Atopic dermatitis treatment: Current state of the art and emerging therapies

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) can be debilitating and often requires the use of combination topical and systemic therapy to achieve adequate disease control. Methods: A non-systematic review was performed of current state of the art and emerging therapies for AD. Results: There are a number of topical agents approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of AD and multiple nonapproved systemic agents that are used off label for the treatment of AD. All of these have limitations of efficacy and/or safety, which leads to a number of unmet disease-treatment needs. Recent insight has identified a number of novel pathways as treatment targets for AD, including the T-helper type 2 cytokines, interleukins (IL) 4, IL-13, IL-33, phosphodiesterase E 4, and Janus kinase signaling. Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin 4 and 13 signaling and was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate-severe AD in adults. Discussion: There are a number of current treatment approaches and emerging therapies for AD.