Lebrikizumab improved itch, quality of life, and infection rates in kids with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, ADorable-1 results suggest.
In newly-released phase 3 findings, lebrikizumab therapy produced meaningful improvements in itch, quality of life, and overall disease burden among children and adolescents with
These efficacy and safety findings were released from the ADorable-1 trial and presented at the Society of Pediatric Dermatology conference. Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, of the University of California San Diego and Rady Children's Hospital, served as an investigator on the study.1,2 In an HCPLive interview, Eichenfield reported that itch outcomes varied by age group, with younger children assessed via the Worst Scratch/Itch Scale and older children evaluated using a 4-point improvement threshold.
Approximately 35% of lebrikizumab-treated patients achieved a 4-point drop in itch severity compared with 5% of those on placebo. The separation was even more pronounced on the Worst Itch Scale, where 41.6% of patients receiving lebrikizumab achieved a 4-point improvement, compared with no placebo-treated patients.
Quality-of-life measures also favored the active treatment arm. Eichenfield noted that a 6-point reduction from baseline is generally considered clinically meaningful; 61.6% of lebrikizumab-treated patients met that threshold, compared with 36% of the placebo group.
Eichenfield described overall adverse event rates as not markedly different between arms, with no deaths and few serious adverse events reported. No patients discontinued treatment due to adverse effects, he noted. Skin infections occurred less frequently with lebrikizumab plus topical corticosteroids (2.4%) than with placebo plus topical corticosteroids (8.5%).
This was a finding Eichenfield attributed to the anti-inflammatory effect of IL-13 blockade on the skin microbiome. Conjunctivitis rates were described as 7.3% with lebrikizumab and 5.1% with placebo, and no cases of keratitis were observed.
Looking ahead, Eichenfield emphasized unmet needs in young patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, including questions about optimal biologic selection, treatment duration, and whether early intervention can modify long-term disease course.
He expressed particular interest in whether IL-13 blockade might also reduce the development of atopic comorbidities over time, an area he said warrants further long-term investigation.
Disclosures: Eichenfield previously reported receiving personal fees from Pfizer Inc; grant funding from AbbVie, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Bausch + Lomb, Castle Biosciences, Dermavant Sciences Inc, Galderma SA, Pfizer Inc, Regeneron, and Sanofi SA and consulting for ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, Almirall, SA, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc, Dermavant Sciences Inc, Galderma SA, Incyte Corporation, LEO Pharma A/S, Eli Lilly and Company, Ortho Dermatologics, Pfizer Inc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Sanofi SA, and UCB; and serving on the board of directors of Forté Pharma.
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