Rosacea, psoriasis studies among week's top five dermatology reads

Xeljanz as a possible treatment of vitiligo was the most-read article of the past week on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other widely read articles included research on a link between rosacea and systemic comorbidities, and patients with psoriasis experiencing impaired function despite treatment:

Xeljanz might be effective as vitiligo treatment

Xeljanz (tofacitinib citrate; Pfizer) was effective as treatment in a patient with vitiligo, according to recently published study results.

Brett A. King

“While it’s one case, we anticipated the successful treatment of this patient based on our current understanding of the disease and how the drug works,” researcher Brett A. King, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, said in a press release. Read more

Rosacea severity linked to systemic comorbidities

The rate of systemic comorbidities for patients with rosacea was associated with rosacea severity, according to recent study results.

Barbara M. Rainer, MD, and colleagues evaluated 130 participants in the case-control study: 65 with rosacea and 65 without. They analyzed the correlation between systemic comorbidities and severity of rosacea in patients when compared to controls. Read more

Despite treatment, patients with psoriasis continue to experience impaired function, high costs

Researchers found that patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis experience factors such as continued symptoms, work and activity impairment and added cost despite treatment.

“Despite substantial [health care resource use], a proportion of patients continue to experience work and activity impairment, moderate-to-severe [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)] scores, and high costs,” Caroline P. Schaefer, MBA, and colleagues wrote in their study. Read more

Kerastem receives FDA approval for clinical trial of alopecia treatment

The FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Office of Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies has given conditional approval to Kerastem Technologies to conduct a clinical trial to study the safety and feasibility of its treatment of androgenic alopecia, according to a press release.

The phase 2 STYLE will include 70 patients and is expected begin enrollment in late 2015 at eight centers throughout the United States, according to the release. Read more

FDA grants orphan drug status to Humira for treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa

AbbVie announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation to Humira for treating moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa.

The supplemental biologic license application by Abbvie seeking the agency’s approval for the use of Humira (adalimumab) in patients with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (Hurley Stage II and Hurley Stage III disease) is being reviewed by the FDA, according to a press release. Read more