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Crisaborole Ointment 2%: A Review in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis

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Abstract

Crisaborole ointment 2% (Eucrisa™) is a novel, anti-inflammatory inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) that is available in the USA for the topical treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in patients aged ≥ 2 years. In two short-term (28 days), identically designed, multicentre, phase III studies in this patient population, topical therapy with crisaborole ointment 2% reduced disease severity and pruritus severity compared with vehicle, with the effect established early and sustained over the course of treatment. Improvements in the other signs of atopic dermatitis (erythema, exudation, excoriation, induration/papulation, and lichenification) were also seen. Crisaborole ointment 2% was generally well tolerated in the short-term studies, with its favorable safety profile maintained over the longer term (up to 52 weeks) in a multicentre, extension study. Most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were of mild to moderate severity and considered unrelated to the study medication. Moreover, the incidence of application-site pain following short- and longer-term topical therapy with crisaborole ointment 2% was low. In conclusion, crisaborole ointment 2% is an effective and generally well tolerated new topical option for the management of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in patients aged ≥ 2 years, with the potential to effectively treat this patient population over the longer term without the safety concerns associated with other current topical anti-inflammatory agents.

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Acknowledgements

During the peer review process, the manufacturer of crisaborole ointment 2% was also offered an opportunity to review this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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  1. Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, 0754, Auckland, New Zealand

    Sheridan M. Hoy

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  1. Sheridan M. Hoy
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Correspondence to Sheridan M. Hoy.

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Funding

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

Conflict of interest

Sheridan Hoy is a salaried employee of Adis/Springer, is responsible for the article content and declares no relevant conflicts of interest.

Additional information about this Adis Drug Review can be found at http://www.medengine.com/Redeem/DA98F0600F347AE8.

Additional information

The manuscript was reviewed by: M. G. Lebwohl, Department of Dermatology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; L. Stein Gold, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.

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Hoy, S.M. Crisaborole Ointment 2%: A Review in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis. Am J Clin Dermatol 18, 837–843 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-017-0327-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-017-0327-4

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