Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials
Takeda is enhancing diversity in clinical trials through community outreach, investigator training, and AI-driven inclusive medical imagery. LaShell Robinson emphasized efforts to close trust gaps and ensure equitable representation, including partnerships with organizations like the National Psoriasis Foundation.
Pipeline Developments and Dermatology Innovation
Arcutis Biotherapeutics is expanding its dermatology pipeline in 2025, with key updates including the expected FDA approval of roflumilast foam for scalp and body psoriasis, a pivotal readout for a topical JAK inhibitor in alopecia areata, and the development of ARQ-234 for atopic dermatitis. Chief Medical Officer Patrick Burnett, MD, PhD, highlighted the company’s commitment to clinician engagement, medical education, and patient-centered innovation, including initiatives to improve care for underrepresented populations.
Q&A Insights
Explore more insights from key opinion leaders in exclusive Q&As and written articles:
Technological Advancements and Dermatological Treatments
Jeanine Downie, MD, FAAD, highlighted key advancements in dermatology, including PRX, a topical collagen biostimulator now available in the US, and MultiFrax, a dual-wavelength fractional laser for skin resurfacing. She also addressed concerns about tattoo ink safety, emerging biostimulatory technologies, and the dermatologic effects of GLP-1 medications.
Clinical Data and Patient-Centered Approaches
Jeff Stark, MD, head of medical immunology at UCB, highlighted key findings from 18 UCB abstracts, including 5-year data on bimekizumab (Bimzelx) for psoriasis. The data underscored bimekizumab’s durability, with PASI 90 responses in the upper 80% and PASI 100 in the mid-70% over 5 years. Stark emphasized the relevance of these findings across dermatology and rheumatology, as well as the importance of considering patient-specific factors when selecting treatments.
Linda Stein Gold, MD, FAAD, highlighted new phase 3 ADORING 3 data on tapinarof (Vtama) cream, 1% (Organon) for atopic dermatitis. Patients who achieved completely clear skin maintained low disease activity for an average of 80 treatment-free days before recurrence. Stein Gold emphasized the significance of these findings in improving adherence, minimizing treatment burden, and enhancing patient quality of life.
Shawn Kwatra, MD, FAAD, presented late-breaking phase 3 TRuE-PN1 and TRuE-PN2 data on ruxolitinib cream 1.5% (Opzelura; Incyte) for prurigo nodularis. These pivotal trials mark the first-ever study of a topical agent for the condition. At week 12, over 44% of TRuE-PN1 patients achieved a ≥4-point itch reduction vs 20% in the placebo group, with significant improvements in skin lesions and quality of life. TRuE-PN2 showed similar results.
Melanoma, Overdiagnosis, and New Treatments
Adewole Adamson, MD, MPP, FAAD, presented an AAD session on addressing melanoma overdiagnosis. While melanoma incidence has increased sixfold over 40 years, mortality has remained relatively stable, suggesting a potential overdiagnosis trend. Adamson’s session examined the sources of this phenomenon, strategies to mitigate it, and the impact on patients and clinicians.
April Armstrong, MD, MPH, FAAD, presented late-breaking data on delgocitinib cream (Anzupgo; LEO Pharma) for moderate to severe chronic hand eczema. A post hoc analysis from the DELTA 1 and DELTA 2 trials identified "super responders"—patients achieving deep, consistent symptom relief. By week 16, 50% of patients met at least 1 deep response criterion, and 25% maintained ≥75% improvement in severity before week 16. Additionally, one-third of patients who achieved clear skin maintained results post-treatment.
Anabela Cardoso, MD, presented pivotal findings from the BRAVE-AA-PEDS trial, the largest JAK inhibitor study dedicated to adolescents with severe alopecia areata. The phase 3 study evaluated oral baricitinib (Olumiant; Lilly/Incyte) in patients aged 12 to 18, showing significant hair regrowth at week 36. Approximately 60% achieved ≥50% scalp hair regrowth—progress that took 1 year in adults.
Addressing Disparities in Dermatology
Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, MSCI, presented a lecture on inflammatory disorders at AAD, highlighting disparities in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and hidradenitis suppurativa in patients with skin of color. He stressed that social and structural factors, rather than just biological differences, drive disease burden, diagnostic challenges, and treatment access. Chovatiya discussed the need for more inclusive clinical trials, such as the VISIBLE study on guselkumab and the ADmirable study on lebrikizumab, to better represent diverse populations.
Aesthetic Dermatology and Device Management
Michael Gold, MD, shared insights on managing complications from aesthetic dermatology procedures in an AAD session. Gold emphasized that all practitioners encounter complications, whether from energy-based devices, fillers, or toxins. Highlighting the importance of being prepared for device-related issues, Gold stressed that providers must know how to manage adverse events, even if they delegate tasks.
Innovations in Skin Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
L’Oréal recalled all lots of its Effaclar Duo acne treatment in the US due to benzene contamination. Christopher Bunick, MD, PhD, discussed this at the AAD meeting, noting that benzoyl peroxide can degrade into benzene. While health risks are still unclear, Bunick emphasized the need for better formulation stability.
Karan Lal, DO, MS, FAAD, emphasized the risks of radiofrequency and ultrasound treatments, particularly in patients with darker skin. He highlighted the importance of using insulated tips for radiofrequency microneedling and proper technique to prevent burns and nerve damage.
Robert Bissonnette, MD, presented promising phase 3 data from the ICONIC-LEAD study on icotrokinra, an oral IL-23 receptor antagonist for moderate TO severe plaque psoriasis. The study showed significant efficacy at week 16, with improvements continuing through week 24.
William Damsky, MD, PhD, is working to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice by developing molecular diagnostics for inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. His team has validated biomarkers to guide treatment decisions, using in situ hybridization to identify critical cytokines. This approach enables rapid, accurate disease classification with no extra effort from clinicians, potentially transforming care for various skin conditions.
Dermoscopy and Skin Cancer Management
Elizabeth Berry, MD, FAAD, emphasizes that dysplastic nevi are markers of melanoma risk, not pre-melanomas, and stresses the importance of practicing based on existing data. She also advocates for a stepwise approach to dermoscopy, which improves diagnostic accuracy over time, and calls for more research on managing severely dysplastic nevi.
Social Media’s Role in Dermatology
Chris Tomassian, MD, discusses how social media has played a pivotal role in his career, initially creating content during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide reliable skin care advice. Despite early skepticism, he advocates for medical professionals to embrace social media authentically, highlighting its potential for education and outreach.
Treatments for Nail Psoriasis and Retinoid Use
Paul Yamauchi, MD, PhD, discussed the promising results of a clinical trial evaluating tildrakizumab for treating moderate to severe nail psoriasis. The placebo-controlled trial showed significant improvements in the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index and Visual Index for Severity of Nail Psoriasis scores, suggesting tildrakizumab’s efficacy.
Asha Patel Shah, MD, MBA, FAAD, discussed her team’s research on the impact of layering moisturizers with retinoids, presented at the AAD meeting. The study revealed that open sandwiching—applying moisturizer before or after a retinoid—preserved retinoid bioactivity, while full sandwiching (moisturizer-retinoid-moisturizer) reduced it, likely due to dilution and penetration barriers.
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