In Patients with Skin of Color, Lebrikizumab for Atopic Dermatitis Gets High Marks for Treatment Satisfaction

Lebrikizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-13, was associated with significant improvements in skin symptoms and significantly enhanced quality of life (QoL) for participants with skin of color (SoC) and moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), according to findings from the phase 3b ADmirable trial (NCT05372419). Lebrikizumab also was associated with high rates of patient-reported treatment satisfaction, with participants achieving the greatest skin clearance and QoL improvements reporting the highest levels of treatment satisfaction.¹

Valerie Callender, MD

First author Valerie Callender, MD, founder and medical director of Callender Dermatology and Cosmetic Center, near Washington, DC, and coauthors cite recent joint task force guidelines that recommend “ reprioritizing clinical trial outcomes to focus on patient quality of life (QoL) over skin signs alone,”² which the team did for the often-underrepresented population in the 16-week ADmirable trial.

At week 16, Callender et al reported, the mean percentage improvement in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) from baseline was 52.7%. Approximately 70.0% of study participants achieved a 4-point or greater improvement in DLQI, 57.4% attained a DLQI of 5 points or less (small effect on life), and 29.4% reached a DLQI score of 0 or 1 (no effect on life). Overall, 62.8% of participants reported being mostly or completely satisfied with lebrikizumab treatmentwhile 37.2% were somewhat, slightly or not satisfied. Of the 29 participants in the latter group, 6 (7.7%) were not satisfied with treatment.

Investigators enrolled 90 participants aged 12 years and older in the open-label study who self-identified as non-White, ie, Black/African American (77.8%), Asian (11.1%), American Indian/Alaskan Native (6.7%), and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (4.4%). Fitzpatrick Phototypes IV (43.3%), V (24.4%), and VI (32.3%) were represented.

ADmirable cohort participants had a baseline mean Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score of 26.4, and the mean DLQI was 13.2. All participants received initial 500-mg lebrikizumab loading doses at baseline and week 2, followed by 250-mg doses every 2 weeks through week 16. Concomitant topical therapy was permitted, and those requiring protocol-defined rescue therapy were discontinued.

At week 16 the researchers found skin clearance and QoL improvements were closely associated with patient satisfaction. Among EASI 75 responders, 74.1% reported being mostly or completely satisfied, and among EASI 90 responders, 71.4% expressed similar satisfaction. Likewise, among those with a DLQI improvement of 4 or more points, 69.8% were mostly or completely satisfied, increasing to 76.9% in DLQI of 5 or lower responders and 85.0% in those achieving a DLQI score of 0 or 1.

These findings underscore the efficacy of lebrikizumab in improving both clinical outcomes and patient-reported satisfaction in an underrepresented AD population. The correlation between skin symptom relief and higher satisfaction rates highlights lebrikizumab as a promising therapeutic option for individuals with SoC with moderate-to-severe AD.

References
1. Callender V, Armstrong A, Kindred C, et al. Lebrikizumab improved skin signs, quality of life, and showed high levels of patient satisfaction in adult and adolescent patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and skin of color. J Cutan Med. 2025;9(2):s549. doi:10.25251/skin.10.supp.549.
2. Chu, DK, Schneider L, Abrams E, et al; AAAAI/ACAAI JTF Atopic Dermatitis Guideline Panel. Atopic dermatitis (eczema) guidelines: 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters GRADE– and Institute of Medicine–based recommendations.” Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023;132(3):274–312. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2023.11.009