Oclacitinib, sold under the brand name Apoquel among others, is a veterinary medication used in the control of atopic dermatitis and pruritus from allergic dermatitis in dogs at least 12 months of age. Chemically, it is a synthetic cyclohexylamino pyrrolopyrimidine janus kinase inhibitor that is relatively selective for JAK1. It inhibits signal transduction when the JAK is activated and thus helps downregulate expression of inflammatory cytokines.[medical citation needed]
Oclacitinib was approved for use in the United States in 2013, and in the European Union in 2023.
Uses
Oclacitinib is labeled to treat atopic dermatitis and itchiness (pruritus) caused by allergies in dogs, though it has also been used to reduce the itchiness and dermatitis caused by flea infestations. It is considered to be highly effective in dogs, and has been established as safe for at least short-term use. Its efficacy equals that of prednisolone at first, though oclacitinib has been found to be more effective in the short term in terms of itchiness and dermatitis, long term safety is unknown. It has been found to have a faster onset and cause less gastrointestinal issues than cyclosporine.
While safe in the short term, oclacitinib’s long-term safety is unknown. While some say it is best only for acute flares of itchiness, others claim that it is also useful in chronic atopic dermatitis.
There is some off-label use of oclacitinib in treating asthma and allergic dermatitis in cats, but the exact efficacy has not been established.