A New Topical Treatment for Atopic Dermatitis

A New Topical Treatment for Atopic Dermatitis Posted By:
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Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease; more than 21 million people aged 12 years and older are affected by AD in the US. It can be difficult to manage, and management is further complicated when patients do not respond well to existing treatments or have uncontrolled disease. When it comes to choosing a treatment for our patients with AD, the options are quite limited. In September, the FDA approved ruxolitinib cream for the short-term and noncontinuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate AD in patients 12 years of age and older who are non-immunocompromised and whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies, or for those in whom those therapies are contraindicated. Ruxolitinib is the first and only topical formulation of a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved in the United States—JAK inhibitors are of developing interest in AD, as research shows dysregulation of the JAK-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway plays a role in hallmark symptoms of AD such as itch, inflammation, and skin barrier dysfunction.

The approval of ruxolitinib was based on the TRuE-AD (Topical Ruxolitinib Evaluation in Atopic Dermatitis) clinical trial program, which consisted of 2 randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled phase III studies (TRuE-AD1 and TRuE-AD2). These trials included more than 1200 adolescents and adults with mild to moderate AD and assessed the safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib. Results from the studies showed that, at week 8, significantly more patients treated with ruxolitinib achieved treatment success (defined as Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA] score of clear or almost clear) and a clinically meaningful reduction in itch compared to those treated with vehicle.

References
  • National Eczema Association. New prescription treatments. nationaleczema.org/new-treatments/. Accessed Dec 21, 2021.
  • Ruxolitinib [prescribing information]. Wilmington, DE: Incyte Corporation; 2021.

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Filed under: Dermatology

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