Hope for Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) Patients as First of its Kind Cream Available on NHS

·        The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved the first-and-only topical treatment of its kind in adults with moderate to severe Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) when topical corticosteroids have not worked or are not suitable.¹

·        The Technology Appraisal Guidance (TAG) means NHS organisations in England and Wales must now make Anzupgo^®▼ (delgocitinib) cream available for healthcare professionals to prescribe.¹

·        CHE affects approximately one in ten adults,^2,3 with 70% of those with severe forms reporting problems performing everyday activities,⁴ and 58% saying it interferes with their ability to work.⁵

Maidenhead, UK – LEO Pharma, a global leader in medical dermatology, today announced that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued Technology Appraisal Guidance (TAG) recommending the reimbursement of Anzupgo^®▼ (delgocitinib) cream for the treatment in adult patients with moderate to severe Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE), when topical corticosteroids have not worked or are not suitable.¹ Anzupgo^®▼ is now the first approved topical pan-Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor treatment for this indication.⁶

CHE is a fluctuating inflammatory skin condition, characterised by persistent itch, pain, redness and irritation on the hands and wrists.⁷ The condition is diagnosed when these symptoms last more than three months, or when they return two or more times within a year.^8,9 People can develop CHE due to a combination of factors, including a weakened skin barrier, ongoing inflammation, and changes in the skin’s microbiome.¹⁰

“We use our hands all the time, whether it’s texting, operating machinery, caring for others or pretty much anything else,” said Andrew Proctor, Chief Executive, National Eczema Society. “Yet for many people living with Chronic Hand Eczema, even routine tasks can become painful and life-limiting. NICE's positive recommendation of delgocitinib is a brilliant outcome for the eczema community in the UK who struggle so badly with Chronic Hand Eczema.”

“The NICE recommendation marks a pivotal moment in the treatment of Chronic Hand Eczema,” said Professor Richard Warren, The University of Manchester and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. “There have been limited effective treatment options for patients with moderate to severe disease, so delgocitinib offers a new, evidence-based option. It's an important treatment to help patients with what can be a debilitating disease.”

The final recommendations from NICE are that delgocitinib can be used, within its marketing authorisation, as an option to treat moderate to severe chronic hand eczema in adults when topical corticosteroids have not worked or are not suitable.¹ Delgocitinib can only be used if it is provided in accordance with the commercial arrangement.¹ NICE recommends that delgocitinib should be started and monitored by a healthcare professional with experience in diagnosing and treating CHE in secondary care and that healthcare professionals should consider how skin colour could affect the assessment of disease severity and make any adjustments needed.¹

The NICE committee concluded that delgocitinib is an effective treatment for improving symptoms of CHE, based on robust clinical evidence from the DELTA 1, 2, 3 and DELTA FORCE trials.¹

“This approval is a huge moment for the many people living with Chronic Hand Eczema and for us at LEO Pharma,” said Leanne Walsh, Vice President and General Manager, LEO Pharma UK and Ireland. “Delgocitinib is now the first NICE-approved topical treatment of its kind, and I am proud to be able to bring this innovation to patients. What’s especially encouraging is how NICE has recognised the need for equitable care, including how this condition shows up differently across skin tones. It’s a real step forward. At LEO Pharma, we’re committed to making a meaningful difference by listening, learning and continuing to deliver treatments that help improve lives.”