Opzelura achieves rapid itch reduction in patients with atopic dermatitis
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Key takeaways:
- Opzelura-treated patients achieved a 3.4-point itch reduction by day 2 according to the peak pruritus numerical rating scale.
- Itch reduction was sustained through day 29.
New data from a phase 2 study evaluating the short-term clinical benefits of Opzelura cream 1.5% showed a reduction in itch among adults with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, Incyte announced in a press release.
“Itch is the most bothersome symptom for most AD patients, and can greatly affect patient’s everyday lives,” Jim Lee, MD, PhD, group vice president of inflammation and autoimmunity at Incyte, told Healio. “Rapid and sustained reduction of itch can provide both immediate and long-term relief for patients, greatly improving the quality of their lives.”
The single-site, open-label, single arm trial, SCRATCH-AD, evaluated Opzelura (ruxolitinib), a novel cream that inhibits Janus kinase 1 and 2. According to the release, the study met its primary and secondary endpoints while maintaining a positive safety profile.
Forty-nine participants in the study aged 18 and 65 years applied ruxolitinib twice daily, 12 hours apart, for 28 days on new and baseline-identified lesions.
As measured by the peak pruritus numerical rating scale (PP-NRS), the study met its primary endpoint with a mean reduction in itch from baseline of 3.4 points by day 2. A modified PP-NRS showed rapid itch reduction was also observed 15 minutes (mean change, –2.3) and 4 hours (mean change, –4.2) after application.
Additional findings from the study showed that the improvement in itch was sustained for 12 hours post-treatment with a mean reduction of 3.1 points from baseline. This improvement increased to a mean reduction of 5.7 points from baseline by day 27.
The mean reductions in IGA scores were 1.4 on day 8, 2 on day 15 and 2.2 on day 29, showing a consistent improvement, according to the release.
No serious adverse events were reported. All treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate in nature and did not result in discontinuations.
“For patients who have significant itch as part of their AD, Opzelura can provide rapid, substantial and sustained reduction in their itch,” Lee told Healio. “This improvement in itch can help patients achieve an early improvement in their quality of life and long-term control of their AD.”
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