By Dave DeFusco
At the Katz School鈥檚 recent Graduate Symposium on Science, Health and Technology, Allison Moore, a student in the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies, provided a compelling comparison between a novel therapeutic option鈥攖opical ruxolitinib鈥攁nd traditional corticosteroid treatments for a common but often debilitating skin condition called Atopic Dermatitis, also known as eczema.
In her findings, approximately 72% of patients using ruxolitinib cream at a 1.5% concentration twice daily achieved significant improvement in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI). Furthermore, 60% to 65% reached clear or almost clear skin, as measured by the Investigator鈥檚 Global Assessment (IGA) scale.
Rapid symptom relief was another major benefit. Many patients reported reduced itching within just 36 hours of beginning treatment, and all age groups showed measurable improvement on the Itch Numerical Rating Scale (Itch-NRS) by the second week.
Adverse events were minimal鈥攁bout 10% reported mild to moderate reactions鈥攁nd systemic absorption was low, significantly reducing the risk of side effects often associated with corticosteroids. No serious adverse events were documented in any of the studies analyzed.
鈥淧erhaps the most striking element of ruxolitinib鈥檚 profile is its safety,鈥 said Moore.
Eczema affects millions of people worldwide and is characterized by chronic inflammation, intense itching and dry, irritated skin. While the disease ranges in severity, its impact can be profound, with many patients experiencing sleep disturbances and mental health challenges due to constant discomfort.
鈥淭raditional treatments, especially corticosteroids, have been the cornerstone of care for decades,鈥 said Moore. 鈥淏ut they鈥檙e not without serious downsides鈥攕kin thinning, steroid dependence and immune suppression, among them. Our goal was to evaluate whether topical ruxolitinib, a JAK inhibitor, could offer a safer, equally effective alternative.鈥
Moore鈥檚 project, 鈥淪afety & Efficacy of Topical Ruxolitinib vs. Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis,鈥 involved a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2014 and 2024, drawn from databases including Medline-PubMed, ScienceDirect, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar.
She applied strict inclusion criteria: studies had to focus on patients 2-years-old and older with stable, mild to moderate AD and no complicating comorbidities or concurrent dermatological conditions. The total sample included both pediatric and adult patients, with a mean age of 33.5 years, and 60% were female. Treatment durations ranged from four to eight weeks.
Given the limitations of existing therapies, Moore underscored the significance of these findings. 鈥淔or patients who can鈥檛 tolerate steroids or who have conditions that are exacerbated by immune suppression, topical ruxolitinib represents an important new option,鈥 she said.
The data presented not only affirmed ruxolitinib鈥檚 efficacy but also its tolerability across age groups. Importantly, the cream showed potential for extended use without the complications associated with long-term steroid treatment, such as thinning skin or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression.
Moore was careful to note the constraints of the current evidence. 鈥淲hile the results are promising, the trials we reviewed had relatively short durations and modest sample sizes,鈥 she said. 鈥淧atients with more extensive AD or facial involvement were excluded, and the study populations skewed female. We need broader, longer-term studies to fully understand the role ruxolitinib could play in standard AD management.鈥
Still, the implications are significant. Margaret Ewen, Moore鈥檚 advisor and a clinical assistant professor in the PA program, praised Moore鈥檚 research for its clinical relevance, methodological rigor and clarity.
鈥淪tudents like Allison represent the future of patient-centered, scientifically grounded care,鈥 said Ewen. 鈥淗er work highlights how new therapeutic tools can transform how we approach chronic conditions, and how important it is to continually reevaluate the standards of care.鈥
