Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib vs Dupilumab in Adults and Adolescents with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Week 16 results of an Open-label, Randomized, Efficacy Assessor-Blinded Head-to-Head Phase 3b/4 Study (Level Up).

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease characterized by intense itch and eczematous skin lesions. Some patients continue to experience flares and substantial clinical burden despite ongoing systemic treatment.

Objectives: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of once-daily upadacitinib (UPA), initiated at 15 mg and dose-escalated to 30 mg based on clinical response, compared with dupilumab (DUPI) per its label. Week 16 primary analysis results are presented.

Methods: Level Up is a phase 3b/4 global, randomized, open-label, efficacy assessor blinded study evaluating UPA vs DUPI in adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe AD who had inadequate response to systemic therapy or when use was inadvisable. Patients were randomized to UPA or DUPI for 16 weeks of treatment (Period 1). Patients on UPA started on 15 mg and were dose-escalated to 30 mg if they did not achieve an Eczema Area and Severity Index reduction of at least 50% (EASI 50) or a ≥4-point Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (WP-NRS) improvement on/after Week 4, or EASI 75 on/after Week 8. The primary endpoint was simultaneous achievement of EASI 90 and WP-NRS 0/1 at Week 16. Ranked secondary endpoints included skin and itch responses at varying response levels and timepoints. Safety measures were assessed throughout the study.

Results: Superior efficacy in achieving simultaneous EASI 90 and WP-NRS 0/1 response at Week 16 was demonstrated with UPA vs DUPI (19.9% vs 8.9%, respectively; p<0.0001). UPA showed superiority vs DUPI for all ranked secondary endpoints, with post-hoc analyses exhibiting higher itch response rates as early as Day 2. No new safety signals were identified during this period.

Conclusion: Treatment of moderate-to-severe AD with UPA, initiated at 15 mg and dose escalated based on clinical response, demonstrated superiority vs DUPI per its label for the primary endpoint of simultaneous achievement of near complete skin clearance (EASI 90) and little to no itch (WP-NRS 0/1) at Week 16, with all ranked secondary endpoints demonstrating superiority at varying skin and itch response levels and timepoints. There were no new safety signals identified compared to the previously reported safety profiles of UPA and DUPI.