Real-World Abrocitinib Use Shows Stable Dosing in US Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

Key Clinical Summary

• Among 401 US patients initiating abrocitinib for atopic dermatitis, 72.1% received it as their first advanced systemic therapy.
• Most patients started at 100 mg, and 90.8% remained on their initial dose for up to 12 months.
• Researchers identified limited documentation of disease severity and called for longitudinal studies assessing effectiveness, dosing patterns, and treatment response.

A retrospective US study using linked electronic health record and claims data offers new insight into real-world abrocitinib use among patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). The study, conducted through the OMNY Health real-world data platform, evaluated patient characteristics, treatment patterns, health care resource utilization, and early treatment persistence in clinical practice.

Abrocitinib Initiation and Persistence in US Clinical Practice

Researchers analyzed data from patients aged 12 years or older with AD who initiated abrocitinib. The linked claims and electronic health record dataset covered January 1, 2017, through October 31, 2025, with abrocitinib initiation serving as the index date.

The study included 401 patients, of whom 8.5% were adolescents and 91.5% were adults. Patients had a mean age of 45 years and a mean interval of 4.2 years since AD diagnosis. Approximately one-quarter of the population (25.4%) was aged 65 years or older.

Most patients, 72.1%, received abrocitinib as their first advanced systemic therapy. Topical treatment was the most frequently documented therapy before abrocitinib initiation, reported in 72.6% of patients. Previous systemic biologic use was recorded in approximately one-third of adolescents and one-fifth of adults.

The most common starting dose was 100 mg, used by 81.8% of patients, while 15% began treatment at 200 mg. Within 12 months, 90.8% remained on their starting dose.

Early persistence, defined as refilling an abrocitinib prescription within 60 days of initiation, was observed in 60.8% of patients. Refill rates were higher among adolescents than adults at 69% compared with 60% and among patients starting at 200 mg rather than 100 mg at 70% compared with 60%.

Real-World Dosing Patterns and Documentation Gaps

The findings provide an early view of how abrocitinib is being incorporated into US dermatology practice. Most patients initiated treatment after topical therapy and had not previously received another advanced systemic treatment, suggesting abrocitinib was frequently selected as the first advanced option.

The study also showed that most patients remained on their initial dose, although staying at the same dose does not by itself establish effectiveness. Clinical outcome interpretation was limited because clinician-reported and patient-reported assessments were documented for relatively few patients.

Older adults represented a substantial proportion of the cohort. The authors emphasized that clinicians treating patients aged 65 years or older should confirm the AD diagnosis, assess comorbidities and renal function, review vaccination status, select doses appropriately, and monitor carefully because risks associated with abrocitinib increase with age.

Researchers Highlight the Need for Long-Term Effectiveness Data

The authors characterized the analysis as the first US real-world study of abrocitinib across specialty dermatology practices and integrated delivery networks using linked claims and clinical data. They stated that the findings suggest most patients initiating abrocitinib “may achieve clinical stability with dosing at 100 mg.”

Further Research Needed to Guide Abrocitinib Use

The researchers concluded that additional longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate long-term effectiveness, dosing patterns, disease severity at treatment initiation, and predictors of response, particularly among patients with and without previous biologic exposure.

Reference

Chovatiya R, Mummert A, Chang S, et al. Real-world use of abrocitinib for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in the United States based on electronic health records and administrative claims. Adv Ther. 2026. doi:10.1007/s12325-026-03761-7