Lebrikizumab - BAD Patient Hub

What are the aims of this leaflet?

This leaflet has been written to help you understand more about lebrikizumab. It explains what it is, how it works, how it is used to treat skin conditions, and where more information can be found about it.

What is lebrikizumab and how does it work?

Lebrikizumab is a biologic medicine. Biologics are made using living cells to act just like natural substances in the body.

Lebrikizumab works with the body’s immune system. It is used to treat skin conditions that cause inflammation (swelling, redness, and irritation), such as atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis).

There are many messenger proteins in the body which play a big part in inflammation. Sometimes, these proteins can send the wrong signals and make the skin more inflamed.

Lebrikizumab blocks one of these proteins called ‘interleukin-13’ (IL-13). By doing this, it helps reduce inflammation in the body. It also eases the symptoms of atopic eczema, including itching, skin pain and others.

Why have I been selected for treatment with lebrikizumab?

Lebrikizumab is licensed to treat people with moderate-to-severe atopic eczema. You may be offered lebrikizumab if:

you are aged 12 years and older,
your body weight is at least 40 kg,
your atopic eczema has not improved with ciclosporin, methotrexate, azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, or
if the above medicines cannot be used.

How long will I need to take lebrikizumab before it has an effect?

Lebrikizumab does not work right away. It can take up to 24 weeks to see the full benefit. If you do not experience significant benefit, the treatment may be reconsidered.

Your body may respond well to lebrikizumab after 4 to 6 months. In such case, you will only need the treatment once every 4 weeks.

How do I take lebrikizumab?

Lebrikizumab is given as two injections under the skin. This method is called “subcutaneous injection”. The medicine comes in either a pre-filled syringe or a pen device. A healthcare professional will teach you how to use the device to inject yourself. Detailed instructions are also provided in the package insert.

Injections are made under the skin of the stomach or thighs. It is important to avoid areas of skin that are tender, bruised, or affected by atopic eczema.

You will be provided with a special bin to dispose of your injections safely.

How often should lebrikizumab be taken?

You will need to inject 500 mg of lebrikizumab (two 250 mg injections) for the first two doses.
The first dose of 500 mg is injected at the start of treatment.
The second dose is repeated 2 weeks later.
Following this, doses will be 250 mg, injected every other week.

Your healthcare professional will provide specific instructions tailored to your condition.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you missed taking your medicine, take it as soon as you can. Then contact your dermatology team to check what to do next.

How do I store lebrikizumab?

You must store lebrikizumab in a refrigerator (between 2 to 8°C). It is recommended to keep the medicine in its original package to protect it from light. The expiry date of each prefilled syringe or pen device should be checked before use.

Once lebrikizumab has been removed from the refrigerator, it should be stored at room temperature of up to 30°C. It must either be used within 7 days or disposed of in the yellow bin provided. Carefully read the “Instructions for use” for the pre-filled pen carefully before using lebrikizumab.

Can I travel abroad while taking lebrikizumab?

Please discuss with your dermatologist if you are planning to travel abroad. It is important to keep the lebrikizumab at the correct temperature.

Depending on your travel destination, you may need to take precautions against infections (for example, with parasitic worms). This is because lebrikizumab might affect your body’s immune response to such infection.

Can I still use topical steroids?

Yes, you can still use topical steroid creams and ointments whilst taking lebrikizumab. Some people will also still require tablet medications to maintain control of the atopic eczema.

What are the possible side effects of lebrikizumab?

Most side effects reported during clinical trials were mild and manageable.

Common side effects:

Injection site reactions (redness, swelling, pain)
Headache
Fatigue

People taking lebrikizumab can develop eye-related side effects. These are usually mild and treated without needing to stop lebrikizumab. However, you may be referred to an ophthalmologist (eye specialist).

Do not try to self-manage new or worsening eye problems. Report them to your dermatologist. Report promptly if you have any new or worsening eye problems, such as:

watering,
itching,
redness,
swelling,
eye dryness,
a feeling of gritty eyes, or a sensation of a foreign body in the eye.

it is important to speak to your healthcare professional without delay If you experience:

significant eye pain that does not settle, or
changes in your vision.

Potentially severe side effects:

Allergic reactions: These are rare. Seek urgent medical attention if you experience symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as:

swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
difficulty breathing, or
severe rash. For more information, visit nhs.uk/conditions/anaphylaxis/

How can the risk of side effects be minimised?

Before starting lebrikizumab, your dermatologist will conduct a thorough medical evaluation. They will review your medical history and any current or past infections. Monitoring during treatment will help detect and manage any side effects promptly.

What will happen if I need an operation or dental surgery?

If you are scheduled for surgery or dental procedures, tell your healthcare provider that you are receiving lebrikizumab. They will assess whether any adjustments to your treatment are needed. There is no evidence from clinical trials that lebrikizumab increases the risk of serious infections.

Can I have immunisations (vaccinations) while on lebrikizumab?

Live vaccines should be avoided during treatment with lebrikizumab. Live vaccines include those for chickenpox/shingles, rubella (German measles), yellow fever, and some polio vaccines.

‘Inactivated’ or ‘non-live’ vaccines are generally safe. You should always tell your healthcare professionals that you are taking lebrikizumab before receiving immunisations.

Does lebrikizumab affect fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding?

The effects of lebrikizumab on pregnancy and breastfeeding are not fully known. It is recommended to avoid becoming pregnant while receiving lebrikizumab and to discuss family planning with your healthcare professional. In the case of pregnancy, you must tell your healthcare professional right away.

May I drink alcohol while taking lebrikizumab?

There is no known interaction between alcohol and lebrikizumab. However, it is advisable to consume alcohol in moderation and consult your healthcare professional. It is safest not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week regularly (www.nhs.uk/Live-well/alcohol-advice/calculating-alcohol-units).

Can I take other medicines at the same time as lebrikizumab?

Tell your healthcare professional about all medications you are taking. These include over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Some medications may interact with lebrikizumab, and your healthcare professional will advise you accordingly.

Where can I get more information about lebrikizumab?

For further information about lebrikizumab, read the product leaflet provided with the medicine. It has a full list of side effects. If you have any questions about your treatment, consult your dermatologist or pharmacist.

It is important to report suspected side effects of medicines. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) manages the Yellow Card scheme. This scheme collects information and safety concerns about medicines and medical devices. Anyone can report these side effects or concerns by using:

the Yellow Card website yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ or

the Yellow Card app

DermNetNZ: dermnetnz.org/topics/lebrikizumab

Jargon Buster: www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/support-resources/jargon-buster/

Please note that the BAD provides web links to additional resources to help people access a range of information about their treatment or skin condition. The views expressed in these external resources may not be shared by the BAD or its members. The BAD has no control of and does not endorse the content of external links.

This leaflet aims to provide accurate information about lebrikizumab and is a consensus of the views held by representatives of the British Association of Dermatologists. Individual patient circumstances may differ, which might alter both the advice and course of therapy given to you by your doctor.

This leaflet has been assessed for readability by the British Association of Dermatologists’ Patient Information Lay Review Panel