Xeljanz for alopecia universalis-related nail dystrophy tops week's dermatology reads

Study results finding that patients with severe nail dystrophy related to alopecia universalis who were treated with Xeljanz experienced normal nail growth was the most read-article of the past week on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other widely read articles included findings that monthly laboratory testing was not supported for patients receiving standard doses of oral isotretinoin for the treatment of acne and that prescription dermatologic drug prices rose dramatically between 2009 and 2015:

Xeljanz effectively treated nail dystrophy in patients with alopecia universalis

Patients with severe nail dystrophy related to alopecia universalis who were treated with Xeljanz experienced normal nail growth, according to study results recently published in JAMA Dermatology.

Brett A. King

“Nail dystrophy in [alopecia areata] and variants is common, affecting 7% to 66% of patients, and includes nail pitting, trachyonychia, onychorrhexis, red spotting of the lunulae, onycholysis, onychomadesis and Beau lines,” Arjun Dhayalan, BS, and Brett A. King, MD, PhD, wrote. Read more

Monthly lab testing not supported for isotretinoin treatment for acne

Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis found that monthly laboratory testing was not supported for patients receiving standard doses of oral isotretinoin for the treatment of acne.

Researchers searched Ovid/Medline, Embase and gray literature from 1960 to Aug. 1, 2013, to identify relevant studies of isotretinoin use in acne vulgaris. Read more

Prescription dermatologic drug prices increased rapidly since 2009

Prescription dermatologic drug prices rose dramatically between 2009 and 2015, with antineoplastic drugs having the greatest increase, according to survey results from national chain pharmacies.

Researchers conducted surveys of four national chain pharmacies in West Palm Beach, Florida, including Costco, CVS, Sam’s Club and Walgreens, in 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2015, requesting price data on commonly prescribed dermatologic drugs. Read more

FDA requests more data for Opdivo in treating BRAF V600 mutation-positive melanoma

Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that the FDA has requested additional data in its response to its supplemental biologics license application for Opdivo as monotherapy for previously untreated patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

The FDA issued a complete response letter for the supplemetal biologics license application to Bristol-Myers Squibb indicating the need for additional data in the patient population with the BRAF mutation, according to a press release. Read more

Gastrointestinal, lung, breast and thyroid were other primary cancers associated with melanoma

Gastrointestinal cancer was the most common other primary systemic cancer in patients with melanoma, according to recently published study results.

Researchers conducted statistical analyses of primary cancers in 452 patients (mean age, 64.4 years; 54% female) identified in a registry of Korean hospitals between Jan. 1, 1994 and Dec. 31, 2013. Read more