This New Eczema Drug Shows the Need for Black Clinical Trial Participation

A new drug is showing promise in relieving eczema on Black and brown skin. In a phase 3 trial, Eli Lilly’s medicine Lebrikizumab cleared skin and provided itch relief in people with skin of color who suffered from eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis.  Needless to say, an eczema treatment for Black and brown skin is right on time. Ten percent of Black Americans and over 10 percent of Americans suffer from eczema. The creation of this drug can make living with eczema more bearable, but it is also a reminder of the importance of Black people participating in clinical trials.  Researchers found that eczema severity was reduced drastically in the majority of trial participants. Almost half of them saw major skin improvement, and nearly half achieved clear or close to clear skin. More than half of the study participants experienced clinically meaningful itch relief. Forty of the fifty trial participants were Black. According to Andrew Alexis, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology and vice chair for diversity and inclusion in the Department of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and a dermatologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, people of color are disproportionately affected by eczema, and experience more severe symptoms....