Top highlights from AAD Annual Meeting

The American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting this year included clinical trial announcements and informative lectures in a wide variety of indications.

Of all the topics discussed, presentations concerning alopecia, psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa made headlines in this year’s Healio compilation of AAD 2023.

Coverage included growing efficacy with roflumilast the potential of deuruxolitinib in “transforming lives.” Closing following these top highlights was a look into colorism from an AAD pre-meeting that revealed the dangers of using skin lightening products.

Here are Healio’s highlights from AAD 2023:

Oral roflumilast effective, inexpensive treatment option for patients with psoriasis

The first of this year’s AAD meeting highlights is the announcement of results from a phase 2 trial evaluating oral roflumilast monotherapy without titration in adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Oral roflumilast proved to be an inexpensive and effective treatment option for patients with psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy, with 34.8% of patients achieving PASI 75 by week 12 compared with 0% of the placebo group. Read more.

Deuruxolitinib ‘transforming lives’ in treatment of alopecia areata

A second phase 3 trial of deuruxolitinib confirmed the efficacy and tolerability of the drug in adults with moderate to severe alopecia areata, according to a study presented by Brett King, MD, PhD, FAAD, of the department of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. More than one-third of patients in each dosage group decreased their hair loss severity scores from more than 50 to 20 or less, making deuruxolitinib a drug that is “transforming lives,” according to King. Read more.

Takeda’s TYK2 inhibitor shows promising phase 2 results in psoriasis

The phase 2b clinical trial results of Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ novel tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor found significantly greater skin clearance in study patients compared with placebo, according to a presentation at AAD. April W. Armstrong, MD, MPH, FAAD, professor of dermatology and associate dean for clinical research at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, stated that this study confirms the clinical utility of selectively targeting TYK2 in the treatment of psoriasis. Read more.

Eli Lilly’s novel eltrekibart shows early promise in hidradenitis suppurativa

News of hidradenitis suppurativa treatment made the list of AAD 2023 highlights with Eli Lilly’s eltrekibart, a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to seven ligands that signals through CXCR1 and CXCR2, showing promise in a phase 2 study clinical trial. In this video exclusive with Healio, Ajay Nirula, MD, PhD, senior vice president of immunology at Eli Lilly, further discussed the trial results and the company’s dedication to the space. Read more.

Colorism can lead to dangerous skin lightening product use

At the pre-AAD Skin of Color Society Scientific Symposium, clinicians were informed of the growing prevalence of skin lighting products among patients with skin of color. More than 20% of individuals with skin of color reportedly use these products which contain ingredients that may pose health risks. This emphasizes the need for clinicians to be mindful of pigmentary concerns and colorism in their patients with skin of color and recognize the motivations behind skin lightening desires. Read more.