Atopic dermatitis care advances in 2025 with new biologics, topicals and oral therapies

Atopic dermatitis’ (AD) deeper complexities were exposed in 2025. Once seen mainly as a visible skin condition, AD is now widely recognized as a long-lasting inflammatory disease that affects sleep, mental health, daily life and long-term health, especially for children.

Over the past year, new research and regulatory progress moved quickly, with advances in biologics, targeted topical treatments and new oral therapies. At the same time, insurance barriers and access challenges continued to slow care for many patients. From IL-13 inhibitors and PDE4 creams to first-in-class STAT6 therapies, 2025 changed how clinicians, payers and patients think about treating AD now and in the future.

Here Are the Nine Key Takeaways Captured From 2025 Atopic Dermatitis Coverage

1. Atopic dermatitis is no longer viewed as a skin-only disease
   Coverage throughout 2025 continuously pointed out AD affects far more than the skin. Studies and experts often showed that AD is linked to poor sleep, emotional stress and trouble with daily activities for both patients and caregivers.
   
   Problems such as itching, fatigue and mental health strain were treated as key signs of how severe the disease is. This wider view has helped doctors and payers focus more on caring for the whole person, not just treating what can be seen on the skin.
2. IL-13 became a main treatment target
   Interleukin-13 stood out as a major driver of inflammation in AD. Experts described the disease as largely driven by IL-13 and pointed to its role in itching, ongoing inflammation and symptoms that do not go away. Treatments that block IL-13 worked well in many patients, including children and those with hard-to-treat areas like the face and hands. These results strengthened the case for IL-13 as a major target in AD care.
3. Less frequent dosing changed expectations
   New data in 2025 showed that patients don’t always need frequent doses to keep symptoms under control. Some biologics continued to work well with monthly or longer gaps between injections. For patients, this can lower stress and make treatment easier to stick with. For doctors and insurers, longer dosing schedules may affect decisions about cost, long-term value and adherence.
4. Pediatric care moved forward but faced barriers
   Care for children with AD continued to improve as more treatments were approved for younger ages. However, experts said insurance rules, step therapy and limited data in children tended to slow access.
   
   Even when newer treatments have fewer side effects, coverage delays can keep families waiting. This gap between new options and access remains a major issue in pediatric care.
5. Nonsteroidal topicals met key needs
   Nonsteroidal creams and ointments gained attention in 2025, especially for children and sensitive skin areas. These treatments—including delgocitinib (Anzupgo), roflumilast cream 0.05% (Zoryve), ruxolitinib cream 1.5% (Opzelura) and roflumilast foam 0.3%—helped control itch and inflammation without the risks linked to long-term steroid use. Doctors highlighted their role in early treatment and long-term maintenance, changing how topical therapies fit into AD care plans.
6. Sleep became a key outcome measure
   Sleep problems were clearly recognized as part of AD disease burden. Many studies used patient and caregiver reports of sleep to judge how well treatments worked.
   
   Better sleep usually followed fast itch relief, sometimes within days. These improvements showed how treating symptoms can quickly improve daily life for both patients and families.
7. Oral therapies showed stronger promise
   Oral treatments such as REX-8756 (oral STAT6 inhibitor) and KT-621 (oral STAT6 degrader) made progress in 2025, with early studies showing biological effects similar to injectable drugs. This raised hope that pills could one day offer strong results with added convenience. For patients who dislike injections or face access barriers, effective oral options could open the door to more flexible care.
8. STAT6 gained attention as a new target
   STAT6 emerged as an important target tied to IL-4 and IL-13 signaling. Early research showed that blocking or breaking down STAT6 could strongly reduce inflammation markers. Experts suggested this approach may be more targeted than other immune treatments and could balance strong results with better safety.
9. AD care moved toward personalized treatment
   By the end of 2025, experts stressed that AD treatment should not follow a single path for everyone. Choices are now based more on age, disease severity, other health conditions and the biology driving each patient’s disease. This move toward personalized, pathway-based care reflects a larger shift in dermatology and points to continued progress ahead.

Advances in 2025 show that atopic dermatitis care is becoming more patient-centered, effective and focused on improving the whole patient’s quality of life.