Rates of Improved Patient-Reported Atopic Dermatitis Outcomes With Treatment
Treatment with abrocitinib, an investigational oral Janus kinase 1 selective inhibitor, led to quick and persistent improvements in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis inadequately controlled by topical therapy. Researchers reported findings from a phase 2b study online ahead of print in Dermatitis.
“This study demonstrates that treatment with once-daily abrocitinib 200 or 100 mg results in rapid (2 days to 2 weeks), statistically significant, clinically relevant improvement,” they wrote, “that was maintained over a period of 12 weeks in patient-reported disease-specific symptoms and impacts in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.”
The double-blind study included 267 patients from 58 centers in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hungary, and the United States who were randomly assigned to once-daily abrocitinib 200 mg, abrocitinib 100 mg, abrocitinib 30 mg, abrocitinib 10 mg, or placebo over 12 weeks. All participants had moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
Compared with placebo, patients who received abrocitinib showed significantly greater improvements on the peak pruritus numeric rating scale by day 2 with the 200-mg dose and by day 3 with the 100-mg dose. Patients taking abrocitinib 200 mg and 100 mg also showed significantly more improvement than those taking placebo on the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure, the Pruritus and Symptoms Assessment for atopic dermatitis, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Within the first couple of weeks, patients taking abrocitinib 200 mg had significantly greater improvement compared with placebo on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, too.
Furthermore, abrocitinib 200 mg and 100 mg was associated with greater proportions of patients achieving Patient Global Assessment clear/almost clear with 2-point or greater improvement. With the 200-mg dose, the difference compared with placebo was significant by week 1; with the 100-mg dose, by week 4, according to the study.
“This was a relatively small phase 2b study with a relatively short treatment duration for chronic disease,” researchers wrote. “Nevertheless, numerous significant differences were seen within this small window of treatment. Results from ongoing phase 3 trials of abrocitinib will further elucidate the effect of abrocitinib on patient-reported outcome measures.”
—Jolynn Tumolo
Reference
Simpson EL, Wollenberg A, Bissonnette R, et al. Patient-Reported Symptoms and Disease Impacts in Adults With Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Results From a Phase 2b Study With Abrocitinib [published online ahead of print, 2021 Apr 1]. Dermatitis. 2021;10.1097/DER.0000000000000725. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000725
