Ruxolitinib cream achieves durable itch-free state in atopic dermatitis

Among adults and adolescents with atopic dermatitis (AD), ruxolitinib cream helps sustainably improve itching, reports a recent analysis.

The present study pooled data from two phase III randomized trials, yielding a cumulative sample of 1,209 patients with baseline itch, as determined by the numerical rating scale (NRS), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure question 1 (POEM Q1), or Scoring Atopic Dermatitis itch tool (SCORAD). Forty-nine were eventually excluded due to quality issues.

The primary outcome was itch-free state, defined as NRS dropping from a baseline score of >1 to 0 or 1; having no reported itch days in the preceding week among those with baseline POEM Q1 scores ≥1; and SCORAD dropping from a baseline of >1 to 0 or 1.

More patients treated with ruxolitinib cream reached itch-free state vs vehicle such that by day 2, approximately 36 hours after the first application, the difference in the proportion with NRS 0 or 1 was statistically significant. This effect remained significant through week 8.

The median time to an itch-free state was 14.0 days in those treated with 0.75% ruxolitinib and 9.0 days in those receiving the 1.5% concentration cream. Median time to itch-free state was not estimable in vehicle controls.

“These results demonstrate that ruxolitinib cream addresses an unmet need by rapidly improving itch, a chronic and burdensome symptom, in adults and adolescents with AD,” the researchers said.