STAT6, ITK Inhibitors, IL-31, & IL-18 Headline Burgeoning Pipeline in Atopic Dermatitis, with David Rosmarin, MD

The atopic dermatitis treatment landscape continues to expand, with oral agents, bispecifics, and novel immune-modulating mechanisms emerging as areas of active investigation alongside existing biologic and JAK inhibitor options.

At the Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) 2026 Conference, HCPLive spoke with David Rosmarin, MD, chair of the Department of Dermatology and associate professor of Dermatology at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, about pipeline agents, unmet needs in hand eczema, and the evolving standard of care in atopic dermatitis.

Among the agents drawing attention, Rosmarin highlighted agents targeting STAT6, including a STAT6 degrader and a STAT6 inhibitor, as well as an ITK inhibitor and a longer-acting IL-13 agent currently in development. He also noted interest in bispecific and trispecific approaches targeting combinations such as IL-13/IL-4 with TSLP and IL-18 with IL-13. A particularly novel mechanism involves rezpegaldesleukin, an IL-2 agonist designed to expand regulatory T cells and modulate immune activity in atopic dermatitis.

Chronic hand eczema received particular emphasis as an area of persistent unmet need. Rosmarin noted the heterogeneity of the population, spanning atopic, allergic, and irritant etiologies, often in combination, and the challenge traditional topicals face in the thicker skin of the hands. He underscored the importance of having targeted options across topical, oral, and biologic classes for this group.

On clinical trial interpretation, Rosmarin described a preference for assessing consistency across multiple endpoints, including EASI-75, EASI-90, pruritus NRS, and the FDA-mandated IGA 0/1 threshold, rather than relying on any single measure.

Collectively, the pipeline Rosmarin outlined addresses several distinct gaps: a cleaner-label oral option, less frequent biologic dosing, access to novel mechanisms when existing IL-4/13 and JAK inhibitor therapies fall short, and the push toward greater efficacy through multi-target approaches.

Disclosures for Rosmarin include AbbVie, Abcuro, Almirall, AltruBio, Amgen, Arena, Astria, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, and others.

References:

1. Lieberman J, Hawkes J. Session 6: Late-Stage AD Pipeline Review, Clinical Updates in CHE. Session presented at: Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) 2026 Conference; June 17-19, 2026; Nashville, TN.
2. Cui L, Liu P, Wu K, Han X, Peng G. Targeting the JAK/STAT pathway in atopic dermatitis. Front Immunol. 2026;17:1757562. Published 2026 Mar 26. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2026.1757562