Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ilunocitinib reduces itching in dogs with allergic dermatitis safely
By Forster, Sophie et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2025·Elanco Animal Health Ltd, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Efficacy and Field Safety of Ilunocitinib for the Control of Allergic Dermatitis in Client-Owned Dogs: A Multicenter, Double-Masked, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 306 dogs with severe itching due to allergic dermatitis were treated with a medication called ilunocitinib or a placebo for 28 days. By the end of the study, over half of the dogs receiving ilunocitinib showed significant improvement in their itching, while only a small percentage of those on the placebo did. The dogs started feeling better within just a week, and the treatment was found to be safe and well-tolerated. This suggests that ilunocitinib could be an effective option for managing itching in dogs with allergies.
People also search for: dog itching treatment · allergic dermatitis in dogs · ilunocitinib for dog allergies
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inhibition of the Janus kinase pathway is an established treatment for allergic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ilunocitinib for control of pruritus in dogs with allergic dermatitis in a randomised, double-masked clinical trial. ANIMALS: Three-hundred-and-six dogs at 15 veterinary clinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Enrolled client-owned dogs with severe pruritus and a presumptive diagnosis of allergic dermatitis were randomised to receive either ilunocitinib (n = 206; 0.6-0.8 mg/kg) or placebo (n = 100; 0 mg/kg) once daily for 28 days. Pruritus was assessed by owners using a pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS). Treatment success was defined as ≥ 50% reduction from baseline PVAS on at least five of seven initial treatment days. Clinical remission from pruritus was considered achieved when PVAS < 2. Safety assessments were conducted over 112 days. RESULTS: On Day (D)7, 25.4% of ilunocitinib-treated dogs achieved treatment success compared to 7.7% of placebo dogs (p = 0.006). Starting on D3, the proportion of dogs with a ≥ 50% reduction from baseline PVAS was significantly higher in the ilunocitinib group (p < 0.01) and by D28, a significantly higher percentage of ilunocitinib-treated dogs (51.8%) achieved clinical remission compared to placebo dogs (12.7%; p < 0.05). Signs of dermatitis improved within 7 days. The 112-day ilunocitinib treatment was well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ilunocitinib administered once a day was well tolerated and effective at rapidly reducing pruritus, with steady and continuous improvement over time. Clinical remission of pruritus was achieved by 51.8% of ilunocitinib-treated dogs by D28, regardless of allergic aetiology.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40741942/