CHE in adolescents: Delgocitinib cream superior to vehicle

Topical delgocitinib outperformed vehicle cream in a paediatric population with chronic hand eczema (CHE). An Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) 0/1 or a ≥2-step improvement from baseline was achieved by 63.5% of patients receiving delgocitinib, compared with 29.2% in the vehicle arm.

The pan-JAK inhibitor delgocitinib is already approved for adults with CHE. The phase 3 DELTA-TEEN trial (NCT05355818) evaluated its efficacy in patients aged 12 to 17 years with moderate-to-severe CHE [1]. A total of 98 patients were randomised 3:1 to receive delgocitinib cream twice daily or a cream vehicle. The primary endpoint was Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) for CHE treatment success (IGA-CHE TS) at week 16.

The median age of participants was 14 years; 59.2% were female. The median duration of CHE was 4 years, with a median onset at age 11.

With 63.5% of patients on delgocitinib achieving IGA-CHE TS, defined as IGA0/1 or a ≥2-step improvement from baseline, compared with 29.2% in the vehicle arm, the study met its primary endpoint. The inter-treatment difference was 37.9% (95% credibility interval 13.5%-58.2%; probability 0.999). Delgocitinib also outperformed vehicle in all secondary outcomes: HECSI-90 (71.6% vs 37.5%), ≥4-point reduction in Hand Eczema Symptom Diary (HESD) score (55.6% vs 31.3%), HESD itch (64.8% vs 36.8%), and HESD pain (63.3% vs 33.3%).

“Delgocitinib cream was well-tolerated, and no new safety concerns were identified,” Prof. Sonja Molin (Queen’s University, ON, Canada) commented. Overall, adverse events (AEs) occurred in 50% of the delgocitinib group (none severe) and 33.3% of the vehicle arm. There were no serious AEs. AEs leading to withdrawal occurred in 2.7% (delgocitinib) and 4.2% (vehicle). The most common AEs (≥5%) were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. Prof. Molin also highlighted the absence of abnormal findings in laboratory tests, ECG, or physical examination.

“This trial strongly supports delgocitinib cream as an efficacious and well-tolerated topical treatment for adolescents with CHE, a population that remains underserved and in high need,” Prof. Molin concluded.

1. Molin S, et al. DELTA TEEN phase 3 trial: efficacy and safety of delgocitinib cream in adolescents with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema. D1T01.3B, EADV Congress 2025, 17–20 September, Paris, France.

Medical writing support was provided by Dr Susanne Kammerer and Karin Drooff

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Posted on 22 September 202522 September 2025