At the 2025 South Beach Symposium in Miami, Florida, Dr. Christopher Bunick, associate professor of dermatology and translational biomedicine at Yale School of Medicine, presented compelling evidence supporting the efficacy and safety profile of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in treating atopic dermatitis.
Superior Symptom Control with JAK Inhibitors
Head-to-head clinical trials comparing JAK inhibitors such as upadacitinib and abrocitinib against dupilumab have demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of symptom control. "Patients did better in terms of quicker onset of skin and itch relief," Bunick reported, emphasizing that simultaneous improvement in both skin manifestations and pruritus represents an emerging standard in atopic dermatitis care.
Long-term Safety Data Proves Reassuring
Despite initial concerns regarding boxed warnings, six years of clinical data has revealed an encouraging safety profile for oral JAK inhibitors. "The safety record that now extends 6 years of use with these oral, systemic JAK inhibitors really shows that there are benefits," Bunick stated. Notably, patients treated with JAK inhibitors showed lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and thromboembolic complications compared to the general atopic dermatitis population.
"What we're learning is these medicines are safer than we could have hoped for," Bunick explained. He suggested that these medications might offer additional cardiovascular protection through their anti-inflammatory properties as patients age.
Advancing Treatment Options: TYK2 Inhibitors
The presentation also highlighted developments in tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibition, particularly focusing on deucravacitinib and zasocitinib for psoriasis treatment. These emerging therapeutic options represent significant advancement in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions, potentially expanding the arsenal of effective treatments available to dermatologists.
Clinical Implications
The findings presented at the symposium underscore the evolving role of JAK inhibitors in dermatologic care, suggesting these medications may offer a favorable benefit-risk profile for patients with atopic dermatitis. The rapid onset of action, combined with reassuring long-term safety data, positions JAK inhibitors as valuable options in the therapeutic landscape of inflammatory skin diseases.
