Lebrikizumabimproves anxiety and depression symptoms, as shown by PROMIS* scores, in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), according to the ADore trial presented at AAAAI/WAO 2025.

AD is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with anxiety and depression. Few studies have addressed interventions for symptoms of anxiety and depression in this population. [Sci Rep 2024;14:8844] However, “there are limited data addressing anxiety and depression in adolescents with AD,” said Dr Bob Geng from Rady Children’s Hospital at the University of California in San Diego, US.

Hence, Geng and his team sought to assess the effect of lebrikizumabon adolescents with AD who experienced anxiety or depression symptoms with baseline PROMIS anxiety and depression scores of ≥60, which indicates moderate to severe symptoms.

In this phase III, open-label trial, 206 patients (mean age 14.6 years, 52.4 percent female) with moderate-to-severe AD were given lebrikizumab at a loading dose of 500 mg after which they were treated with 250 mg every 2 weeks for 52 weeks. The PROMIS anxiety measure assesses self-reported fear, anxious misery, hyperarousal, and somatic symptoms related to arousal, while the PROMIS depression measure assesses self-reported negative mood, view of self, social cognition, and decreased positive affect and engagement.

For anxiety measures, the proportion of patients with PROMIS scores of ≥60 decreased by 10.2 percent at week 16 and further decreased by 7.3 percent at week 52. In terms of depression measures, a decrease of 11.7 percent at week 16 and 9.3 percent at week 52 was observed.

As a result, more than half of the participants reported mild or less symptoms, as indicated by PROMIS scores of <60 at week 16 (67.3 percent for anxiety and 53.8 percent for depression), which was sustained until week 52. [AAAAI/WAO 2025, abstract 615]

Additionally, the mean percent change in PROMIS scores decreased by 19 percent for anxiety and 12.6 percent for depression at week 52.

“Of adolescents with PROMIS anxiety or depression scores indicating moderate-to-severe symptoms at baseline and data available at Week 52, 81 percent and 65 percent, respectively, showed improvement to scores indicating mild or less anxiety or depression symptoms at Week 52,” said Geng.

“Overall, adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD treated with lebrikizumab reported improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms, as measured by PROMIS, through 52 weeks of treatment,” Geng concluded.

In a previous meta-analysis, the researchers suggested that depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation should be considered by doctors when treating patients with AD. Because AD disease improvement appears to reduce these risks, this should be a priority. [J Am Acad Dermatol 2018;79:448-456]