Il-13 Antagonists In The Treatment Of Atopic Dermatitis

Lay abstractAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease. IL-13 is a biologically active molecule that plays a central role in the inflammation underpinning the clinical manifestations of AD, such as itch and skin lesions. Beneficial results have been demonstrated with therapies directed against IL-13; among them, only dupilumab, which blocks the transmission of signals originated by binding of IL-13 and IL-4 to their receptors, has been approved for treatment of AD. Studies evaluating specific anti-IL-13 therapies are providing promising results. The subject of this review will be drugs directed against IL-13 or downstream transmission of the signal following its receptor binding that have been approved or are intended for the treatment of AD and other skin diseases.Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin disease. IL-13 contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of AD in several ways, and beneficial results have been demonstrated with anti-IL-13 therapies. Currently, the only monoclonal antibody (mAb) approved for AD treatment is dupilumab, an antagonist of the IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4R alpha) subunit common to IL-4 and IL-13 receptors, but clinical trials evaluating anti-IL-13 mAbs are providing promising results. The topics of this review will be mAbs targeting IL-13 for the treatment of AD such as dupilumab, tralokinumab and lebrikizumab, small molecules targeting the IL-13 pathway, and a brief explanation of therapies targeting IL-13 for the treatment of other skin diseases.