Data from two separate phase 2 trials presented at the annual meeting of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology suggest that two more Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are showing promise for the treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo.
The 52-week results of a phase 2b dose-ranging study with the oral investigational JAK1 inhibitor povorcitinib showed that substantial facial and total body repigmentation could be achieved.
The percentage change from baseline to Week 52 in the Facial Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (F-VASI) and total body VASI (T-VASI) were around 64% and 41%, respectively, depending on the dose of povorcitinib used. Corresponding results in the placebo arm of the trial were about 55% for F-VASI and 18% for T-VASI. The higher the percentage change the greater the degree of repigmentation achieved.
Then, in the phase 2 BARVIT study, oral baricitinib combined with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) showed "clinically meaningful superiority" to placebo combined with this type of phototherapy.
After 36 weeks of treatment there was about a 65% change from the baseline F-VASI score and a 45% change in T-VASI score in the baricitinib and phototherapy-treated patients. Corresponding values in the placebo arm were about -4% and 9% in the F-VASI and T-VASI scores.
