Drug Evaluation

The role of tralokinumab in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and future perspectives for adolescents

Adaora R Ewulu

Stuti Prajapati

Steven R Feldman

Adaora R Ewulu

*Author for correspondence: Tel.: +1 972 439 8388;

E-mail Address: are45@georgetown.edu

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9999-4778

Department of Dermatology, Center for Dermatology Research, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA

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Stuti Prajapati

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9889-5325

Department of Dermatology, Center for Dermatology Research, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA

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Steven R Feldman

Department of Dermatology, Center for Dermatology Research, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA

Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA

Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA

Department of Dermatology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, 5230, Denmark

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Published Online:29 Aug 2023https://doi.org/10.2217/imt-2022-0307

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Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease that frequently occurs in adolescents. Although there are many treatment options, the challenge for clinicians is finding an effective long-term drug for AD with a favorable safety profile. The purpose of this review is to describe the role of tralokinumab, an IL-13 inhibitor, in treating adolescent AD. The clinical efficacy and safety of tralokinumab were established in clinical trials for adults with moderate-to-severe AD. Based on the results of these trials and the preliminary results of trials conducted on adolescents with AD, tralokinumab effectively alleviates symptoms with tolerable adverse effects. Extending the use of tralokinumab to adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD seems promising for the future.

Plain language summary

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common long-term skin disease characterized by scaling, redness, itching, pain and sleep disturbances. Fortunately, many treatment options are available depending on the severity of the disease. In this article, the authors describe the potential role of tralokinumab, a drug that blocks a key signal in the immune system that causes AD. The results of recent studies and trials imply that tralokinumab can be effective in providing at least short-term relief of AD symptoms in patients unresponsive to other treatments. So far, it has had an acceptable overall safety profile. The future of tralokinumab treatment in the adolescent population seems promising.

Keywords:

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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Vol. 15, No. 16

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Received 16 December 2022

Accepted 9 August 2023

Published online 29 August 2023

Published in print November 2023

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Financial & competing interests disclosure

SR Feldman has received research, speaking and/or consulting support from Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline/Stiefel, AbbVie, Janssen, Alovtech, vTv Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Samsung, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Amgen, Dermavant, Arcutis, Novartis, Novan, UCB, Helsinn, Sun Pharma, Almirall, Galderma, Leo Pharma, Mylan, Celgene, Ortho Dermatology, Menlo, Merck & Co, Qurient, Forte, Arena, Biocon, Accordant, Argenx, Sanofi, Regeneron, the National Biological Corporation, Caremark, Teladoc, BMS, Ono, Micreos, Eurofins, Informa, UpToDate and the National Psoriasis Foundation. He is the founder and part owner of Causa Research and holds stock in Sensal Health. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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