ESCD 2026: New Data Show Ongoing Burden of Chronic Hand Eczema

LEO Pharma will present new data at the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD) Congress 2026 in Copenhagen highlighting the significant burden chronic hand eczema (CHE) continues to place on patients across different stages of life, according to a press release from the manufacturer. The presentations draw on findings from the company’s phase 3 DELTA FORCE and DELTA TEEN clinical programs and emphasize the ongoing need for effective treatment options for both adults and adolescents living with the condition.

ESCD 2026 Data Spotlight the Impact of Chronic Hand Eczema on Daily Life

Among adults enrolled in the DELTA FORCE phase 3 study, approximately one-quarter reported taking sick leave related to CHE during the previous 12 months, while nearly one-third reported worsening symptoms while at work. Patient-reported outcomes also demonstrated greater improvements in work productivity, daily activities, and quality-of-life measures among patients treated with topical delgocitinib compared with oral alitretinoin. Quality-of-life improvements were assessed using the EQ-5D-5L, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Hand Eczema Impact Scale (HEIS).

The burden of disease was similarly evident among adolescents enrolled in the DELTA TEEN phase 3 trial. Baseline findings showed persistent symptoms and meaningful disruptions to school attendance, academic performance, participation in school activities, and everyday functioning. Investigators also reported that existing standard-of-care treatments demonstrated limited success in this population, highlighting a continued unmet need for effective therapies for moderate-to-severe CHE in adolescents.

“Across our program, the message is clear: Chronic hand eczema continues to place a heavy burden on patients’ lives with persistent symptoms, and there is still a real need for patients with CHE,” Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer at LEO Pharma, said in a company statement.

Additional presentations at ESCD 2026 will examine patient-reported symptom measures, disease assessment tools, and emerging research on the skin microbiome in CHE.

Source: LEO Pharma press release, June 25, 2026.