Video
Author(s):
James Q Del Rosso, DO, Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, Lisa Swanson, MD, summarize the TRuE-AD1 and TRuE AD2 phase 3 trial and provide take home messages topical ruxolitinib cream for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD: I want to think about some of those big take-home messages from the paper we’re discussing today and broadly speaking from just the itch data that we think about with topical ruxolitinib [Opzelura]. What are your big thoughts for the day?
Lisa Swanson, MD: Big thoughts. Rapid onset of action. Quick improvement in itch. Quick improvement in happiness.
Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD: I love it. I wish that I could say something as smart as that. So I would say that my biggest takeaway is the fact that we now have a topical therapy that has not only an effect that crosses the boxes of regulatory end points but one where we can start thinking about how fast can this get working for anybody and really how something can get you to the point where I can say the majority of people are hitting all the things that we’re measuring. And it really makes that clinical discussion that much easier.
James Q. Del Rosso, DO: To summarize, topical ruxolitinib 1.5% cream has been shown in phase 3 pivotal trials to be very effective in improving eczematous dermatitis. But what we focused on here is that it has a substantial effect on reducing itching, which we know is extremely bothersome to the patients, is a continual problem for them, and affects them on a daily basis. Their sleep, their mood, maybe even how they interact with other people, and what they do in the course of the day, especially when their itch is more severe, which it often is.
It's really important with a topical therapy to getting to where the site of action is. We’re applying it to the skin and not getting a lot of exposure. So you’re not really concerned about the systemic aspects because it has very high concentrations in the skin and very limited systemic exposure based on the pharmacokinetic data. So that’s a very good feeling and it is reducing itching significantly and not only waiting for eczema to clear before the itch does. I think it’s very important information and it really is a great addition and a non-steroidal addition, which has also other benefits to the armamentarium.
TRANSCRIPT EDITED FOR CLARITY