Delgocitinib cream may expand the treatment toolbox for moderate to severe chronic hand eczema

Chronic hand eczema is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry, scaly, erythematous, and pruritic hand lesions, with presentations ranging from mild cases to severe chronic forms that are often refractory to treatment. For many individuals living with chronic hand eczema, inadequate symptom control translates into a reduced quality of life, impaired productivity, and a high psychological burden. Emerging therapies such as topical Janus kinase inhibitors have the potential to improve symptom control and quality of life for individuals affected by this skin condition who are unable to achieve or maintain treatment response with skin care practices and topical corticosteroids. In the DELTA 1 and DELTA 2 randomized phase 3 clinical trials, delgocitinib cream showed superior efficacy compared with cream vehicle and was well tolerated by participants over 16 weeks of treatment. Participants treated with delgocitinib cream in the open-label, extension phase maintained treatment response up to week 36 in the DELTA 3 trial. These results support the potential addition of delgocitinib cream to the ever-expanding armamentarium for the treatment of chronic hand eczema.