“Seven-year safety rates of those drugs in atopic dermatitis are no higher than the rates of apremilast in psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis,” Bunick said.
“Ultimately, all the data is reassuring,” he added.
Biomarker Data and Cardiovascular Risk
The symposium also covered new biomarker data on JAK inhibitors. As Bunick described, these agents lower high-sensitivity CRP and modulate or downregulate some cardiovascular risk factors. One study suggested upadacitinib could improve myocardial function, a finding Bunick described as “hypothesis-generating,” with more research needed.
Real-World Cases With Comorbidities
The presenters shared cases from their own practices in which JAK inhibitors were used for atopic dermatitis. The patients had different comorbidities, including cancer, a history of clotting, and cardiovascular disease.
“The goal was to not only present the data; we also presented numerous cases of patients from our real-world practices,” Bunick said.
Safety Data and Clinical Responsibility
The goal of the symposium was to reassure attendees as safety data continue to look good for the concerns discussed. Bunick added a caution for clinicians. Reassuring data “doesn’t mean you can relax as a physician and not do your job,” he said.
Oral JAK inhibitors are changing how dermatologists treat atopic dermatitis, particularly in patients on biologics without adequate responses, Bunick said. Use is also growing across alopecia areata, with vitiligo and hidradenitis suppurativa to follow. Continued safety investigation is important to complement the high efficacy bar JAK inhibitors are setting in numerous diseases.