Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, talks tapinarof cream, 1%, nemolizumab FDA approvals for atopic dermatitis

Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, professor of dermatology and pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, recently highlighted significant advancements in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) and other dermatologic conditions.

In this video discussion with Contemporary Pediatrics, Eichenfield discussed the recent FDA approvals of tapinarof cream, 1% (VTAMA; Organon) to treat AD in patients 2 years and older, as well as nemolizumab (Nemluvio; Galderma) to treat patients aged 12 years and up with moderate-to-severe AD in combination with topical corticosteroids (TCS) and/or calcineurin inhibitors (TCI), when disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies,^1,2

Speaking about recent FDA approvals, Eichenfield emphasized the importance of these developments for both patients and clinicians.

“This is the first approval for tapinarof for atopic dermatitis,” he stated. “We get [approval] from age 2 [years] upward through adults at the same time with the same formulation that we’ve had experience with in psoriasis.”

Eichenfield noted that the safety profile for pediatric patients was favorable, with good tolerance and minimal absorption concerns.

Click here for full approval details, including clinical trial data highlights, as well as additional commentary from John Browning, MD, FAAD, FAAP, a board-certified pediatric and adult dermatologist in San Antonio, Texas, and is an assistant professor at the Baylor College of Medicine, as well as the chief of Dermatology at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio.

“I think it’s exciting to get newer non-steroidals in our hands,” said Eichenfield. “We certainly have patients who are very concerned about topical corticosteroids, and also many patients where we can’t necessarily treat with just topical corticosteroids long term. So tapinarof comes in with that mixture of the short-term studies and longer-term studies intermittently, giving us a nice, effective alternative non-steroid for eczema across the ages.”

In addition to tapinarof, he discussed the approval of nemolizumab, a novel biologic targeting interleukin-31 (IL-31), for patients aged 12 years and older.

“It’s a totally novel drug... IL-31 is an important layer in pathophysiology of AD,” Eichenfield explained. “I think this gives us another systemic biologic, and we’ll see how it plays out in terms of sequencing or relationship to other biologics. People have these stories of incredible responsiveness that seems to be different than with other biologic agents.”

Click here for full nemolizumab FDA approval details, including clinical trial data highlights.

References:

1. Fitch, J. FDA approves tapinarof cream, 1% for atopic dermatitis patients 2 years and up. Contemporary Pediatrics. December 16, 2024. Accessed December 19, 2024. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/fda-approves-tapinarof-cream-1-for-atopic-dermatitis-patients-2-years-and-up

2. Fitch, J. FDA approves nemolizumab to treat atopic dermatitis in patients 12 years and up. Contemporary Pediatrics. December 16, 2024. Accessed December 19, 2024. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/fda-approves-nemolizumab-to-treat-atopic-dermatitis-in-patients-12-years-and-up