Experts provided insights into how precision medicine is being used to address the needs and care of patients with systemic sclerosis.
Litifilimab Promising for Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
A study found that litifilimab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds blood dendritic cell antigen 2, may be effective for the treatment of patients with active cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The treatment successfully reduced skin disease activity in patients at 16 weeks compared with placebo.
Lenabasum for Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis
In a new study, Spiera et al. assessed the safety and efficacy of lenabasum, a synthetic, orally administered agonist of cannabinoid receptor 2 that modulates the endocannabinoid system to activate the resolution phase of innate immune responses, in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis…
Apremilast Promising for Plaque Psoriasis
Apremilast has been shown to improve the signs and symptoms of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis in adults, according to new research…
Long-Term Biologic Use May Not Raise Melanoma Risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients treated with biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis don’t appear to be at increased risk of melanoma, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis. However, because the study found trends toward increased melanoma rates with long-term therapy, “a clinically meaningful increase in risk cannot…
Should Biologic Therapy in Dermatology Be Interrupted During the Pandemic?
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic has raised concerns about whether biologic therapy could make psoriasis patients more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19. Mark Lebwohl, MD, from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and colleagues address this issue in a letter in the Journal of the…
More Than Skin Deep: Insights into Clinical Challenges in Psoriatic Arthritis
Accurately classifying patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be difficult, especially patients with monoarticular/oligoarticular and polyarticular forms of PsA. A session at the 2019 European Congress of Rheumatology provided insight into the assessment and treatment of PsA subtypes…
Mirikizumab Promising for Plaque Psoriasis
During a 16-week study, patients with plaque psoriasis taking mirikizumab experienced higher response rates and skin clearance compared with placebo…
EU Approves Marketing for Ixekizumab in Adults with PsA
In its second indication in the EU, ixekizumab has been approved by the European Commission to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis…
Skin Exam Advised Before Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Using tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors for atypical dermatoses may unmask, or perhaps even worsen, cutaneous lymphoma, according to new research. “Our findings suggest that careful skin examination might be required in all patients prescribed anti-TNF-alpha agents, especially those with atypical presentations of benign skin conditions,” says Dr. Joan Guitart of…