BEACON Eczema Trial Receives Funding

We are delighted to announce that we have now received funding for the BEACON trial - Best Systemic Treatments for Adults with Atopic Eczema over the Long Term.

The study will be a randomised, assessor-blind trial comparing ciclosporin, methotrexate, dupilumab and a Janus kinase inhibitor (TBC). The trial will be funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment, and has been designed in collaboration with the UK DCTN, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust, National Eczema Society and our patient partners.

The aim of this head to head trial is to establish the comparative effectiveness, tolerability, and cost-effectiveness of the four key treatments used to treat moderate to severe eczema in adults.

It will, for the first time, enable doctors and patients to benefit from knowing how systemic treatments for atopic eczema compare to each other on a level playing field and in a way that reflects NHS practice.

BEACON will be set up as a multi-arm multi-stage platform trial capable of adding new arms as novel treatments emerge (akin to the RECOVERY trial in COVID) and will be, to our knowledge, the first of its kind globally in Dermatology.

If you feel that your site could take part in and contribute to what we feel is a very important and exciting study then please contact the trial team. Email to: Tess.Cheetham@gstt.nhs.uk.

Andrew Pink, Catherine Smith, Hywel Williams

On behalf of the BEACON trial team.