Novel topical and systemic therapies in atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory skin disease driven by both terminal keratinocyte differentiation defects and type 2 immune responses, and this condition causes psychological and social morbidity. Although patients with severe AD require systemic immunotherapy, conventional agents including ciclosporin could not be used for several years due to side effects such as nephrotoxicity, hypertension and long-term risks of malignancy. It is well known that dupilumab, which blocks receptor binding of both IL-4 and IL-13, is remarkably efficacious in the treatment of AD. We have entered a new era when many novel topical and systemic agents that may have great potential in AD treatment are emerging through clinical trials. The purpose of this article is to summarize the efficacy and safety of the current topical and systemic therapies in AD by reviewing recently published papers regarding phase II/III clinical trials. It is revealed that topical phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are promising treatments for AD. Moreover, systemic therapies such as biologics targeting IL-13 and oral JAK inhibitors show strong efficacy in AD.