Deucravacitinib Outperforms Other Biologic Therapies for Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

In a new study, the drug, deucravacitinib, proved to be a safe and more effective treatment for cutaneous lupus erythematosus disease (CLE, lupus skin disease) than two other commonly used therapies, anifrolumab and litifilimab. Lupus affects people differently, but many people with lupus experience skin problems, such as rashes or sores. 

Researchers analyzed treatment data from people with CLE or systemic lupus erythematosus with active skin disease and assessed their outcomes. They reviewed more than 18,000 records but focused on 53 charts that met the inclusion criteria for the study. The analysis showed that those treated with deucravacitinib were over 8 times more likely to achieve a significant improvement in score (compared to placebo) on the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index-50 (CLASI-50) disease measurement tool. Anifrolumab and Litifilimab also showed better results than placebo, but their effectiveness was not as high as deucravacitinib. No significant differences were found in the incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events between these treatments and the placebo. However, deucravacitinib showed better effectiveness and safety, with fewer adverse events, compared to anifrolumab. 

Findings from this study suggest that people with CLE that do not respond to standard treatments may benefit from adding deucravacitinib to their treatment plan. Talk with your doctor before making any changes to your treatment. More research is needed to consider including deucravacitinib in CLE treatment guidelines. Continue to follow the Lupus Foundation of America for updates on lupus drug developments and clinical trials. Learn more about lupus and the skin and treatments being studied for lupus.

Read the study