Oclacitinib 10 years later: lessons learned and directions for the future

Oclacitinib was approved in the United States 10 years ago for the management of atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic skin disease in dogs. Many studies and case reports have been published in the past 10 years on the efficacy and safety of this medication, both at labeled doses to treat allergic dogs and off label to treat other diseases and given to other species. Concerns and confusion have occurred for both clinicians and owners regarding the long-term safety of this drug. The purpose of this review is to present the current knowledge on the efficacy, speed of action, effects on the immune system, and clinical safety of oclacitinib, based on evidence and published literature. We also aim to summarize the lessons learned in the past 10 years and to propose directions for the future.

Automated summary

Oclacitinib was approved in the United States 10 years ago for the management of atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic skin disease in dogs. Many studies and case reports have been published in the past decade, evaluating the efficacy and safety of this medication for dogs with allergies, as well as its off-label use in other diseases and species. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge on the effectiveness, speed of action, immune system effects, and clinical safety of oclacitinib, based on published evidence, and to discuss lessons learned and future directions.