From OX40 Inhibition to Pediatric Pearls: Back-to-School Time for Physicians and Patients Alike

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As summertime comes to an end and families prepare back-to-school routines, August is a bustling month in many skin clinics. The beginning of the new school year also brings up conversations about skin conditions and new or returning treatment regimens. In this month’s issue, Summer Editor in Chief Shanna Miranti, MPAS, PA-C, discusses the 4 most common skin conditions she sees in her office before the school year: acne, atopic dermatitis, warts/molluscum contagiosum, and pigmentary conditions. With her letter, Miranti hopes to provide dermatology clinicians with strategies to tackle the 4 common back-to-school skin concerns.

August is also an important time to consider patients with psoriasis during Psoriasis Action Month. This issue features a recent study that detailed the findings of x-ray crystallography used to analyze crystals of bimekizumab (Bimzelx; UCB) fragment antigen-binding in complex with IL-17F to better understand bimekizumab’s dual inhibition of IL-17F and IL-17A. Study author and Dermatology Times’ 2024 Winter Editor in Chief, Christopher Bunick, MD, PhD, shares how dermatology clinicians can use the study results to assure patients of bimekizumab’s strong efficacy.

This month’s cover feature, written by Aderonke Adeboye, PharmD, BCPS, explores OX40 inhibition for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Adeboye, a clinical pharmacy specialist at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia, discusses the OX40-OX40L pathway and the role of OX40 in inflammation. Regarding the pipeline, 2 therapeutics are currently in phase 2 and 3 development for atopic dermatitis: rocatinlimab (Amgen) and amlitelimab (Sanofi). Adeboye compares the study results, key end points, and adverse events of each therapeutic to provide further guidance for dermatology clinicians.

Continuing with the search for new research, Dermatology Times attended the 49th Society for Pediatric Dermatology Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, from July 11 to 14, 2024. Highlights from the meeting include recognizing skin signs as early indicators of systemic diseases and the potential of nonthermal atmospheric plasma to effectively and safely treat pediatric verruca vulgaris and molluscum contagiosum.

As always, Dermatology Times provides our readers with the most up-to-date clinical content, from innovative studies and FDA approvals to exclusive interviews and expert insights. Stay informed with the latest data and subscribe to Dermatology Times’ e-newsletters; follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter); and email us with ideas or contributions at DTEditor@mmhgroup.com.