Lebrikizumab: a new anti-IL-13 agent for treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease. Moderate-to-severe AD severely affects patients' quality of life. New drugs selectively targeting molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the disease led to a new era for the treatment of AD. However, the current available options are limited and do not completely fulfill patients' needs. Recently, lebrikizumab, a new humanized monoclonal antibody targeting IL-13, has been approved for treating moderate-to-severe AD. Areas covered: By analyzing scientific literature reporting lebrikizumab phase 3 pivotal clinical studies and summarizing recent advances in AD pathogenesis, in this article we focused on the mechanism of action of lebrikizumab in comparison to other biologics used for treating AD and discussed clinical data that led to the approval of this biologic agent. Expert opinion: Among biologics approved for moderate-to-severe AD, lebrikizumab is characterized by a unique mechanism of action and an attractive maintenance regimen, besides good efficacy and safety profiles. Moreover, clinical evidence suggests that patients naïve or pre-treated with other biologics and affected by AD localized in sensitive areas and by type 2 comorbidities might be successfully treated with lebrikizumab.