In an article published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, investigators presented the effects of roflumilast cream on itch outcomes reported by patients with psoriasis in a recent phase 2b trial. According to the researchers, roflumilast cream once a day significantly improved itching and itch-related sleep loss in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.
The study randomized 331 participants to roflumilast 0.3% cream (n=109), roflumilast 0.15% cream (n=113), or a vehicle control (n=109) once daily over 12 weeks. The study’s authors evaluated symptom outcomes with the Worst Itch Numeric Rating Scale (WI-NRS), Psoriasis Symptom Diary (PSD) Items 1 (severity of itch) and 2 (bother of itch), and itch-related sleep loss NRS scores. Mean baseline Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score was 7.8.
Reportedly, patients in the roflumilast groups had higher percentage reductions from baseline PASI compared with the vehicle group from week 2 to week 12 (P<.001). The researchers found similar improvements in mean WI-NRS scores. In addition, the mean improvements in PSD Item 1 (P≤.012) and Item 2 (P≤.010) scores were greater in the roflumilast groups than in the vehicle group from week 2 to week 12.
While the authors noted their analysis of early treatment results was limited by the absence of assessments in week 1, they still suggested that roflumilast cream improved itch symptoms and related sleep loss in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.
Reference: Stein Gold L, Alonso-Llamazares J, Draelos ZD, et al. Effect of roflumilast cream (ARQ-151) on itch and itch-related sleep loss in adults with chronic plaque psoriasis: patient-reported itch outcomes of a phase 2b trial. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2022. doi:10.1007/s40257-022-00739-3
Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-022-00739-3
