For moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, upadacitinib demonstrates efficacy through 52 weeks, according to a study published online March 9 in JAMA Dermatology .

Eric L. Simpson, M.D., from the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, and colleagues examined long-term efficacy and safety of upadacitinib treatment in 1,609 adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who were randomly assigned to receive once-daily oral upadacitinib 15 mg, 30 mg, or placebo in a 1:1:1 ratio in two trials (Measure Up 1 and Measure Up 2). Patients randomly assigned at baseline to receive upadacitinib continued assigned treatment at 16 weeks, while placebo-treated patients were re-randomly assigned to receive upadacitinib 15 or 30 mg in a 1:1 ratio.

The researchers found that efficacy at week 16 was maintained through 52 weeks. A 75 percent improvement in the Eczema Area and Severity Index was achieved by 82.0 and 79.1 percent of patients continuing the 15-g dose and by 84.9 and 84.3 percent of those continuing the 30-mg dose in Measure Up 1 and Measure Up 2, respectively, at week 52. The corresponding proportion of patients with a Validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis score of clear (0) or almost clear (1) with 2 or greater grades of improvement was achieved by 59.2 and 52.6 percent and by 62.5 and 65.1 percent, respectively.

"While longer-term treatment of moderate-to-severe AD with upadacitinib (both 15-mg and 30-mg doses) has a favorable benefit-risk profile, upadacitinib 30 mg may provide added benefit for patients with higher disease burdens that may require more rapid or more complete response to treatment," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, including AbbVie, which manufactures upadacitinib and funded the study.

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