Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) announces that a new treatment for atopic dermatitis, Moizerto^® Ointment (generic name: difamilast) in 1 percent and 0.3 percent formulations, has been launched in Japan on June 1, 2022.

Moizerto Ointment is a non-steroidal, topical phosphodiesterase type-4 inhibitor (commonly called a PDE4 inhibitor). Moizerto Ointment was discovered by Otsuka and is the first topical PDE4 inhibitor approved in Japan for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. PDE4 inhibitors improve the symptoms of atopic dermatitis such as red and itchy skin, through suppression of the production of chemical mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and through other anti-inflammatory effects.

There are approximately 4.3 million people in Japan who have been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, a number which is steadily increasing.* There has been a need for an anti-pruritic, anti-inflammatory topical medication that is safe for longer-term use, tolerable, and able to be applied to the skin of pediatric patients, and the sensitive skin areas of patients such as the face.

Otsuka expects that Moizerto Ointment, with its novel mechanism of action, will serve as a new treatment option for atopic dermatitis patients in Japan.

* Datamonitor Healthcare, 2017, Treatment: Atopic Dermatitis, Informa PLC