Gabrielle M. Grasso , 2025-05-09 15:33:00
This is a phase 3 randomized trial of ivarmacitinib, a JAK inhibitor with selectivity for JAK 1, for adolescents and adults with moderate to severe AD. The study is robust, with 336 participants and found that the ivarmacitinib was more effective than placebo and had a favorable risk profile. Although it is not possible to directly compare across trials for multiple reasons, the EASI-75 seems in line with what one would anticipate for a JAK inhibitor, with 66.1% achieving EASI-75 in the higher dose group.
This appears to be another potentially viable treatment option for AD. The main issue, from my perspective, is that as a category, the JAK inhibitors have not been as widely prescribed and this does not appear substantially different from upadacitinib or abrocitinib, the two currently approved drugs in this category in the United States. It is difficult to imagine how another very similar agent would distinguish itself from the other two.
Although there is still a great deal of unmet need in AD, this is perhaps the one area where the need is met. I think we are hoping for novel approaches for those patients who continue to struggle to find relief.
Peter A. Lio, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Disclosures: Lio reports having financial relationships with AbbVie, Almirall, Altus Labs, Amyris, AOBiome, Arbonne, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, Bodewell, Burt’s Bees, Castle Biosciences, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Exeltis, Galderma, IntraDerm, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly Clark, KP Away, L’Oreal, LearnSkin, LEO Pharma, Level Ex, Menlo Therapeutics, Micreos, My-OR Diagnostics, Pfizer, Pierre-Fabre, Regeneron/Sanofi Genzyme, Theraplex, Unilever, Verrica and Yobee Care. Lio also reports having a patent pending for a Theraplex product.
