WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20, 2023 -- For patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) and plaque psoriasis, topical PF-07038124, a potent, oxaborole-based phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, is well tolerated and has superior efficacy compared with vehicle, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in JAMA Dermatology.

Lawrence F. Eichenfield, M.D., from the University of California in San Diego, and colleagues randomly assigned patients with AD and plaque psoriasis to PF-07038124, 0.01 percent, topical ointment or vehicle once daily for six weeks in a phase 2a clinical trial at 34 sites across four countries. Eligible patients had mild-to-moderate AD covering 5 to 20 percent body surface area or plaque psoriasis covering 5 to 15 percent body surface area. One hundred four patients were randomly assigned, including 70 with AD and 34 with plaque psoriasis.

The researchers found that the PF-07038124 groups showed significantly greater improvements compared with vehicle groups at six weeks in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (least-squares mean change from baseline, −74.9 versus −35.5 percent) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (least-squares mean change from baseline, −4.8 versus 0.1). In patients with AD and plaque psoriasis, the number of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events was comparable. No application site reactions were seen with PF-07038124 treatment.

"Using a novel design, this study assessed efficacy and safety in two parallel patient populations, demonstrating PF-07038124 to be a promising treatment with no application site pain or reactions," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, which manufactures PF-07038124 and funded the study.