Delgocitinib Shows Real-World Effectiveness and Improved Quality of Life in Chronic Hand Eczema

New data presented at the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress in Vienna, Austria, demonstrated the effectiveness of delgocitinib cream in adults with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (CHE) in routine clinical practice, alongside new findings in adolescents with the disease.

Interim findings from the ongoing REACHED study represent the first real-world evidence evaluating delgocitinib cream in adults with moderate to severe CHE. Additionally, post hoc analyses of the phase 3 DELTA TEEN trial demonstrated improvements in itch, pain, and health-related quality of life among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.

Real-World Effectiveness in Adults

REACHED is an ongoing prospective, observational, noninterventional study conducted across 79 sites in Germany. At the interim data cutoff, week 8 results were available for up to 97 patients, depending on the outcome assessed.

Among 68 patients with baseline disease severity assessments, 63 had moderate or severe CHE, and the mean Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) score was 62.4.

After 8 weeks of delgocitinib treatment in routine clinical practice, 28.6% of patients were assessed as clear or almost clear according to the modified Physician Global Assessment, compared with none at baseline. Mean HECSI scores decreased from 62.4 to 30.8, while 35.5% of patients achieved at least a 75% improvement in HECSI.

Patient-reported outcomes also improved. Mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores decreased from 14.5 at baseline to 7.9 at week 8. Mean itch and pain numerical rating scale scores decreased by 2.1 and 2.7 points, respectively.

All reported adverse events were nonserious, and all but 1 were mild or moderate in severity.

Rapid Improvements in Itch and Pain Among Adolescents

Additional findings presented at EADV focused on adolescents with moderate to severe CHE enrolled in DELTA TEEN, a 16-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial evaluating twice-daily delgocitinib cream.

A post hoc analysis evaluated daily patient-reported itch and pain using the Hand Eczema Symptom Diary (HESD). Improvements were observed as early as day 1.

Mean changes from baseline in itch scores were –1.03 with delgocitinib compared with –0.20 with vehicle (P = .040). Pain scores decreased by –1.34 versus –0.39, respectively (P = .019). Greater reductions with delgocitinib were maintained across the first 2 weeks of treatment.

Quality-of-Life Improvements

A separate post hoc analysis of DELTA TEEN evaluated health-related quality of life using the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI).

At week 16, 27.0% of adolescents receiving delgocitinib reported a CDLQI score of 0, indicating no impact of their skin disease on quality of life, compared with 0% of those receiving vehicle (P = .005).

The proportion of adolescents reporting a large or very large impact on quality of life decreased from 21.6% at baseline to 4.1% at week 16 with delgocitinib. In the vehicle group, the corresponding proportion decreased from 25.0% to 16.7%.

Improvements were also observed in the symptoms and feelings domain of the CDLQI. At week 16, 48.6% of adolescents treated with delgocitinib had a domain score of 0 compared with 5.0% receiving vehicle (P < .001).

“For an adolescent, chronic hand eczema is rarely only a matter of the skin. It shapes how they feel, how they sleep, and what they are willing to do in front of others,” said Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego.

Eichenfield added that incorporating quality-of-life outcomes alongside measures of clinical severity is an important component of assessing CHE in younger patients.

Expanding Evidence in Chronic Hand Eczema

CHE is characterized by persistent or recurrent hand eczema lasting more than 3 months or recurring at least twice within a year. The condition can cause itch, pain, erythema, scaling, hyperkeratosis, vesicles, edema, and fissures and can substantially interfere with everyday activities and quality of life.

Delgocitinib is a topical, nonsteroidal pan-Janus kinase inhibitor that inhibits JAK-STAT signaling. In the US, delgocitinib cream is FDA approved for adults with moderate to severe CHE who have had an inadequate response to topical corticosteroids or for whom topical corticosteroids are not advisable.

The EADV findings add real-world adult data and adolescent patient-reported outcomes to the growing evidence base for delgocitinib in CHE.

References

1. Molin S, et al. Real-world effectiveness of delgocitinib cream in adults with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema: Interim analysis after 8 weeks of treatment in the German REACHED study. Presented at: European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2026; September 30–October 3, 2026; Vienna, Austria. ePoster P1613. EADV_2026_PressRelease_Delgocit…
2. Molin S, et al. Delgocitinib cream provides rapid improvements in itch and pain symptoms in adolescents with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema: Results from DELTA TEEN. Presented at: EADV Congress 2026; September 30–October 3, 2026; Vienna, Austria. ePoster P2395. EADV_2026_PressRelease_Delgocit…
3. Molin S, et al. Treatment with delgocitinib cream improves health-related quality of life in adolescents with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema: Results from DELTA TEEN; a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled phase 3 trial. Presented at: EADV Congress 2026; September 30–October 3, 2026; Vienna, Austria. Oral presentation AS-1174. EADV_2026_PressRelease_Delgocit…
4. Bissonnette R, Warren RB, Pinter A, et al. Efficacy and safety of delgocitinib cream in adults with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (DELTA 1 and DELTA 2): Results from multicentre, randomised, controlled, double-blind, phase 3 trials. Lancet. 2024;404(10451):461-473.