Topical delgocitinib for the treatment of chronic hand eczema

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a prevalent dermatological condition characterized by significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. Delgocitinib, a pan-JAK inhibitor, has emerged as a promising topical treatment for CHE, targeting key cytokine-mediated inflammatory pathways involved in the disease. Delgocitinib 20 mg/g (2%) cream was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2024 for moderate-to-severe CHE, and its U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review is currently in progress.

PubMed, Medline and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to January 21, 2025, using specific search terms related to delgocitinib and chronic hand eczema.

Clinical trials have demonstrated its effectiveness in improving disease severity, including eczema signs and symptoms such as pain and itching, and enhancing patient-reported outcomes compared to vehicle. Topical delgocitinib has shown a favorable safety profile, with most adverse events being mild and unrelated to treatment. Serious adverse events were rare, and treatment discontinuation due to adverse events was minimal. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on topical delgocitinib's clinical utility and safety in CHE, positioning it as a valuable therapeutic option. Further comparative studies are needed to evaluate its efficacy against oral JAK inhibitors and other topical immunosuppressants, providing insight into optimizing treatment strategies for this chronic condition.