Crisaborole Ointment 2%: A Review in Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis

Crisaborole ointment 2% (Eucrisa™) is a novel, anti-inflammatory inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) that is available in the USA for the topical treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in patients aged ≥ 2 years. In two short-term (28 days), identically designed, multicentre, phase III studies in this patient population, topical therapy with crisaborole ointment 2% reduced disease severity and pruritus severity compared with vehicle, with the effect established early and sustained over the course of treatment. Improvements in the other signs of atopic dermatitis (erythema, exudation, excoriation, induration/papulation, and lichenification) were also seen. Crisaborole ointment 2% was generally well tolerated in the short-term studies, with its favorable safety profile maintained over the longer term (up to 52 weeks) in a multicentre, extension study. Most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were of mild to moderate severity and considered unrelated to the study medication. Moreover, the incidence of application-site pain following short- and longer-term topical therapy with crisaborole ointment 2% was low. In conclusion, crisaborole ointment 2% is an effective and generally well tolerated new topical option for the management of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in patients aged ≥ 2 years, with the potential to effectively treat this patient population over the longer term without the safety concerns associated with other current topical anti-inflammatory agents.