PFIZER, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced the availability of Cibinqo (abrocitinib) and Staquis (crisaborole) as new additions to the atopic dermatitis treatment spectrum in Malaysia.
Cibinqo is a once-daily oral pill indicated for the treatment of patients 12 years of age and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, including the relief of pruritus (itchy skin), who have had an inadequate response to prescribed topical therapy or for whom these treatments are not advisable ¹.
Meanwhile, Staquis represents a first-in-class steroid-free topical PDE4 inhibitor for the treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis in patients three months of age and older ³,⁴.
Together, these treatments offer atopic dermatitis patients in Malaysia additional therapeutic options to help them manage their conditions across the different stages of disease.
“At Pfizer, we look forward to bringing these novel treatment options to Malaysia.
“This announcement comes on the heels of Eczema Awareness Month and we are excited to play a role in elevating the treatment landscape locally with these promising therapies.
“In so doing, we hope to offer relief and support to the individuals affected by this debilitating disease,” said Pfizer Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines cluster lead Deborah Seifert.
Atopic dermatitis, or more commonly known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects up to 20% of children, and up to 10% of adults worldwide ⁵.
Impact beyond the skin
“Although symptoms of eczema typically appear on the surface of the skin, the underlying cause can be attributed to inflammation beneath the skin, which may not be visible.
“Eczema symptoms manifest differently across individuals, exhibiting variations contingent on factors such as a person’s age, skin tone, and the severity of the eczema.
“Physical symptoms aside, patients may also be impacted emotionally, socially, or psychologically,” explained Persatuan Dermatologi Malaysia (PDM) president Dr Tan Wooi Chiang.
Characterised by itchy, inflamed skin, and recurrent flare-ups ⁶, eczema can significantly disrupt daily life, leading to psychological distress, sleep disturbances, stigmatisation, social embarrassment, and impaired quality of life ⁷,⁸,⁹.
The degree to which an individual is affected differs from one person to another, depending on the stage of disease which can range from mild, to moderate, and severe.
Although there is no cure for eczema ¹⁰, there have been many positive developments in the management of eczema over the years.
With continuous and ongoing advances, innovative treatment options have become available to help patients manage their symptoms ¹¹.
Mild-to-moderate eczema
Eczema is common in infants and can start from as early as two to six months, with most individuals outgrowing the condition by the time they reach adulthood ¹².
Eczema is typically managed with prescription topical ointments or creams, by keeping the skin moisturised, and by taking regular care of one's skin health ¹².
Staquis is a first-in-class steroid-free topical PDE4 inhibitor that can be applied to the skin to treat mild-to-moderate eczema in patients three months of age and older ³.
PDE4 inhibitors are anti-inflammatory agents that target an immune system enzyme called phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) which promotes inflammatory cytokine production and responses ¹³.
Staquis works on and below the skin to treat eczema by inhibiting the PDE4 enzyme while locking in moisture to soften the skin ¹³.
Pivotal Phase 3 studies involving individuals two years of age and above demonstrated that significantly more patients using Staquis twice daily achieved clear or almost clear skin according to ISGA (Investigator’s Static Global Assessment) scores in 29 days ³.
The most common adverse reactions were pain at the application site, such as stinging or burning, which was temporary and resolved on its own ³,⁴.
Moderate-to-severe eczema
Both children and adults with weaker skin barriers which may be triggered by environmental factors or genetic variations that impair normal skin barrier function can suffer from moderate-to-severe eczema ¹⁴.
Topical steroids are commonly prescribed to reduce irritation, itching, and inflammation ¹⁵.
Patients who no longer respond to steroid creams or ointments may be treated with targeted therapies in the form of injections, phototherapy, or oral medication ¹⁶.
Cibinqo is a once-daily oral pill for individuals aged 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis ¹.
As a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, Cibinqo lessens itching and inflammation of the skin by reducing the activity of JAK1 enzymes that are thought to contribute to skin inflammation ¹⁷.
The safety and efficacy of Cibinqo was evaluated in several randomised, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 trials and an on-going long-term open-label extension trial.
Across the trials, Cibinqo demonstrated a consistent safety profile and improvements in skin clearance, extent, and severity of disease ¹⁸,¹⁹,²⁰.
In addition, a higher proportion of patients treated with Cibinqo in two monotherapy trials achieved improvement in itching at week 12 compared to placebo ¹⁸,¹⁹.
Living with eczema
“Living with the burden of uncontrolled eczema not only takes a toll on the patient – their caregivers, families, and loved ones are also affected, not to mention the socioeconomic impact that comes with managing the disease.
“It is therefore important for patients to seek medical advice as soon as they can, so that tailored solutions can be prescribed to effectively manage the disease and ensure the best outcomes for patients,” said Dr Tan.
To learn more, visit https://www.pfizer.com.my/
KKLIU 3115 / EXP Apr 24, 2025
References
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