515 - Rapid and early onset of itch relief with tapinarof cream 1% once daily in two pivotal phase 3 trials in adults and children down to two years of age with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Simpson Eric , Silverberg Jonathan I , Bissonnette Robert , Gold Linda Stein , Armstrong April , Hebert Adelaide A , Serrao Rocco T , Jakus Jeannette R , Brown Philip M , Rubenstein David S , Piscitelli Stephen C , Tallman Anna M , Eichenfield Lawrence F 
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Itch is the most bothersome symptom for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), with a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life. Rapid onset of pruritus relief with sustained efficacy is a key outcome for AD therapies. In a phase 2 trial in adults and adolescents with moderate to severe AD, tapinarof cream 1% once daily (QD) demonstrated efficacy versus vehicle and was well tolerated.

Objective

Here, we evaluate time to onset of itch relief in the pivotal phase 3 trials with tapinarof cream 1% QD in the treatment of adults and children down to 2 years of age with AD.

Materials and Methods

In ADORING 1 and 2, two identical, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, patients were randomized 2:1 to tapinarof cream 1% or vehicle QD for 8 weeks. Patients with a Validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic DermatitisTM score of ≥3, an Eczema Area and Severity Index score of ≥6, and body surface area involvement of 5–35% were included. Efficacy endpoints that evaluated itch relief were mean changes in Peak Pruritus-Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS) score (daily and by visit [Weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8]) from baseline through Week 8. The PP-NRS considers a person’s worst itch over the past 24 hours, assessed on an 11-point scale (0 indicates “no itch” and 10 is “worst imaginable itch”). Daily PP-NRS scores were recorded in diaries. Patients aged ≥12 years self-completed the PP-NRS, while caregivers completed it for children aged &lt;12 years.

Results

407 and 406 patients were randomized in ADORING 1 and 2. At baseline, mean (standard deviation [SD]) PP-NRS scores were 6.7 (2.4) and 6.8 (2.3) in both trials, respectively. For daily evaluations of itch from baseline, greater reductions in PP-NRS scores (mean [SD]) for tapinarof versus vehicle were observed as early as Day 1, 24 hours after initial application, in ADORING 1 (–1.2 [2.2] vs –0.9 [2.0]) and Day 2 in ADORING 2 (–1.6 [2.4] vs –1.4 [2.1]). Improvements in daily PP-NRS scores (mean [SD]) with tapinarof versus vehicle continued through the first 2 weeks (Day 14; –3.0 [2.8] vs –2.0 [2.4] and –2.9 [2.7] vs –1.8 [2.6]), and through Week 8 of both trials. There were statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in mean weekly PP-NRS scores as early as Week 1, the first assessment, for patients treated with tapinarof compared with vehicle (–2.0 vs –1.2 [P&lt;0.0001]) and (–2.0 vs –1.3 [P=0.0010]), in ADORING 1 and 2, respectively. Significantly greater reductions in mean PP-NRS scores with tapinarof versus vehicle were seen for all visits through Week 8 (–4.1 vs –2.6 and –4.1 vs –2.4 [both P&lt;0.0001]), for both trials.

Conclusions

Tapinarof cream 1% QD demonstrated rapid, clinically meaningful, and significant onset of pruritus relief as early as 24 hours after initial application compared with vehicle. Improvements in itch with tapinarof cream increased through Week 8 in both trials in adults and children down to 2 years with AD.