DELTA TEEN: Delgocitinib Proves Benefit in Teens with Chronic Hand Eczema

New data from the European Association of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2025 Congress suggests use of delgocitinib cream (Anzupgo) was effective and safe in managing chronic hand eczema (CHE) for adolescents.

Known as the DELTA TEEN study, results of the phase 3 trial demonstrated superior efficacy with delgocitinib cream compared to cream vehicle among a population aged 12 to 17 years with moderate to severe CHE for whom topical corticosteroids are inadequate or inappropriate.1

“The findings from the phase 3 DELTA TEEN trial may offer hope for young people whose CHE can impact their wellbeing and leisure activities,” said study investigator Sonja Molin, MD, an academic dermatologist at Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin and adjunct associate professor of Dermatology at Queen’s University.1 “These results are encouraging and bring us one step closer to advancing the standard of care for this underserved patient group, helping to fulfill their unmet dermatological needs.”

Delgocitinib cream capture the attention of dermatologists and the medical community in July 2025 when it became the first agent to receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for CHE—making it the first agent to ever receive such an indication. The approval of the topical pan-Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor was based on data from the DELTA 1 and DELTA 2 trials.1,2,3

At EADV, Molin presented data from DELTA TEEN, which was a 16-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, parallel group trial launched to evaluate the efficacy and safety of twice-daily delgocitinib cream compared with cream vehicle in adolescents 12 to 17 years of age with moderate to severe CHE.1,2

The trial, which included 98 individuals, and had a primary endpoint of Investigator’s Global Assessment for CHE Treatment Success (IGA CHE TS) at week 16, which was defined as an IGA-CHE score of 0/1 (clear/almost clear) with a 2 step or greater improvement from baseline.1,2

Results from the trial suggested 63.5% of patients achieved the primary endpoint in the delgocitinib cream arm relative to 29.2% in the cream vehicle arm. Further analysis indicated use was associated with a greater proportion of patients achieving other meaningful endpoints relative to vehicle cream, including a ≥90% improvement in the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI-90) score from baseline to week 16 (71.6% vs. 37.5%) and a 4-point or greater reduction in Hand Eczema Symptom Diary (HESD) itch (64.8% vs. 36.8%), pain (63.3% vs. 33.3%), and total (55.6% vs. 31.3%) scores from baseline to week 16.1,2

Safety data from DELTA TEEN indicated 0 serious adverse events were reported in the trial, with reported events with delgocitinib cream considered mild or moderate in severity. Additionally, investigators pointed out events probably or possibly related to the trial drug and events leading to withdrawal from the trial or permanent discontinuation were reported, with numerically lower rates for delgocitinib cream than vehcile cream.1,2

“Nearly half of CHE patients feel they are a burden to their families, and around 63% avoid holding hands with their partners, highlighting the profound everyday impact this disease can have on patients’ lives. These figures are more than just statistics; they reflect the real and often unseen challenges faced by those living with CHE,” said Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen, PhD, chief scientific officer and executive vice president of Science, Search & Innovation at LEO Pharma.1

References:

1. LEO Pharma. LEO Pharma Presents Late-Breaking Phase 3 Delgocitinib Cream Data in Adolescents with Moderate to Severe Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE). Leo-pharma.com. Published September 18, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.leo-pharma.com/media-center/news/2025-delgocitinib-late-breaker

2. Molin S. DELTA TEEN Phase 3 trial: Efficacy and Safety of Delgocitinib Cream in Adolescents with Moderate to Severe Chronic Hand Eczema. Presented at the European Association of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2025 Congress. Paris, France. September 17-20, 2025.

3. National Eczema Association. LEO Pharma Announces FDA Approval of ANZUPGO® (delgocitinib) Cream in the U.S. National Eczema Association. Published July 25, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://nationaleczema.org/blog/leo-pharma-announces-fda-approval-of-anzupgo-delgocitinib-cream-in-the-u-s/