New treatments for atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic and eczematous skin condition that is characterized by repeated exacerbations and remissions. In recent years, its pathogenesis has been more clearly elucidated, and treatments targeting molecules that are important for its progression have been developed. In 2018, dupilumab, which blocks the common receptor of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, was introduced as a new treatment for AD, representing a significant turning point in the treatment of AD. Since the pathogenesis of AD is complicated, other biological and molecularly targeted agents are also expected to be introduced in the future. In this article, we report our experience in treating atopic dermatitis patients with dupilumab at our hospital, describe the efficacy and safety of drugs used for AD and provide a review of the recent literature on new drugs that are expected to be approved in the future.