Real-world clinical experience with ruxolitinib cream versus systemic therapies in patients with moderate atopic dermatitis in the United States

Abstract

PURPOSE: Ruxolitinib cream (Janus kinase [JAK]1/JAK2 inhibitor) was effective and well tolerated in clinical trials of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). We examined real-world outcomes among patients with moderate AD treated with ruxolitinib cream or systemic therapies. METHODS: (August 2022-March 2023) were analyzed descriptively. Patients treated with ruxolitinib cream, traditional systemic immunosuppressants, oral JAK inhibitors, or biologics comprised 4 mutually exclusive cohorts. RESULTS: Among 619 patients (mean age, 39.1 y; 50% female; 79% White), mean affected body surface area (BSA) was reduced from treatment initiation by 49% with ruxolitinib cream, 35% with systemic immunosuppressants, 61% with oral JAK inhibitors, and 55% with biologics. Nearly half of patients (48.4%) had reduced physician-reported disease severity with ruxolitinib cream versus 6.3%, 51.5%, and 46.4% with systemic immunosuppressants, oral JAK inhibitors, and biologics, respectively. Results were similar among patients with baseline affected BSA ≤20%. CONCLUSIONS: Physician-reported outcomes show that ruxolitinib cream monotherapy substantially reduced the extent and severity of moderate AD, suggesting that it provides an effective topical treatment option in these specific populations.