Real-World Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Outcomes in Adult Patients Receiving Abrocitinib for Atopic Dermatitis in China: Interim Analysis from the AHEAD Registry

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition that significantly impairs quality of life (QoL) and imposes a substantial socioeconomic burden. Abrocitinib, a selective Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, has shown promise in clinical trials, yet real-word data in Chinese patients remain limited. This interim analysis of the AHEAD (Abrocitinib Chinese rEgistry on Atopic Dermatitis, ChiCTR2400086045) registry aims to characterize treatment patterns and early effectiveness in real-world settings. METHODS: AHEAD is an ongoing, prospective, multicenter, observational study enrolling adults with AD initiating abrocitinib across 42 sites in China. This interim analysis included data from 314 patients enrolled between 18 October 2023 and 30 April 2024, with assessments through week 12. Clinical effectiveness, QoL, adherence, and flare incidence were evaluated using validated physician- and patient-reported outcome measures. RESULTS: A total of 314 patients were enrolled. At baseline, most patients exhibited moderate to severe AD [mean Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score of 3.0; Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score of 13.5] with impaired QoL [Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score of 12.0]. Treatment with abrocitinib led to rapid and sustained improvement across all measures through week 12: IGA (40% reduction), EASI (79%), Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS) (52%), Scoring AD (SCORAD) (62%), DLQI (48%), and Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool (ADCT) (55%). At week 12, 36.1% achieved IGA success (score of 0 or 1 with ≥ 2-grade improvement) and 61.6% reached EASI-75 (≥ 75% improvement in EASI). Improvements were observed as early as week 2. Adherence was high (96.8% with proportion of days covered ≥ 0.8), and flares were infrequent (7%). CONCLUSION: Patients enrolled in AHEAD exhibited significant disease burden in AD signs and QoL. Abrocitinib provides early and sustained improvement in disease severity and QoL among Chinese adults with moderate to severe AD, with high adherence and low flare rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2400086045.