As per the outcomes of an extension study (BREEZE-AD3) of two randomized clinical trials (BREEZE-AD1 and BREEZE-AD2) issued in JAMA Dermatology, the use of baricitinib (an oral selective Janus kinase inhibitor) dosed at 2 mg and 4 mg offered long-term efficacy (up to 68 weeks) in adults with atopic dermatitis. To determine baricitinib’s long-term efficacy, Jonathan I Silverberg and colleagues recruited moderate to severe atopic dermatitis patients with a therapy response or incomplete response in the two studies.

The percentage of subjects with a validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD) score of 0 for clear,1 for almost clear, or 2 for mild, at different time points i.e. weeks 16, 36, and 52 was the primary outcome. People with a 4-point or more score in the itch numeric rating scale (NRS) and at least 75% or higher score in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI75) were the secondary outcomes.

Of the responder/partial responder population, the percentage of patients treated with baricitinib 4 mg (70 patients) and baricitinib 2 mg dose (54 patients) and achieving vIGA-AD score (0,1) and at least 75% or higher improvement in the EASI score at 16 and 68 weeks is depicted in table 1:

The percentage of participants attaining an itch NRS improvement more than or equal to four points at week 16 and week 32 is shown in table 2:

Thus, baricitinib exhibits a long-term efficacy in atopic dermatitis patients and may be considered as a longer-term therapeutic option for such patients.