Imaging One Week After Immunotherapy May Predict Treatment Response in Advanced Melanoma
F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging of tumors in patients with advanced melanoma receiving pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck) after just one week may predict treatment response, according to a study in Clinical Cancer Research. Typically, these immunotherapy patients are imaged around three months after starting treatment to monitor their progress. For the study, Michael D. Farwell, MD, an associate […]
CDC: More than 90 Americans Have Died After Cosmetic Surgery in the Dominican Republic
Ninety three Americans died after undergoing cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic since 2009, with many of the recent deaths involving the Brazilian butt lift, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. The number of deaths after cosmetic surgery among U.S. citizens in the Dominican Republic increased from a mean of 4.1 per year […]
Deucravacitinib Shows Efficacy Signal in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Deucravacitinib (Sotyktu, Bristol-Myers Squibb) may help improve cutaneous manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, according to a late-breaking study presented at MauiDerm 2024. Deucravacitinib is a first-in-class, oral, selective, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor approved in multiple countries for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. In the 48-week, double-blind, phase […]
Harnessing Skin Cancer Genes to Heal Hearts
BRAF mutations in skin cancers may help repair cardiac muscle after a heart attack, according to a study in Science Advances. BRAF is a part of the MAPK signaling pathway that can promote cell division, In a new study, researchers show that introducing this mutation to rat heart tissue grown in a laboratory can induce growth. “Mature […]
FDA to Allow Florida to Import Prescription Drugs From Canada: “A Hopeful, Albeit Small, Step in the Right Direction.”
By Ted Rosen, MD As pointed out by Larry Eichenfield, MD, during today’s acne panel at Maui Derm 2024, recently approved novel agents provide real advances in therapeutic benefit. However, access to these innovations remains frustrating due to insurance and price considerations. We have long known that many identical drugs are available in Canada at […]
Head to Head Study: LEO Pharma’s Delgocitinib Cream Bests Alitretinoin for Severe Chronic Hand Eczema
Delgocitinib cream demonstrated a superior reduction in Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) score from baseline to Week 12 compared to alitretinoin capsules in people with severe chronic hand eczema, according to results from the DELTA FORCE Trial, which is the first head-to-head phase 3 trial comparing a systemic and topical treatment for CHE. Delgocitinib cream also […]
Breaking News from Maui Derm 2024: Nemolizumab Improves Lesions, Relieves Itch in AD
Nemolizumab improves skin lesions, itch, and sleep disturbance in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), according to results from two phase 3 studies. Galderma’s nemolizumab is a first-in-class interleukin-31 receptor alpha antagonist that is under investigation for atopic dermatitis. The research was presented by Jonathan I Silverberg, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology and Director of Clinical […]
AA Pipeline Watch: Sun Pharma’s Deuruxolitinib Performs Well in New Phase 3 Data
Twice-daily dosing of deuruxolitinib resulted in significant hair regrowth for adults with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata (AA), and these improvements were visible as early as 12 weeks and lasted throughout the 24-week study, according to the Phase 3 THRIVE-AA2 trial. The new results, presented as a late breaker at Maui Derm 2024, are consistent with earlier data on the Janus kinase […]
Breaking News from Maui Derm 2024: Bimekizumab Shows Maintenance of Response in HS
Bimekizumab demonstrated sustained response in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), according to a late breaker presented at Maui Derm 2024. Almost all patients who responded after an initial 16 weeks of bimekizumab treatment maintained HiSCR50 (Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response) and AN count of 0, 1, or 2 clinical response rates through Wk48, the study showed. Bimekizumab, a […]
Done Deal: LEO Pharma Finalizes Acquisition of Key Assets From Timber Pharmaceuticals
LEO Pharma now owns TMB-001 as well as certain other assets from Timber Pharmaceuticals following its chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The TMB-001 project aims to develop a topical treatment for multiple moderate to severe subtypes of congenital ichthyosis – a skin disease with significant unmet need and no approved prescription therapies available. The TMB-001 project […]