AbbVie Presents New Data on Efficacy of Upadacitinib in Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis, High-Impact Areas

AbbVie recently presented new data supporting the efficacy of upadacitinib (Rinvoq) in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) affecting high-impact areas such as the head and neck.¹

Data was presented in a poster at the 33rd European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress held September 25 through 28 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.²

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Poster authors Eyerich et al noted that treatment of AD in regions such as the face, head, and neck is made significantly more complex due to its high visibility. AD and eczema are already highly linked to significant rates of anxiety and depression; lesion location, particularly when the condition is concentrated to more visible areas of the body, plays a crucial role in patients' well-being.³

Poster authors examined data from the phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled Measure Up 1 and Measure Up 2 clinical trials.⁴ The ongoing studies assess the safety and efficacy of 2 upadacitinib doses (15 mg and 30 mg) in patients (n=1682) with moderate to severe AD. In total, 847 patients are participating in Measure Up 1, while 835 are participating in Measure Up 2.

At baseline, patients presented with a median Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score of 25.8. Participants were divided into 1 of 3 treatment groups: upadacitinib 15 mg (n=557), upadacitinib 30 mg (n=567), or placebo (n=558), taken daily.

Researchers measured outcomes over the course of 16 weeks, focusing on the proportion of patients achieving improvement in head and neck EASI scores, total EASI 90 scores, pruritus scores via the Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (WP-NRS), and quality of life via the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).

After 16 weeks, researchers observed that a higher percentage of patients treated with upadacitinib 15 mg or 30 mg achieved more significant improvements in overall skin clearance. They also achieved significantly reduced itching and a minimized impact on overall quality of life compared to patients in the placebo group.

For achieving an EASI head and neck score of less than 1, upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg showed substantial improvements in moderate disease (67.8% and 75.9%, respectively) and severe disease (47.2% and 63.2%) compared to placebo.

Similarly, for EASI 90, the response rates were higher with upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg for mild (54.7%, 65.7%), moderate (48.1%, 61.6%), and severe (43.7%, 60.3%) disease categories than with placebo. Upadacitinib also led to a significant reduction in WP-NRS ≥4 (itch severity) and improvement in WP-NRS 0/1 (complete itch relief).

Moreover, the achievement of minimal disease activity, as well as a reduction in the DLQI of ≥4, was significantly higher with both doses of upadacitinib, especially in moderate and severe cases, as compared to placebo. Overall, upadacitinib 30 mg showed a higher efficacy rate than the 15 mg dose across all endpoints.

"This analysis demonstrated efficacy of [upadacitinib] in treating patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (across different degrees of severity in the head and neck area) achieving near complete skin clearance in the head and neck region, near complete skin clearance, minimal or no effect on their quality of life, minimal to no itch, and minimal disease activity at 16 weeks," wrote poster authors Eyerich et al.

References

1. New analysis demonstrates the efficacy of Rinovq (upadacitinib) in atopic dermatitis with varying degrees of severity in head and neck involvement. News release. AbbVie. September 25, 2024. Accessed September 25, 2024. https://news.abbvie.com/2024-09-25-New-Analysis-Demonstrates-the-Efficacy-of-RINVOQ-R-upadacitinib-in-Atopic-Dermatitis-with-Varying-Degrees-of-Severity-in-Head-and-Neck-Involvement
2. Eyerich K, Mendes-Bastos P, Holzer G, et al. Efficacy of upadacitinib in treating atopic dermatitis in the head and neck regions. Poster presented at the 33rd European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, September 25-28; Amsterdam, Netherlands.
3. Schonmann Y, Mansfield KE, Hayes JF, et al. Atopic eczema in adulthood and risk of depression and anxiety: a population-based cohort study. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(1):248-257.e16. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2019.08.030
4. Guttman-Yassky E, Teixeira HD, Simpson EL, et al. Once-daily upadacitinib versus placebo in adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (Measure Up 1 and Measure Up 2): results from two replicate double-blind, randomised controlled phase 3 trials [published correction appears in Lancet. 2021 Jun 5;397(10290):2150. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01214-9]. Lancet. 2021;397(10290):2151-2168. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00588-2