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Efficacy and safety of abrocitinib for the treatment of adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: update of a living systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Therapy
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

Despite extensive research on biological therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD), recent clinical trials of the Janus kinase inhibitor 1, abrocitinib, have provided more definitive evidence regarding its efficacy and safety in treating AD.

Objectives

To conduct a living systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of abrocitinib in adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe AD.

Materials & Methods

The databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and clinical trial registries were searched from inception of the databases to July 11, 2023. Only randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of abrocitinib in individuals with moderate-to-severe AD were included in the meta-analysis.

Results

Twelve studies involving a total of 5,644 participants aged 12 years or older were included in the analysis. The pooled results revealed a significantly higher proportion of patients achieving Investigator Global Assessment response (RR = 3.52, 95% CI: 2.78 to 4.46), Eczema Area and Severity Index response (RR = 3.35, 95% CI: 2.54 to 4.41), Peak Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale response (RR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.95 to 3.30), and Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure response (abrocitinib 100-mg group: −4.25, 95% CrI: −5.24 to −3.27; abrocitinib 200-mg group: −7.69, 95% CrI: −8.39 to −6.99) compared to the placebo group. Additionally, there was no significant differences in adverse events between the abrocitinib and placebo groups.

Conclusion

Abrocitinib demonstrates a favourable safety profile and robust efficacy in treating moderate-to-severe AD compared to placebo. The 200-mg dose regimen appears to be more effective than the 100-mg dose regimen for the treatment of AD.

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Data availability: All the data supporting the results of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People’s Hospital, Quzhou, 324000, China

    Hui Zheng

  2. Department of Dermatology, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People’s Hospital, 324000, Quzhou, China

    Yan Chen, Yunsheng Xu & Xinjie Deng

  3. Department of Dermatovenereology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China

    Yunsheng Xu

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  1. Hui Zheng
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  2. Yan Chen
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  3. Yunsheng Xu
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  4. Xinjie Deng
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Correspondence to Xinjie Deng.

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Zheng, H., Chen, Y., Xu, Y. et al. Efficacy and safety of abrocitinib for the treatment of adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: update of a living systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Dermatol 33, 530–543 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2023.4557

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2023.4557

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