Cameron Santoro is an associate editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), AJMC.com, and The Center for Biosimilars®.
FDA Greenlights Dupilumab for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, Marking First Approval in a Decade
Marking the first approval in over a decade for this challenging condition, the FDA has approved dupilumab (Dupixent) to treat chronic spontaneous urticaria in patients 12 years and older whose hives and itching remain uncontrolled by antihistamines.
Complete Responses Seen With Emerging Therapies for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
There have been new developments in treatments for chronic spontaneous urticaria, with dupilumab, remibrutinib, and barzolvolimab showing complete response in patients, particularly among those who are difficult to treat.
Lebrikizumab Shows Promise in Long-Term Atopic Dermatitis Control: Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD
Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, MSCI, highlights the long-term effectiveness of lebrikizumab across diverse patients, including those with prior biologic use, positioning it as a potential first-line treatment for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.
Significant Disease Burden and Management Issues in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria experienced a long delay in diagnosis, a substantial impact on their quality of life, and often received inadequate treatment, highlighting the need for better management and understanding of the condition.
COVID-19 Linked to Increased Kidney Risks in Children
Pediatric patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection had a higher risk of adverse postacute kidney outcomes, such as new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) and declining kidney function, if they had preexisting CKD or acute kidney injury.
Survey Finds Slow Start on CMS Interoperability Rule Implementation
With deadlines looming in 2026 and 2027 for compliance with the CMS Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Final Rule, a survey indicates a concerning lack of readiness among payers and providers to meet the new requirements for data sharing.
Managing Skin Conditions: Highlighting Ruxolitinib Cream, Phototherapy Efficacy and Cost
Research presented at the 2025 Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy annual meeting analyzed real-world treatment outcomes for dermatologic conditions, specifically highlighting the efficacy of ruxolitinib cream for atopic dermatitis and the potential for phototherapy to delay costly biologic initiation.
Safety and Efficacy Updates for Asthma and Urticaria Therapies
The long-term safety and efficacy of omalizumab, alongside promising phase 3 trial results that demonstrated the efficacy and favorable hematological safety profile of remibrutinib, were highlighted at the 2025 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology/World Allergy Organization Joint Congress.
American Advocacy and Action for Minority Health in 2025
Accessing equitable health care is an ongoing struggle in the US for minority communities due to historical pretexts with new setbacks surfacing as recent administrative changes emerge, highlighting the urgent need for continued advocacy during National Minority Health Month.
Diabetes Risk Driven by Economic Disparity in Hispanic, Latino Communities
Hispanic and Latino adults found that while preserving cultural identity may initially benefit health, socioeconomic factors like education level significantly impact diabetes and hypertension rates, highlighting the need for targeted health interventions across diverse subgroups.
Bridging Education Gaps in Treatment for Scarring Alopecia With Innovative Approaches
Crystal Aguh, MD, FAAD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine faculty, highlights the critical need for comprehensive education on hair loss across diverse hair types, stressing the importance of understanding inflammatory pathways for developing targeted therapies.
Interval Breast Cancer Risk High Despite Screening, Highlights Need for Risk-Based Approach
Interval breast cancer rates have remained consistent over 30 years despite age-based screening, highlighting the need for risk-based screening strategies that account for factors like breast density, hormone replacement therapy, and family cancer history to improve early detection.
Dermatologists Advocating for Inclusive Hair Loss Research and Treatment in the African Diaspora
Crystal Aguh, MD, FAAD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine faculty, advocates for increased funding and education to address hair loss disparities within the African diaspora, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive treatment and research.
Strategies for Improving Patient Access to Dermatology Care
Elizabeth Jones, MD, FAAD, highlights the persistent issue of insurance companies favoring expensive, newer medications over equally effective generics in dermatology, emphasizing the time-consuming prior authorization process and advocating for patient partnerships and systemic improvements.
Using AI as Augmented Intelligence to Improve Rare Dermatologic Skin Diseases
Steven Daniel Daveluy, MD, FAAD, discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) can leverage extensive patient data and guide dermatologists to improve early diagnosis and treatment of rare dermatological diseases through teledermatology.
Tirzepatide and Semaglutide Improve Weight Loss, Cardiovascular Conditions, but Deemed Too Expensive
Weight loss drugs like tirzepatide and semaglutide are growing in popularity and offer significant health benefits, but they are not cost-effective at their current prices, according to a new evaluation, placing economic burdens on patients with obesity in the US.
Pediatric Alopecia Areata Treatment With Baricitinib, Combination Therapies, Patient Adherence
In an interview with Brittany Craiglow, MD, FAAD, dermatologist at Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut in Fairfield, she advocates for combination therapies using baricitinib to treat pediatric alopecia areata and highlights the need for personalized treatment approaches based on Janus kinase inhibitor responses.
Addressing Financial Aid and Patient Independence as Part of Atopic Dermatitis Care
Discussions centered on mitigating the financial burden of pediatric atopic dermatitis through financial aid programs and enhancing support for young patients to independently manage their condition were emphasized at this year’s 2025 American Academy of Dermatology meeting.
Teledermatology Benefits Underserved Populations, Reduces Physician Burnout
Elizabeth Jones, MD, FAAD, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, advocates for teledermatology as a vital tool to enhance health care equity by improving access for underserved populations and reducing physician burnout.
Baricitinib Shows Promise for Pediatric Alopecia in BRAVE-AA-PEDS Study
Brittany Craiglow, MD, FAAD, analyzed the promising use of baricitinib for severe pediatric alopecia areata. She highlighted late-breaking data from the BRAVE-AA-PEDS study (NCT05723198), emphasizing the balance between treatment efficacy and safety.
Tailoring Atopic Dermatitis Treatment and the Safety of Topical Therapies, Ruxolitinib
Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, FAAD, from Rady Children's Hospital and UC San Diego School of Medicine, highlighted the importance of shared decision-making in atopic dermatitis treatment, emphasizing personalized care based on patient history and the favorable long-term safety profile of topical ruxolitinib.