What Experts Hope Ruxolitinib Cream Could Provide Atopic Dermatitis

Pooled outcomes from assessment of ruxolitinib cream for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adolescent and adult patients found the investigative JAK 1/2 inhibitor topical therapy from Incyte Pharmaceuticals significantly benefits metrics of skin clearance and patient-reported itch, while maintaining good tolerability and a consistent safety profile.

The findings, presented at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Virtual Meeting Experience this weekend, add to the promising portfolio of ruxolitinib cream, which has been assessed for various inflammatory-pathway dermatologic conditions—but has made the most clinical ground in atopic dermatitis care.

In an interview with HCPLive on the findings, study author Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, of the

Rady Children’s Hospital and UC San Diego School of Medicine, discussed the robust trial profile of the topical drug.

“It performed incredibly well, in terms of our standard outcome measures,” Eichenfield said. “You can drive a lot of patients to achieving clear (skin), or almost clear. Probably just as important, if not more important…there were very few dropouts.”

In discussing the future utility of ruxolitinib cream, Eichenfield discussed its unique opportunity to fill a need for atopic dermatitis improvement and maintenance at a level of efficacy currently observed in systemic, “high-cost injections.”

“It does look like it’ll be something in our regimens of care that will allow to keep more people potentially clear or almost clear without their rash and minimal itch,” he said.

The overall hope for ruxolitinib cream in the atopic dermatitis space is that it could provide minimalized rash and itch, improved sleep and lifestyle qualities for affected patients—all the while being accessible to the average in-need patient.

“As with any drug new or old, getting it into the hands of patients consistently and at a reasonable cost…that makes a big difference, in terms of our ability to use it well,” he said.