New treatment approved for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis
A new cream for the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (also commonly called eczema) was recently approved by the FDA. The generic name of the medication is ruxolitinib, and the trade name is Opzelura®. Typical treatments for eczema patients are dominated by topical steroids, such as triamcinolone cream, which patients will often use for many years, sometimes never being offered any alternative treatments. Opzelura® cream is not a steroid (like triamcinolone), but it was shown in clinical trials to work as well as what one would expect from topical steroids. Importantly, Opzelura® cream was also not associated with problems normally associated with topical steroid use, like thinning of the skin and loss of response over time. Dr. Andrew Blauvelt, President of Oregon Medical Research Center (OMRC), also has served as an advisor to Incyte, the makers of Opzelura® cream, and has co-authored scientific publications on this new medication. OMRC greatly thanks the patients at our site who participated in the Opzelura® trials, and thus helped to bring this exciting new drug to the market for others.
