Pfizer Inc. reported on Aug. 30, 2021, that its JAK inhibitor, abrocitinib, beat Dupixent (dupilumab, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc./Sanofi SA) in a head-to-head study of patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. In the JADE DARE study, a higher percentage of patients taking abrocitinib had a 4-point improvement in the severity of Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS4) from baseline to week two compared to Dupixent.
Gilead Sciences Inc. and partner Galapagos NV touched off a round of Wall Street chin-scratching as they disclosed phase IIb/III data showing that JAK1 inhibitor filgotinib in ulcerative colitis (UC) at the 200-mg dose achieved all primary endpoints in the study called Selection.
Eli Lilly and Co. and Incyte Corp. are working on atopic dermatitis (AD) from several angles and finding success. The most recent example is the positive top-line results from their collaborative phase III trial of baricitinib in treating adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis that show the oral selective JAK inhibitor met the study’s primary and secondary endpoints.
A closely watched bid by Incyte Corp. to tackle acute graft-vs.-host-disease (GVHD) with the JAK1 inhibitor itacitinib has fallen flat in pivotal testing, leaving analysts skeptical about the drug's future and pessimistic about the company's R&D chops.
