Results of a trial show that tralokinumab is safe, tolerable and effective in older adults to treat moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The drug is already approved for adults who have the condition.
The results of a secondary analysis of the phrase 3 trial showed people had a 75% or greater improvement in an eczema index when they took tralokinumab for 16 weeks compared to those who took a placebo. The report was published on Aug. 23 in JAMA Dermatology. Joseph F. Merola, MD, a researcher from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, led the research team.
The series of trials included 75 people who were assigned to take tralokinumab or tralokinumab along with topical corticosteroids. There were 29 people taking a placebo. The mean age was between 70 and 73 years old. More than 56% of people who were older adults who took tralokinumab in the three trials were taking five or more concomitant medications when the trial was going on.
At 16 weeks of the study, safety was about the same in both groups taking tralokinumab. “No patients in the tralokinumab arm experienced vascular disorders; one patient experienced accelerated hypertension and deep vein thrombosis in the placebo group. There were no reports of herpes zoster. In addition, no deaths were reported,” the authors wrote.
Adbry is the brand name for tralokinumab. It’s an interleukin (IL)–13 antagonist that’s given by injection. The US Food and Drug Administration first approved it in 2021 for treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults.
The authors say that their results are important for older people who “typically face unique treatment challenges.”
They write: “Treatment for moderate-to-severe disease can be challenging, as they can experience more active and severe disease, increased comorbidity, polypharmacy, and a higher risk of infection. Other challenges include potential safety risks and low adherence to conventional therapies, like corticosteroids, phototherapy, and immunosuppressants.”
