Erivedge study, FDA action top dermatology reads for week

Research finding that patients treated with Erivedge for basal cell carcinoma had an increased risk for cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas was among the most-read news of the past week on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other widely read articles included the FDA’s approval of Allergan’s Aczone Gel, 7.5% as once-daily topical treatment for patients aged 12 years and older with acne:

Erivedge treatment for BCC associated with SCC risk

Patients treated with Erivedge for basal cell carcinoma had an increased risk for cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, according to research published in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers searched electronic medical records to conduct a case-control study at Stanford Medical Center of 180 higher-risk patients (69.8% male) with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) diagnosed between 1998 and 2014. Read more

Nonablative fractional laser, microneedling comparable in treating acne scars

Both a 1,340-nm nonablative fractional erbium laser and microneedling were  comparable and effective in treating atrophic acne scars, with the microneedling treatment producing fewer adverse effects, according to recently published study results.

Researchers in Brazil randomized 42 patients (21 males; mean age, 26.33 years) with atrophic facial acne scars to microneedling (Dr. Roller; MTO Importer and Distributor; 20 patients) or 1,340-nm nonablative fractional erbium laser (ProDeep, Etheria/Industra platform; 22 patients) treatments with three sessions performed monthly. Read more

FDA approves Aczone Gel, 7.5% for treating acne

Allergan plc announced that the FDA has approved Aczone Gel, 7.5% as once-daily topical treatment for patients aged 12 years and older with acne.

“Aczone Gel, 7.5% is a new once-daily option that was shown to have significant improvement in patients’ acne after 12 weeks of use,” Linda Stein Gold, MD, study researcher and director of dermatology clinical research, and division head of dermatology at Henry Ford Health System in Michigan, stated in a news release. Read more

Link found between Parkinson's disease, melanoma

There is a link between Parkinson’s disease and melanoma, with possible etiologies including family history and common genetic susceptibility, according to recently published study results.

“Given that [levodopa] is a substrate in melanin synthesis, there existed a concern that this therapy [for Parkinson’s disease] might cause melanoma,” researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, wrote. Read more

Allergan reports 74% increase in Q4 net revenue

Allergan plc reported in a press release that net revenue from continuing operations increased 74% to $4.2 billion for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $2.4 billion in the same quarter in 2014.

 “We have also made important progress with Teva on the planned divestitures of our Global Generics business,” Brent Saunders, CEO and president of Allergan, stated in the release. “And in November, Pfizer and Allergan announced the proposed combination of the two companies. This bold step brings together the best strengths of both companies.” Read more