Pfizer Continues to Lead Innovation in Dermatology: JAK POWER Initiative Shapes a New Landscape for Academic Advancement

Focus on Innovation, Expand Creativity

ShanghaiNovember 7, 2022PR Newswire -- At the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), the launch ceremony of China's Atopic Dermatitis (AD) Target Achievement Strategy was grandly held at the Pfizer booth. Pfizer joined hands with the dermatology community to promote the scientific exploration of JAK, launching the "JAK POWER" project to establish a strategic cooperation between Pfizer and the field of dermatology, continuously driving the scientific exploration and academic development of the JAK pathway in dermatology. As a leader in research, development, and collaboration in the atopic dermatitis field, Pfizer is actively expanding into the dermatological field, constantly introducing innovative products. This time, Pfizer showcased a new product, Ritlecitinib, for alopecia areata at the CIIE, following the introduction of^®(Crisaborole Ointment), Cibinqo^®(Abrocitinib Tablets)之后，Pfizer在CIIE展示的第三个皮肤领Field Products。

JAK POWER Strategic Memorandum Signing and Launch Conference

Professor Gao Xinghua, Vice President of the First Hospital of China Medical University and Director of the National Key Discipline Dermatology Department, Professor Ma Lin, Director of the Dermatology Department at Beijing Children's Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, Professor Xu Jinhua, Director of the Dermatology Department at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University and Director of the Shanghai Institute of Dermatology, Peng Zhenke, President of Pfizer Global BioPharmaceuticals Commercial Group China, Dr. Cao Junyang, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Pfizer Global BioPharmaceuticals Commercial Group China, and Dai Wenjie, General Manager of the Inflammation and Immunology Division of Pfizer Global BioPharmaceuticals Commercial Group China, attended this event both online and offline. The guests exchanged views on achieving treatment goals for atopic dermatitis and provided valuable opinions and suggestions to promote standardized diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis and facilitate the transformation of JAK-related research achievements.

Address by Jean-Christophe Pointeau, President of Pfizer Global Biopharmaceuticals Commercial Group, China Region

Peng Zhenke, President of Pfizer Global Biopharmaceuticals Commercial Group, China RegionStated: "Adhering to the concept of 'Science Will Win,' Pfizer has always focused on scientific innovation. Immune-mediated skin diseases are an important strategic area for Pfizer globally. Pfizer leverages its strong advantages in global R&D and supply chain, achieving the status of the star exhibit Stadalm at the China International Import Expo (CIIE)."^®With Cibinqo^®The successful launch of two atopic dermatitis product portfolios has brought new treatment options for patients with mild, moderate, and severe atopic dermatitis. Litocitinib, an oral small-molecule drug targeting JAK3/TEC that was showcased at this year’s CIIE, has been included in the priority review pathway for breakthrough therapies, emerging as a promising newcomer in the field of alopecia areata treatment. In addition, Pfizer is actively collaborating with the dermatology community to support and advance the reshaping and innovation of the overall treatment landscape for atopic dermatitis, ushering in a new era of targeted management for the condition and making positive contributions to promoting standardized treatment practices in dermatology. In the future, Pfizer will continue to deepen its commitment and strengthen its efforts in dermatology, consistently leading innovation and development in China’s dermatology field. It aims to accelerate the introduction of more first-in-class and best-in-class products into China, providing safe and effective innovative treatment solutions for Chinese patients suffering from atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, vitiligo, and other conditions, offering more dermatology patients the hope of a cure.

PromoteADTargeted Treatment Meet the clinical needs of patients at different stages

Atopic dermatitis is a disease characterized by chronic recurrent pruritus and polymorphic inflammatory skin lesions. With social development and changes in living habits, the number of patients with atopic dermatitis is increasing. Data shows that the prevalence of AD among urban children aged 1-7 in China has reached 12.94%[1], and it is estimated that there are approximately 3 million adults with moderate to severe AD.^[1]Controlling itching and clearing skin lesions are the most urgent treatment needs for AD patients.^[2]For moderate to severe AD, topical medications often fail to adequately control the condition, necessitating the initiation of systemic treatment. However, in clinical practice, systemic treatment for moderate to severe AD patients is often delayed, compliance is suboptimal, and the overall control rate remains relatively low. How to improve the effectiveness of systemic treatment in patients with moderate to severe AD represents a significant challenge in clinical practice.

Treat to Target (T2T) is a concept designed to formulate treatment strategies that focus on patient needs, helping atopic dermatitis (AD) patients manage their disease effectively to achieve goals such as symptom relief, skin lesion clearance, improved quality of life, and long-term disease control. Professor Gao Xinghua, Vice President of the First Hospital of China Medical University and Director of the National Key Discipline of Dermatology, introduced that the T2T for moderate to severe AD patients is divided into two stages. The first stage is an early goal, known as the induction remission phase, where initiating treatments that quickly control itching and inflammation helps improve skin lesions, enhances the patient's quality of life, considers clinical safety, and rebuilds patient confidence. The second stage is a long-term goal, known as the maintenance remission phase, which involves gradually reducing treatment intensity, such as low-dose medication or proactive topical maintenance, to maintain long-term disease control and reduce or prevent recurrence. "In China, AD patients have a more urgent desire for improvement in their condition, yet current AD management does not meet patient needs. T2T is an advanced chronic disease management concept whose clinical value has been validated across various disease management practices. Particularly after the introduction of the international AD T2T consensus, biologics and JAK inhibitors have entered clinical applications, changing the therapeutic goalposts for AD. We believe that launching the China AD Treat to Target strategy will increase attention from dermatologists, patients, and the public towards atopic dermatitis, provide substantial assistance in promoting the transformation of innovative results in dermatology and ensuring standardized and homogenized treatment, and ultimately benefit more patients by freeing them from the distress of skin diseases."

"Although there have been many advances in the treatment of AD in recent years, pediatric patients still face problems of recurrence and incomplete cure. This is related to many parents believing that topical steroid medications have numerous side effects, leading to 'reluctance to use medication', self-shortening of treatment duration, or reducing the dosage. AD is the first window in the allergic process, and managing AD is crucial for reducing the occurrence or mitigating the course of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and conjunctivitis in the future. Therefore, the earlier the treatment is initiated, the better the results can be achieved, avoiding the recurrence of the disease. The launch and application of the topical PDE-4 inhibitor Staderm® have fulfilled more parents' desire for non-steroidal topical treatments, providing more families with a new treatment option." Professor Ma Lin, Director of the Dermatology Department at Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, stated, "Controlling the recurrence of AD is not only about 'treatment' but also about 'management'. The implementation of the 'China Atopic Dermatitis Treat-to-Target (T2T) Strategy' will better guide parents in their scientific understanding and healthy care of AD, establishing family disease management awareness. That is, when a child’s condition enters the acute phase, it is important to use medication actively and correctly to quickly control the condition, then gradually reduce the medication after stabilization, focusing on 'management' to decrease the frequency and severity of its recurrence."

Pfizer Leads Academic Development in the Dermatology Field Advance FocusJAKScientific Exploration of Pathways

At the conference, the "JAK POWER" project, jointly developed by Pfizer and the dermatology community, was officially launched to promote academic development in the dermatology field centered around the JAK pathway. Through the "JAK POWER" project, Pfizer will collaborate with associations and experts to establish scientific strategic directions related to JAK, formulating annual plans across education, research, and translational medicine. This initiative aims to deepen the dermatology community's scientific understanding of JAK, accelerate JAK-related research output, guide the appropriate use of new JAK molecules in dermatology, amplify Chinese doctors' voices in the international academic arena, and ultimately benefit more patients.

As the first biopharmaceutical company to develop JAK inhibitors for inflammatory and immune diseases, Pfizer is a pioneer in leading the scientific exploration of the JAK pathway and the transformation of its research outcomes, possessing a robust product pipeline in the field of inflammation and immunology. Since Pfizer’s scientists first identified the JAK pathway in 1993, Pfizer has been deeply committed to the research and development of JAK inhibitors for nearly 30 years, achieving coverage across multiple disciplines and disease areas such as dermatology, rheumatology and immunology, and gastroenterology, bringing a series of breakthrough products from the JAK family to Chinese patients. In 2021, abrocitinib, a highly selective JAK1 inhibitor for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), was first showcased at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and received approval for marketing in April 2022; at this year's CIIE, an innovative drug for the treatment of moderate-to-severe alopecia areata, ritlecitinib, was exhibited for the first time.The world's first and onlyA dual JAK3 and TEC inhibitor, an orally administered small molecule drug, was included in the priority review directory for breakthrough therapies in China in December 2020.

Dr. Justin Cao, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Pfizer Global Biopharmaceutical Commercial Group, China RegionIt was mentioned: "In response to the government's 'Healthy China 2030' plan, Pfizer has joined hands with a panel of experts from the field of dermatology to launch the JAK POWER strategic cooperation project. This initiative aims to further enhance healthcare professionals' scientific understanding of the JAK pathway in inflammatory skin diseases, establish a multi-dimensional evidence system related to the JAK pathway, promote the publication of articles on the JAK pathway, and jointly lead academic progress in this area while increasing the global presence of Chinese scholars. Moving forward, Pfizer will remain committed to becoming an essential part of China’s healthcare system, supporting the development of inflammation and immunology in China, and working together with all sectors of society to build a healthier China."

Adhering to the concept of "Science for Victory, Renewal through Innovation," Pfizer Inflammation & Immunology continues to break new ground in innovation. Leveraging the international platform of the CIIE, it introduces innovative dermatology products to Chinese patients that are synchronized with the global market.Dai Wenjie, General Manager of the Inflammation and Immunology Division, Pfizer Global Biopharmaceutical Commercial Group, ChinaStated: "To meet the urgent needs of Chinese patients for globally innovative therapeutic drugs, Pfizer upholds its mission of 'bringing breakthrough innovations that change patients' lives,' always centers on patients, and continuously provides innovative products and cutting-edge medical solutions for Chinese patients with inflammatory and immunological conditions. Pfizer's dermatology portfolio fully covers mild, moderate, and severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Our goal is to offer Chinese AD patients a new experience in comprehensive disease management. Meanwhile, to further promote the development of dermatology as a discipline and strategic system building, Pfizer supports and advances the standardization and homogenization of AD treatment, further improving treatment target achievement rates for AD patients in China. In the future, Pfizer will fully accelerate the research and development, introduction, and accessibility of innovative products to provide better treatment options for patients, helping more AD patients achieve the vision of being free from the distress of itching and skin lesions as soon as possible."

[1] Guo Y , Li P , Tang J,et al. Prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Chinese children anged 1-7ys[J]. Sci Rep , 2016 , 6 : 29751

[2] Augstin M , Langenbruch A , Blome C , et al.Characterizing treatment-related patient needs in atopic eczerma : Insights for personalized goal orientation[J] Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol , 2020 ,34(1):142-152