Article: First cream created to treat hand eczema approved to be rolled out on the NHS

[Sly Saint]

The first cream created to treat hand eczema is to be rolled out on the NHS after winning approval from the health watchdog.

Trials show the cream, delgocitinib, significantly reduces itchiness and redness within days.

Applied twice a day, it also has far fewer side effects than current NHS treatments.
Hand eczema, which leaves hands and wrists weeping, cracked and sore, is most common in people such as hairdressers or cleaners who work with irritating chemicals.

Experts say the drug, which was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) last week, could benefit more than 10,000 British sufferers.

‘Delgocitinib is marvellous because it appears to be very effective and safe,’ says Dr Anthony Bewley, consultant dermatologist at Barts Health NHS Trust in London, who led a major trial of the drug.

In Daily Mail.
It was actually approved last year:

Delgocitinib approved to treat adult patients with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema​

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved the medicine delgocitinib (Anzupgo) to treat moderate to severe chronic hand eczema in adults when topical corticosteroids are inadequate or inappropriate.

Delgocitinib approved to treat adult patients with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved the medicine delgocitinib (Anzupgo) to treat moderate to severe chronic hand eczema in adults when topical corticosteroids are inadequate or inappropriate.

www.gov.uk

I think the quoted figure of 10,000 in the Mail piece is way lower than the actual number of people who are affected, and it's certainly not only hairdressers and cleaners! Loads of people must get allergic contact dermatitis with many different potential allergens.

In Europe the new treatment is under 'additional monitoring'

Anzupgo | European Medicines Agency (EMA)

www.ema.europa.eu

I hope this does turn out to be 'effective and safe' in the long-term unlike the standard corticosteroid treatments, and note that under the NHS it will only be available to those who 'do not respond' to the standard treatment. How long, and up to what strength of corticosteroid treatment would this apply to I wonder. It's also only available on prescription (as it should be, up to 1% hydrocortisone cream is easily available otc) so will depend on your GP, or ,if you are lucky enough to see one, your dermatologist.