Notable Results From the Trials of Ruxolitinib Cream for Vitiligo

David Rosmarin, MD, highlights the notable results and differences between the phase 2 and phase 3 trials studying ruxolitinib cream for repigmenting vitiligo. Dr Rosmarin is the vice chair of research and education in the department of dermatology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA.

Transcript

Dr Rosmarin:  One thing that I was surprised with is how consistent the primary endpoint was with the phase 2s. About 30% of patients achieved that F-VASI75 at 24 weeks in the phase 2, and we get similar numbers in both studies for the primary endpoint in the phase 3 as well. However, another thing that was a little surprising is, in the phase 2, when none of the patients in the vehicle arm achieved that primary endpoint of F-VASI75, whereas there was about 7% to 12% of patients achieving that endpoint on vehicle in the phase 3. Some reasons that could be responsible for that difference include different population entering the study, different sites looking at these patients. Also, given that the study was conducted in times of COVID, patients may have been a little bit concerned about having longer exams that were more diligent, and some of them were hesitant to take off their masks as well for that examination.