A promising treatment for eczema is being fast tracked by the Food and Drug Administration.
Eczema, a medical condition that causes the skin to become inflamed or irritated, affects about 10-20 percent of infants in the U.S. and about three percent of adults.
The condition is hard to treat and often makes patients miserable to live with it.
The untreatable nature of the skin disease could soon come to an end, as a new drug called Dupilumab was recently called a "breakthrough therapy" by the FDA, reported CBS News.
A team of researchers found that eczema is driven by the immune system, inspiring them to develop Dupilumab to target the molecules that trigger the inflammation.
"We know that it's immune driven and we know that we have a large population that is in need of better treatment," Dr. Emma Guttman-Yassky of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who led the research, told CBS News.
Dupilumab is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials to prove its effectiveness, reported CBS News. This is the last hurdle the team has before their drug is approved by the FDA.
Daniela Velasco, one patient participating in the testing of Depilumab, already expressed to CBS News her amazement over the new treatment for her eczema that often keeps her up at night.
"It was such a quick change, so dramatic," Velasco told CBS News. "Like from being extremely miserable to like, 'Whoa, this is what it feels like to be normal again!'"
Julie Block, the CEO of the National Eczema Association, expressed gratitude that the FDA is expediting the approval of Dupilumab.
"Moderate to severe atopic dermatitis is a debilitating, life-altering disease with very limited treatment options," Block told the Healthcare Professionals Network. "Many patients suffer for years with widespread inflamed skin, intense itch, sleep disturbances, and other challenges. We are thrilled to see the FDA recognizing the need to expedite and prioritize potential new options for these patients."
