Tapinarof Shows Rapid Itch and Skin Improvement in Atopic Dermatitis

New pooled Phase 3 data presented at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2026 Annual Meeting highlight the rapid onset and consistent efficacy of tapinarof cream 1% (VTAMA; Organon) in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), including children as young as 2 years.

The post hoc analysis combined results from the ADORING 1 and ADORING 2 trials (N = 813), in which patients were randomized to once-daily tapinarof or vehicle for 8 weeks. Tapinarof, an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist, demonstrated statistically significant improvements in disease severity and itch as early as Week 1, with continued gains through Week 8. 

At Week 8, 45.9% of patients achieved clear or almost clear skin (vIGA-AD 0/1) compared with 15.9% on vehicle (P < 0.0001). EASI-75 responses reached 57.4% versus 22.1% (P < 0.0001), while clinically meaningful itch reduction (≥4-point improvement in PP-NRS) was achieved by 59.3% versus 33.5%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Early improvements were also notable, with significant responses observed across endpoints by Week 1. 

Study investigator Linda Stein Gold, MD, emphasized the importance of early and consistent efficacy across endpoints.

“What I was hoping to see in these clinical trials was a nonsteroidal option that actually was efficacious but also safe and well tolerated,” Dr. Stein Gold told Practical Dermatology. “We need treatments, especially in the topical arena, for our younger patients, and this study went down to age 2. It showed that it was efficacious across all age groups. These were moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis patients, most of whom had fairly significant disease, and we saw them get to clear or almost clear after just 8 weeks, kicking in early really by Week 2.” 

The study population reflects the epidemiology of AD, with approximately 80% of participants being children.

“It is really important that we study the population that most commonly has this disease,” Dr. Stein Gold said, noting that inclusion of younger patients provides clinically relevant safety and efficacy data. 

Rapid itch reduction was another key outcome. Dr. Stein Gold emphasized the importance of the Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS) in the study.

“We have to remember that itch is what bothers these patients the most. These patients live their lives around their disease. It is hard for them to concentrate because all they want to do is scratch their skin,” she said. “We really want to make sure that we control the rash, but we have to control the itch as well.” 

Tapinarof was well tolerated, with adverse events consistent with its known safety profile, including folliculitis and upper respiratory tract infections. 

Dr. Stein Gold also noted the role of nonsteroidal options in long-term management.

“Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease, so we need a treatment that not only gets it under control but also keeps it under control,” she said. “We have tended to lean toward topical corticosteroids, which are still a very important treatment, but they are not a long-term solution to a long-term problem. We need to have other plans in place. Tapinarof is a nonsteroidal option, and I consider it to be one-stop shopping because you can use it on the face, you can use it on the eyelids, you can use it in sensitive areas, you can also use it on thicker areas, and patients can use one medication once a day, so it helps to simplify the treatment regimen. So often, we give these patients so many things to do that they get home and are incapacitated by fear because they just do not remember what we asked them to do. Giving our patients one medication that has been proven to be effective getting the disease under control and also keeping it under control is really a win for the patient.”