Treatment of atopic dermatitis with abrocitinib in real practice in Spain: efficacy and safety results from a 24-week multicenter study

Abstract

Background: Abrocitinib, a selective JAK 1 inhibitor, was recently approved in Europe. Despite its approval, real-world data on its efficacy and safety in treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness and safety of abrocitinib in a real-life setting for patients with moderate-to-severe AD. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study involving adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD who started abrocitinib treatment between May 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, in 15 Spanish hospitals. Treatment doses were 100 or 200 mg daily, based on clinical assessment. Data collection included patient demographics, AD history, comorbidities, previous treatments, and disease severity indicators such as SCORing atopic dermatitis (SCORAD), Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), body surface area, and Peak Pruritus NRS scores at baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Quality of life was measured using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and safety was assessed by monitoring adverse reactions and various biochemical parameters. Results: The cohort comprised 76 patients with an average age of 33.93 years; 57.89% were male. Before abrocitinib, 36.84% were naïve to advanced therapies. The baseline mean scores were SCORAD 47.04, EASI 21.79, and DLQI 15.01. At Week 24, there were significant improvements: EASI was reduced to 2.81, and 70.58% of the patients achieved EASI 75. However, 18.42% discontinued treatment mainly due to inefficacy or adverse effects. The safety profile was favorable, with 22.37% reporting mild adverse events (AEs) and one serious case of cutaneous lymphoma. Conclusions: This first Spanish series assessing abrocitinib in real-world conditions reveals a significant improvement in AD symptoms and quality of life in a range of severity and prior treatment failures. Abrocitinib was well-tolerated, with few serious AEs, highlighting its potential as an effective treatment option for AD.