Advanced Therapies for Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Marathon or Sprint?

Authors

  • Wei Jing Loo, BSc, MBBS, MRCP, FRCP Adjunct Professor, University of Western Ontario, London, ON

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing and remitting disease that has a substantial impact on the lives of patients and caregivers. While mild AD can be adequately managed with topical therapies, patients with moderate-to-severe AD may require systemic treatment which has traditionally consisted of off-label use of immunosuppressants such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, and azathioprine.

Several advanced therapies that target specific components of the pathophysiological pathway in AD are now available for patients with moderate-to-severe disease. Agents approved in Canada include an anti–interleukin (IL)-4 receptor inhibitor that blocks signalling of both IL-4 and IL-13 (dupilumab), a selective anti–IL-13 monoclonal antibody (tralokinumab), and selective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (abrocitinib and upadacitinib). The introduction of these therapies has greatly improved dermatologists’ ability to tailor treatment strategies based on individual clinical profiles and patient preferences.

Author Biography

Wei Jing Loo, BSc, MBBS, MRCP, FRCP, Adjunct Professor, University of Western Ontario, London, ON

Dr. Wei Jing Loo is the owner and Medical Director of DermEffects, a cutting edge dermatology centre located in London, Ontario. Dr. Loo completed medical school in 1997 with an honours degree from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She trained in Internal Medicine and obtained membership in the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom in 1999. She completed her dermatology residency training in Cambridge, United Kingdom and obtained her Certificate of Specialist Training in Dermatology in 2005. She is board certified in Canada and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She is a member of the Canadian Dermatology Association and American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Loo is at the forefront of the dynamic field of dermatology, serving as an associate investigator for Probity Medical Research. Dr. Loo is an Adjunct Professor at Western University in Ontario. She enjoys teaching and has published her work in many peer-reviewed journals.

 

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Published

2023-06-01

How to Cite

1.
Loo WJ. Advanced Therapies for Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Marathon or Sprint?. Can Dermatol Today [Internet]. 2023 Jun. 1 [cited 2024 May 20];4(2):5–11. Available from: https://canadiandermatologytoday.com/article/view/4-2-loo

Issue

Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2023

Section

Articles