Biological drugs for the treatment of children with atopic dermatitis

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that frequently affects children and is associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. Recent advances in our understanding of AD immunopathogenesis have led to the development of targeted biological and small-molecule therapies. AREAS COVERED: This review focuses on the available and emerging targeted therapies for pediatric AD, linking mechanistic rationale to currently available and emerging biologics and JAK inhibitors and highlighting the limits of pediatric evidence, real-world data, and treatment selection. The literature was reviewed by searching PubMed and other relevant clinical trial databases, focusing on studies that evaluated targeted systemic treatments in children and adolescents with AD. EXPERT OPINION: Targeted therapies are reshaping the management of pediatric AD and improving disease control and quality of life. However, long-term safety data, validated biomarker-guided treatment strategies, and equitable access to these therapies remain key challenges.