Abrocitinib for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema, a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, dry and cracked. Abrocitinib is a medication taken orally (by mouth) that specifically targets JAK1, a protein involved in inter- (within cells) and intracellular (between cells) pathways that cause atopic dermatitis. Both the 200 mg and 100 mg doses of abrocitinib were effective compared with a placebo, a substance that looks like the treatment drug but doesn't have any of its chemical effects. Abrocitinib 200 mg was even better than dupilumab, another recently available injectable treatment option, especially by reducing itch from week 2. Using continuous abrocitinib 200 mg showed the best results for controlling the disease. However, an approach of starting with abrocitinib 200 mg and then reducing it to 100 mg also worked well, with over 55% of patients not experiencing a worsening of their condition for 40 weeks. The most common side effects of abrocitinib are not serious. There was a temporary decrease in platelet counts, tiny blood cells that help your body form clots to stop bleeding, but this did not cause any clinical issues. It has also proven effectiveness and safety in adolescents from 12 years of age. Overall, abrocitinib was highly effective and had a positive safety profile.