Lebrikizumab improved itch and reduced the extent of itch interference on sleep in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: two randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trials

Itch and sleep loss due to itch are prevalent symptoms of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, significantly impairing patients' quality of life and wellbeing. First-line topical therapy is insufficient for most patients and there is an unmet need for effective treatments that provide symptom relief and quality of life improvement. In two randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trials, significantly more patients treated with the novel monoclonal antibody lebrikizumab had >= 3-point improvement in Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale by week 16 vs. patients treated with placebo. In addition, significantly more patients treated with lebrikizumab achieved >= 1-point improvement in Sleep-Loss Scale score by week 16 vs. placebo. Onset of itch relief was rapid, occurring within the first few days of treatment.