.