A Study to Compare Safety and Efficacy of Upadacitinib to Dupilumab in Adult Participants With Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis (Heads Up)
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03738397 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : November 13, 2018
Results First Posted : February 2, 2022
Last Update Posted : February 2, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Atopic Dermatitis | Biological: Upadacitinib Biological: Dupilumab Drug: Placebo to dupilumab Drug: Placebo to upadacitinib | Phase 3 |
Expanded Access : An investigational treatment associated with this study is no longer available outside the clinical trial. More info ...
The study is comprised of a 35-day screening period, a 24-week double-blinded treatment period, and a follow-up visit 12 weeks after the last dose. Participants who complete Week 24 have the option to enroll into an open-label study (Study M19-850; NCT04195698) of upadacitinib 30 mg once daily and receive treatment with upadacitinib for an additional 52 weeks.
Participants who meet eligibility criteria will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either upadacitinib or dupilumab. Randomization will be stratified by Baseline disease severity (Validated Investigator Global Assessment scale for Atopic Dermatitis [vIGA-AD] score of moderate [3] versus severe [4]) and age (<40, ≥ 40 to < 65, ≥ 65 years).
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 692 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Phase 3b Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Active Controlled Study Comparing the Safety and Efficacy of Upadacitinib to Dupilumab in Adult Subjects With Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis |
Actual Study Start Date : | February 21, 2019 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | August 27, 2020 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 9, 2020 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Upadacitinib 30 mg QD
Participants will receive 30 mg upadacitinib orally once a day (QD) up to Week 24 and placebo to dupilumab by subcutaneous injection every other week from Baseline to Week 22.
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Biological: Upadacitinib
Extended release tablet
Other Names:
Drug: Placebo to dupilumab Placebo administered as a subcutaneous injection |
Experimental: Dupilumab 300 mg EOW
Participants will receive a loading dose of 600 mg dupilumab by subcutaneous (SC) injection on Day 1 followed by 300 mg dupilumab SC every other week (EOW) until Week 22 and placebo to upadacitinib orally QD up to Week 24.
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Biological: Dupilumab
Dupilumab is administered as a subcutaneous (SC) injection
Other Name: Dupixent® Drug: Placebo to upadacitinib Tablet |
- Percentage of Participants Achieving a 75% Reduction From Baseline in Eczema Area and Severity Index Score (EASI 75) at Week 16 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Week 16 ]
EASI is a tool used to measure the extent (area) and severity of atopic eczema based on assessments of the head/neck, trunk, upper limbs and lower limbs. For each region the area score is recorded as the percentage of skin affected by eczema. For each region, the severity score is calculated as the sum of the intensity scores (scored as none [0], mild [1], moderate [2], or severe [3]) for redness (erythema, inflammation), thickness (induration, papulation, swelling - acute eczema), scratching (excoriation), and lichenification (lined skin, prurigo nodules - chronic eczema).
The total EASI score for each region is calculated by multiplying the severity score by the area score, with adjustment for the proportion of the body region to the whole body. The final EASI score is the sum of the 4 region scores and ranges from 0 to 72 where higher scores represent worse disease.
- Percent Change From Baseline in Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Score at Week 16 [ Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) to Week 16 ]
The Worst Pruritus NRS is an assessment tool that participants used to report the intensity of their pruritus during a 24-hour recall period using an electronic hand-held device. Participants were asked to rate itch (pruritus) intensity at its worst during the past 24 hours on an 11-point scale from 0 (no itch) to 10 (worst imaginable itch).
The percent change from Baseline was calculated from a rolling weekly average; a negative change from Baseline indicates improvement.
- Percentage of Participants Achieving a 100% Reduction From Baseline in EASI Score (EASI 100) at Week 16 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Week 16 ]
EASI is a tool used to measure the extent (area) and severity of atopic eczema based on assessments of the head/neck, trunk, upper limbs and lower limbs. For each region the area score is recorded as the percentage of skin affected by eczema. For each region, the severity score is calculated as the sum of the intensity scores (scored as none [0], mild [1], moderate [2], or severe [3]) for redness (erythema, inflammation), thickness (induration, papulation, swelling - acute eczema), scratching (excoriation), and lichenification (lined skin, prurigo nodules - chronic eczema).
The total EASI score for each region is calculated by multiplying the severity score by the area score, with adjustment for the proportion of the body region to the whole body. The final EASI score is the sum of the 4 region scores and ranges from 0 to 72 where higher scores represent worse disease.
- Percentage of Participants Achieving a 90% Reduction From Baseline in EASI Score (EASI 90) at Week 16 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Week 16 ]
EASI is a tool used to measure the extent (area) and severity of atopic eczema based on assessments of the head/neck, trunk, upper limbs and lower limbs. For each region the area score is recorded as the percentage of skin affected by eczema. For each region, the severity score is calculated as the sum of the intensity scores (scored as none [0], mild [1], moderate [2], or severe [3]) for redness (erythema, inflammation), thickness (induration, papulation, swelling - acute eczema), scratching (excoriation), and lichenification (lined skin, prurigo nodules - chronic eczema).
The total EASI score for each region is calculated by multiplying the severity score by the area score, with adjustment for the proportion of the body region to the whole body. The final EASI score is the sum of the 4 region scores and ranges from 0 to 72 where higher scores represent worse disease.
- Percent Change From Baseline in Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Score at Week 4 [ Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) to Week 4 ]
The Worst Pruritus NRS is an assessment tool that participants used to report the intensity of their pruritus during a 24-hour recall period using an electronic hand-held device. Participants were asked to rate itch (pruritus) intensity at its worst during the past 24 hours on an 11-point scale from 0 (no itch) to 10 (worst imaginable itch).
The percent change from Baseline was calculated from a rolling weekly average; a negative change from Baseline indicates improvement.
- Percentage of Participants Achieving a 75% Reduction From Baseline in EASI Score at Week 2 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Week 2 ]
EASI is a tool used to measure the extent (area) and severity of atopic eczema based on assessments of the head/neck, trunk, upper limbs and lower limbs. For each region the area score is recorded as the percentage of skin affected by eczema. For each region, the severity score is calculated as the sum of the intensity scores (scored as none [0], mild [1], moderate [2], or severe [3]) for redness (erythema, inflammation), thickness (induration, papulation, swelling - acute eczema), scratching (excoriation), and lichenification (lined skin, prurigo nodules - chronic eczema).
The total EASI score for each region is calculated by multiplying the severity score by the area score, with adjustment for the proportion of the body region to the whole body. The final EASI score is the sum of the 4 region scores and ranges from 0 to 72 where higher scores represent worse disease.
- Percent Change From Baseline in Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Score at Week 1 [ Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) to Week 1 ]
The Worst Pruritus NRS is an assessment tool that participants used to report the intensity of their pruritus during a 24-hour recall period using an electronic hand-held device. Participants were asked to rate itch (pruritus) intensity at its worst during the past 24 hours on an 11-point scale from 0 (no itch) to 10 (worst imaginable itch).
The percent change from Baseline was calculated from a rolling weekly average; a negative change from Baseline indicates improvement.
- Percentage of Participants Achieving a Reduction of ≥ 4 Points From Baseline in Worst Pruritus NRS at Week 16 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Week 16 ]The Worst Pruritus NRS is an assessment tool that participants used to report the intensity of their pruritus during a 24-hour recall period using an electronic hand-held device. Participants were asked to rate itch (pruritus) intensity at its worst during the past 24 hours on an 11-point scale from 0 (no itch) to 10 (worst imaginable itch).

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 75 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participant has active moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) defined by Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) ≥ 16, Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) ≥ 3, ≥ 10% body surface area (BSA) of AD involvement at the Screening and Baseline Visits, and Baseline weekly average of daily Worst Pruritus NRS ≥ 4.
- Participant is a candidate for systemic therapy or have recently required systemic therapy for AD.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participant has prior exposure to Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor.
- Participant has prior exposure to dupilumab.
- Participant is unable or unwilling to discontinue current AD treatments prior to the study.
- Participant has requirement of prohibited medications during the study.
- Participant has other active skin diseases or skin infections requiring systemic treatment or would interfere with appropriate assessment of AD lesions.
- Female participant who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering pregnancy during the study.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03738397

Study Director: | ABBVIE INC. | AbbVie |
Documents provided by AbbVie:
Publications of Results:
Responsible Party: | AbbVie |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03738397 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
M16-046 2018-002264-57 ( EudraCT Number ) |
First Posted: | November 13, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | February 2, 2022 |
Last Update Posted: | February 2, 2022 |
Last Verified: | January 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | AbbVie is committed to responsible data sharing regarding the clinical trials we sponsor. This includes access to anonymized, individual and trial-level data (analysis data sets), as well as other information (e.g., protocols and clinical study reports), as long as the trials are not part of an ongoing or planned regulatory submission. This includes requests for clinical trial data for unlicensed products and indications. |
Supporting Materials: |
Study Protocol Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) Clinical Study Report (CSR) |
Time Frame: | For details on when studies are available for sharing, please refer to the link below. |
Access Criteria: | Access to this clinical trial data can be requested by any qualified researchers who engage in rigorous, independent scientific research, and will be provided following review and approval of a research proposal and Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) and execution of a Data Use Agreement (DUA). For more information on the process, or to submit a request, visit the following link. |
URL: | https://vivli.org/ourmember/abbvie/ |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | Yes |
Upadacitinib ABT-494 Dupilumab Atopic Dermatitis |
Dermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis Eczema Skin Diseases Skin Diseases, Genetic Genetic Diseases, Inborn Skin Diseases, Eczematous Hypersensitivity, Immediate Hypersensitivity Immune System Diseases |
Upadacitinib Antibodies, Monoclonal Immunologic Factors Physiological Effects of Drugs Janus Kinase Inhibitors Protein Kinase Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Antirheumatic Agents |