Abrocitinib therapy effective in patients with Atopic dermatitis: Study

A new study published in the International Journal of Dermatology suggests that abrocitinib is an effective therapy for atopic dermatitis (AD) since it is well-tolerated with few major adverse events. Atopic dermatitis is projected to affect more than 20% of children and 1% to 3% of adults. Thereby, reducing symptoms, avoiding exacerbations and lowering treatment risks are the major objectives of therapy. The topical treatment with topical corticosteroids (TCS) or calcineurin inhibitors is the standard of care. One particular inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK)1 is called bracitinib and the itching and eczema is decreased when this mediator is inhibited. this study by Jose Carlos Armario-Hita and team assessed the safety and short-term efficacy of abrocitinib in individuals with moderate-to-severe AD in a real-world context.

This retrospective multicenter study included adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD who began abrocitinib medication during May 1, 2023 and September 30, 2023, in Fifteen Spanish hospitals. The treatment dosages were either 100 or 200 mg per day which was based on a clinical evaluation. Data on patient demographics, history of AD, comorbidities, past therapies and markers of disease severity, such as Peak Pruritus NRS, body surface area, ratings at baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks, Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and SCORing atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) were meticulously gathered. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was utilized to quantify quality of life, while several biochemical indicators and the monitoring of adverse events were used to evaluate safety.

The key findings of this study were:

• The study cohort included 76 patients with an average age of 33.93 years of which 57.89% were male.
• Before the abrocitinib treatment, 36.84% of patients were naïve to advanced therapies, with the baseline mean scores to be SCORAD: 47.04, EASI: 21.79 and DLQI: 15.01
• By week 24, the EASI score reduced to 2.81 and 70.58% of patients achieved EASI 75. Also, 18.42% of patients discontinued treatment due to inefficacy or adverse effects.
• The safety profile was favorable where 22.37% reported mild adverse events (AEs) and one with reported serious case of cutaneous lymphoma.

Overall, the outcomes of this trial found abrocitinib therapy to be effective for AD, even in the individuals who had previously not responded well to biologics or JAK inhibitors.

Reference:

Armario‐Hita, J. C., Pereyra‐Rodriguez, J. J., González‐Quesada, A., Herranz, P., Suarez, R., Galan‐Gutiérrez, M., Rodríguez‐Serna, M., Ortiz de Frutos, J., Carrascosa, J. M., Serra‐Baldrich, E., Ara‐Martin, M., Figueras‐Nart, I., Silvestre, J. F., Zaragoza‐Ninet, V., & Ruiz‐Villaverde, R. (2024). Treatment of atopic dermatitis with abrocitinib in real practice in Spain: efficacy and safety results from a 24‐week multicenter study. In International Journal of Dermatology. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.17344