Investigational Therapies

PDE4 inhibitor overview

In development for atopic dermatitis and scalp and body psoriasis. 

PDE4 Inhibitors in Development
Details

Topical roflumilast is a selective and highly potent,* nonsteroidal phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor being investigated for the once-daily treatment of  atopic dermatitis and scalp and body psoriasis.1

  • Topical roflumilast is being investigated as a cream and foam formulation
  • Topical roflumilast is a highly potent, anti-inflammatory PDE4 inhibitor reformulated from an oral product that was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2011 to treat patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease2

*In vitro data. Clinical efficacy claims cannot be made.

PDE4 plays a key role in cutaneous immunology2

PDE4 is an enzyme that contributes to immune-mediated dermatologic conditions. 

Increases inflammatory mediators
Disrupts skin barrier balance
Increases inflammatory response

Inhibition of PDE4 modulates the immune response in the skin1,2

Inhibition of PDE4 modulates the immune response by downregulating key inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-17, and IL-23; restoring the skin barrier balance, and decreasing inflammatory response.

Downregulates inflammatory mediators
Restores skin barrier balance
Decreases inflammatory mediators

IFN = interferon, IL = interleukin, TNF = tumor necrosis factor.

Therapy

Roflumilast is a PDE4 inhibitor being investigated in topical cream and foam formulations.

References

1. Dong et al. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2016;358(3):413-422. 2. Li et al. Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:1048. 3. Data on File. Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. 4. Berk et al. Presented at: The Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting; May 18-22, 2022; Portland, OR.

This website is intended for US healthcare professionals only. There may be information included that pertains to an investigational therapy or formulation that has not yet been approved for use in your country. The safety and efficacy of investigational therapies and/or formulations and/or uses have not been established. There is no guarantee that the agents will receive health authority approval or become commercially available in any country for the uses being investigated. This information is as of 12/2023 to the best of the Company’s knowledge and Arcutis assumes no obligation to update this information.

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