Welcome to The HCPFive, your go-to roundup for the latest healthcare news and breakthroughs, curated specifically for busy healthcare professionals.

Each week, we highlight 5 key developments or headlines from healthcare that you need to know—whether it's a cutting-edge treatment, regulatory updates, or innovations shaping the future of medicine. This week's top stories include positive data from a pre-specified week 36 interim analysis of the ongoing phase 3 RAINIER trial of povetacicept in IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acceptance of a New Drug Application (NDA) for lorundrostat in hypertension, new data on weight regain after GLP-1 RA discontinuation, the FDA approval of GSK’s leucovorin calcium (Wellcovorin) tablets as the first treatment for cerebral folate deficiency, and data from the phase 3 INTEGUMENT-OLE study of once-daily roflumilast (Zoryve) cream 0.05% in children 2 to 5 years of age with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.

With The HCPFive, you'll get the essential takeaways to stay informed and ahead of the curve. Here’s your quick dive into the top stories for the week of March 08, 2026—let’s jump in!

RAINIER: Povetacicept Reduces Proteinuria By 52.0%

On March 9, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced positive data from a pre-specified week 36 interim analysis of the ongoing phase 3 RAINIER trial of povetacicept, an engineered fusion protein and dual inhibitor of the BAFF and APRIL cytokines, in IgAN. Results showed patients treated with povetacicept achieved a 52% reduction from baseline in proteinuria as measured by 24-hour urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) and achieved a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 49.8% reduction in UPCR versus placebo (

Lorundrostat Secures FDA NDA Acceptance for Hypertension, Falls Short in Phase 2 OSA Trial

On March 9, 2026, the FDA accepted Mineralys Therapeutics’ NDA for lorundrostat for the treatment of adult patients with hypertension in combination with other antihypertensive drugs. The NDA was based on positive data from the phase 3 Launch-HTN and phase 2 Advance-HTN trials demonstrating favorable safety and blood pressure reduction in adults with hypertension. With the acceptance, the FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of December 22, 2026.

Discontinuing GLP-1 Treatment Associated With Up to 60% Weight Regain, With Brajan Budini

Findings from a recent study suggest GLP-1RA cessation is associated with a predictable and decelerating pattern of weight regain, reaching 60% at 1 year, that plateaus below pre-treatment levels, suggesting that partial weight-loss benefit may persist long-term but is substantially attenuated.

FDA Approves Leucovorin Calcium (Wellcovorin) Tablets as First Cerebral Folate Deficiency Treatment

On March 10, 2026, the FDA approved GSK’s leucovorin calcium (Wellcovorin) tablets for the treatment of cerebral folate deficiency in adult and pediatric patients who have a confirmed variant in the folate receptor 1 gene (CFD-FOLR1), making it the first treatment for the rare genetic condition of cerebral folate deficiency. The approval was based on a systematic review of the published literature on the topic, including published case reports with patient-level information, as well as mechanistic data.

New Long-Term Data Announced on Roflumilast Cream for Atopic Dermatitis in Children

On March 10, 2026, Arcutis Biotherapeutics announced that 

 published data from the phase 3 open-label extension (INTEGUMENT-OLE) study evaluating once-daily roflumilast (Zoryve) cream 0.05% in children 2 to 5 years of age with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis. Data from the INTEGUMENT-OLE trial, which supported the FDA approval of roflumilast cream 0.05% in October 2025, demonstrated that roflumilast cream 0.05% is safe and well-tolerated, and efficacy was not only maintained but continued to improve with up to 56 weeks of treatment.

Articles

Vertex reported week-36 interim phase 3 RAINIER data showing povetacicept (dual BAFF/APRIL inhibitor) reduced 24-hour UPCR 52% from baseline and 49.8% versus placebo (P<.0001) in IgA nephropathy. Mineralys’ lorundrostat NDA for adjunctive hypertension therapy was accepted, with a Dec 22, 2026 PDUFA date, supported by Launch-HTN and Advance-HTN results. GLP-1RA discontinuation was linked to decelerating weight regain approaching 60% at one year. FDA approved GSK’s Wellcovorin for CFD-FOLR1. Long-term INTEGUMENT-OLE data supported sustained/improving pediatric AD control with roflumilast cream to 56 weeks.

Stay updated with the latest healthcare breakthroughs, including FDA actions and new trial data, in this week’s essential news roundup.

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The HCPFive: Top News for Healthcare Providers from the Week of 03/08

Shahinian is a Dr. Robert H and Eva M Moyad Research Professor of UrologyCo-Chief of Dow Division of Health Services ResearchProfessor of Internal Medicine, and Professor of Urology at the University of Michigan Medical School. 

PCP's Role in Reducing ER Use Among ESKD Patients on Dialysis

Having a primary care physician (PCP) along with a nephrologist for patients with 

 receiving dialysis may help reduce emergency department (ED) utilization, a major driver of healthcare costs in this patient population.

"We kind of hypothesize that having a primary care physician, separate from the nephrologist, might help reduce health care utilization,” said Vahakn Shahinian, MD, MS, Co-Chief of Dow Division of Health Services Research, Professor of Internal Medicine and Urology at the Medical School at the University of Michigan, in an interview with 

. “They might be more available after hours on an urgent basis to see patients and head off issues, and overall just kind of help the management of a lot of the underlying chronic conditions that accompany most patients on dialysis."

The > half a million patients receiving dialysis for ESKD in the US represent 4 times the national mean rate for all Medicare beneficiaries. Furthermore, approximately 98% of patients with ESKD have ≥1 comorbidity, with 83 to 90% living with hypertension and up to 69% living with diabetes. While a majority of these patients see a nephrologist to manage their dialysis, study investigators wondered whether having a PCP would impact ED visits.

To address this gap in the benefit of PCPs in this patient population, Shaninian and colleagues conducted a national, retrospective, cross-sectional study of 181,520 patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis to assess the association between primary care involvement and ED utilization and hospitalization in this population.

Upon analysis, In the instrumental variable model comparing patients estimated to have a 100% probability of having a PCP with those estimated to have a 0% probability of having a PCP, there was not a significant difference in the estimated risk of any hospitalization (51.0%; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 49.6%-52.4% vs 48.7%; 95% CI, 45.9%-51.4%), but there was a difference in estimated risk of any ED visit (69.4%; 95% CI, 68.1%-70.7% vs 75.0%; 95% CI, 72.5%-77.6%; 

 = .003), particularly in estimated risk of any ED visit not resulting in hospitalization (51.2%; 95% CI, 49.7%-52.7% vs 72.1%; 95% CI, 69.2%-74.9%; 

"What we saw was that having a primary care physician really didn't make a difference with respect to being hospitalized. Where it made its biggest difference was ER visits that didn't result in hospitalization... to me, the story that our paper seems to suggest is that's where primary care can potentially help, in perhaps heading off issues early on before they become very serious or just less serious issues."

Editor’s Note: Shahinian reports no relevant disclosures. 

Bailoor K, Hirth RA, Guro P, Oerline MK, Hollingsworth JM, Shahinian VB. Primary Care Involvement and Health Care Utilization Among Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease. 

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.080

MacRae C, Mercer SW, Guthrie B, Henderson D. Comorbidity in chronic kidney disease: a large cross-sectional study of prevalence in Scottish primary care. 

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Chronic Kidney Disease

Douglas P. Mack, a pediatric allergist and assistant clinical professor at McMaster University

Epinephrine Nasal Spray Shows Strong Patient Preference, With Douglas Mack, MD

2026 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (AAAAI) 

 a pediatric allergist and assistant clinical professor at McMaster University, on how clinicians can integrate 

into shared decision-making conversations with patients and families. He emphasized that patient preference and real-world usability will likely play a critical role in the success of these therapies.

“We have to, as clinicians, have no preconceptions about what a patient wants,” Mack said. “Some families, we think they're going to want one thing, and they want something separate. Whenever I go into these discussions, I always want to show both options for the families, show how they work, [and] even let them try them. In the end, I know the science. I know what's going to work to some degree, but in the end, if they don't buy into this, it doesn't matter what I give them if they're not going to use it; that dose is never getting into that patient. Shared decision making is absolutely critical in this scenario and having an open mind to what a patient wants.”

New data presented at the meeting found that among 90 participants in a randomized crossover study, 88% reported preferring the intranasal device over injectable epinephrine. Investigators found the preference was consistent regardless of whether participants had prior experience using auto-injectors. Reasons for favoring the nasal spray included the absence of a needle, ease of use, portability, and the perception that it would be easier for bystanders to administer in an emergency.

Among survey responses addressing barriers to carrying epinephrine, 98–100% of participants rated factors such as device size, weight, and temperature flexibility more favorably for the intranasal product. In addition, 93% of participants reported they could bring the nasal spray with them in daily situations, compared with 43% for auto-injectors.

“We already have preliminary data on real-world use of [epinephrine nasal spray], and it… appears to have very similar outcomes to what we see with injectables,” Mack said. “I think once we get more comfortable with that, we [will] see that more patients are using this. What I do wonder is: are we going to see earlier use of this? In the real world, are people actually using this earlier… or more frequently, simply because of the fact that it's needle-free? I think if we do see…less hesitation in the real-world…that's going to be absolutely golden data.”

New data reveals 9 in 10 people prefer EURneffy, a needle-free nasal adrenaline spray, over auto-injectors. BioSpace. Published March 4, 2026. Accessed March 5, 2026. 

https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/new-data-reveals-9-in-10-people-prefer-eurneffy-a-needle-free-nasal-adrenaline-spray-over-auto-injectors

Research presented at AAAAI 2026 found that 88% of participants preferred intranasal epinephrine over injectables.

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Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team in 2022 and is currently an associate editor for HCPLive. He is also the executive producer of two podcasts: Skin of Color Savvy and The Medical Sisterhood. Previously, he was the producer of the Lungcast podcast. He graduated from UC Berkeley and worked in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. You can contact him at tsmith@mjhlifesciences.com.

 has approved secukinumab for the treatment of moderate to severe 

 in pediatric patients aged 12 and older, positioning it as the only interleukin (IL)-17A inhibitor currently indicated for this population.

The approval adds a differentiated biologic option to an area where treatment choices for younger patients have historically been limited. HS is a chronic, systemic inflammatory condition known to be characterized by recurrent, painful, boil-like nodules, causing significant discomfort among individuals living with the disease.

 The nodules resulting from HS can rupture, cause open wounds, and result in permanent scarring.

“Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) often begins in adolescence and can cause irreversible scarring and disabilities,” Alexa B. Kimball, MD, MPH, lead investigator of the SUNSHINE and SUNRISE clinical trials in adult HS patients, President and CEO of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said in a statement.

 “The approval of [secukinumab] represents an important advancement for younger HS patients who have had limited treatment options.”

HS impacts approximately 1 in 100 people globally and frequently makes its first appearance around puberty, with more than 50% of those reporting symptom onset reporting the disease at the time of adolescence. Secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody designed to directly targeting interleukin-17A, a key cytokine known to drive the inflammatory pathways implicated in several immune-mediated diseases.

The drug carries adult approvals across a broad range of indications, including HS, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. On the pediatric side, it is now approved for HS alongside existing indications in plaque psoriasis, enthesitis-related arthritis, and juvenile PsA.

For clinicians managing adolescent HS patients, the approval introduces weight-based dosing for those at or above 30 kg, a regimen designed to achieve drug exposure comparable to that seen in adult HS trials. The pediatric indication was supported by a combination of data. Such findings included well-controlled adult HS studies, pharmacokinetic modeling extrapolated from adult data on HS and psoriasis, and clinical trial reslts from other approved pediatric indications.

In dosing analyses, results also validated the weight-adjusted approach as a reliable replication of the systemic exposure established in adults.
The distinct mechanism of IL-17A inhibition provides prescribers with a targeted therapeutic agent designed for individualization and based on patient weight.

“Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) affects far more than skin; it impacts confidence, emotional well-being and relationships during a formative period for many pediatric patients,” Brindley Brooks, founder and CEO of HS Connect, said in a statement.

 “For families watching their children struggle, this FDA approval brings hope for earlier intervention.”

Novartis Cosentyx® receives FDA approval for pediatric patients aged 12+ with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Novartis. March 13, 2026. 

https://www.novartis.com/us-en/news/media-releases/novartis-cosentyx-receives-fda-approval-pediatric-patients-aged-12-moderate-severe-hidradenitis-suppurativa

Montero-Vilchez T, Diaz-Calvillo P, Molina-Leyva A, et al. The Burden of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Signs and Symptoms in Quality of Life: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 22;18(13):6709. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18136709. PMID: 34206415; PMCID: PMC8293810.

FDA approval extends secukinumab to adolescents (≥12 years) with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa, making it the only IL-17A inhibitor indicated for this pediatric population. The decision expands biologic optionality in a disease that commonly presents around puberty and can lead to chronic pain, rupturing nodules, open wounds, and irreversible scarring. Support for the pediatric indication leveraged robust adult HS efficacy data, PK modeling and extrapolation from adult HS/psoriasis datasets, and clinical evidence from other pediatric indications, enabling weight-based dosing to match adult exposure targets.

This FDA approval of secukinumab (Cosentyx) for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) represents the fourth pediatric indication for the drug.

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FDA Approves Secukinumab for Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older with HS

Telemedicine use among patients has expanded dramatically in recent years, and the practice’s ability to expand access to patients regardless of location has shifted the way medicine is practiced.

Despite the explosion of telemedicine’s implementation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns have arisen regarding the value of this practice as opposed to the value of in-person interactions with clinicians.

 While the practice may have expanded access to care, the limits of telemedicine and telehealth in general have become increasingly more apparent.

, a visually dependent subfield of medicine, is uniquely suited for the virtual health care model, and its integration has been dubbed ‘teledermatology.’ This technological advancement in the field of medicine, commonly involving virtual appointments and app-based instructions, can allow a diverse patient population access to dermatology care.

In this feature, the editorial team reached out to 3 speakers in the field of dermatology to provide commentary on the evolution of teledermatology. One speaker was Harrison Nguyen, MD, MBA, MPH, a double board-certified dermatologist, Mohs micrographic surgeon, and clinical researcher in Houston, Texas. Nguyen also serves as a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Baylor College of Medicine.

 also spoke with Sylvana A. Brickley, DNP, FNP-BC, DCNP, a dermatology certified nurse practitioner (NP) at Lahey Health, and Avery Dinallo, DNP, FNP-C, DCNP, a dual board-certified family NP, a dermatology NP, and the president-elect of the Society of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners (SDPA).

These 3 leaders in the dermatology space provided several helpful insights on the ever-changing topic of telemedicine and teledermatology, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the practice and describing where improvements can be made to the practice to ensure adequate care.

Although teledermatology exploded in use during the COVID-19 pandemic, the practice predates 2020, with the term initially appearing in medical literature in 1993 and gaining traction in Norway.

 However, the first formal guidelines regarding teledermatology were issued by the American Telemedicine Association in 2007.

As innovations related to home computer use and smartphone adoption increased dramatically in the late 2000s and early 2010s, telemedicine became more and more of a reality. The COVID-19 pandemic was, undoubtedly, the inflection point for teledermatology’s use.

The aforementioned guidelines, when updated in 2016, began referring to 3 forms of consultation typically seen in teledermatology: real-time videoconferencing, store and forward, and a hybrid of these 2 methods.

 Store-and-forward is known to be the most widely utilized, involving taking photographs or videos, which are then evaluated at a different time and location.

In his interview, Nguyen explains how, despite technological advances, inconsistent reimbursement practices kept adoption fragmented in the period before 2020. He also highlights Medicare's reliable reimbursement during the pandemic, describing the move as setting a precedent followed by commercial insurers.

“It had been in existence before, but we had very inconsistent reimbursement, and adoption varied among practice types and varied among regions,” Nguyen explained. “But with COVID, it became a necessity. We started to really use it across more practice types, and we had very strong reimbursement from that, which started when Medicare was reimbursing very, very reliably.”

, Brickley and Dinallo both provide a practitioner's impression of what the COVID-era rush into telehealth actually looked like from within a clinic.

"It did explode,” Dinallo expressed. “It exploded during COVID, when everybody was forced to enter into these telehealth spaces.” Brickley concurred with Dinallo, describing the increasing adoption of telemedicine practices as a ‘mad rush’ in light of the pandemic.

Telemedicine has been used for a variety of aims: those working in healthcare settings can use the practice to monitor patient health, to provide clinical services to patients, to consult with other providers, and to allow patients to have access to various educational resources. Perhaps most significantly, in the dermatology world, telemedicine practices can allow for efficient diagnoses of diseases such as psoriasis, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancer.

Skin cancer, for example, is a uniquely important condition for dermatologists to diagnose, given the increasing incidence and real concerns over morbidity among patients.

 Multiple studies have demonstrated high concordance between teledermatology and in-person diagnoses, with 1 finding 91% concordance.

Patients have also reported a high level of satisfaction with teleconsultations, with increased savings related to travel, diminished wait times, and time efficiency being cited specifically.

 In his interview, Nguyen generally concurred with these views, outlining the conditions well suited to telehealth and noting medication and biologic monitoring, as well as post-procedure follow-up, are strengthened by the practice.

Brickley and Dinallo reinforced this view as well from their own clinical experience and practice focus, highlighting evidence supporting telemedicine for acne and rosacea specifically. Both also touched on the value telemedicine has brought to underserved communities

"Many dermatology practices, you're waiting three months, six months to get seen, or they live so far away they don't want to make that commute,” Dinallo said. “It's a lot easier just to pop on a call."

Brickley agreed, describing virtual consults as helping to decrease the number of referrals to dermatology practices. Such consults can free up in-person appointments for individuals who more urgently need to be seen by a dermatology provider, she highlighted.

An important consideration of adopting any new technological innovation is awareness of downsides. As tools such as smartphones have become more widely accepted in everyday life by most Americans, for example, the negative effects of their implementation related to emotional and cognitive health have become more apparent.

In the same vein, the limits of teledermatology require exploration to better understand the practice’s long-term impact on the medical field and on patients’ lives. Additionally, understanding these limits can help to improve the different facets of teledermatology’s use, allowing for improvements to the practice.

Despite the previously cited successes of virtual lesion assessments, research suggests in-person diagnostic accuracy remains approximately 11% greater than teleconsultations.

 Additionally, while diagnosing various conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and different skin cancers can be improved by teleconsultations, full body skin exams, melanocytic lesion assessments without dermoscopy, new or unclear rashes, and anything requiring a biopsy or procedure still necessitate in-person meetings.

During her interview, Brickley noted that still photos outperform video for diagnostic purposes. Nevertheless, she noted, modern smartphone cameras fall short of in-person evaluation for anything past classic presentations. Both Brickley and Dinallo note providers practicing solely through telemedicine carry a responsibility to refer patients to in-person care when necessary.

Nguyen frames most issues with telemedicine as a deployment problem, as much as a technology problem. He describes such practices as not inherently flawed, pointing to the placement of teledermatology in the wrong clinical context as producing redundant visits at best and missed diagnoses at worst.

"It falls short whenever it's being deployed under the wrong clinical context, when there's not the right triaging or workflows to identify the appropriate patient and appropriate care processes,” Nguyen expressed.

One of the more pointed critiques emerging from the interview with Dinallo and Brickley was regarding the proliferation of telemedicine platforms described by the 2 speakers as ‘prescription mills,’ wherein individuals can select a treatment, submit a photo or intake form, and be prescribed a medication without clinical conversation.

"There are companies out now where you just go, you click the drug you want, you text someone about it, and they mail it to your house,” Dinallo noted. “That's where it's been for the last 10 years, and it's gone too far in that direction."

Brickley concurred, noting that clinicians “want to satisfy the consumer, but also want to practice good medicine.” Practicing good medicine, Brickley added, is not always giving an individual who is asking for something exactly what they want. In other words, a commitment to scrupulous prescription practices is vital where telemedicine adoption is concerned, and this includes dermatology.

Brickley and Dinallo noted the founding rationale for their own telehealth clinic, AllMe Health, as correcting the market’s tilt toward convenience at the expense of genuine care. Examples include patients given tretinoin without guidance on how to use it, or ordering unnecessary labs with no clinician to interpret the data. Their clinic, they assert, will help to address these types of situations while still providing access to dermatologic care for underserved communities.

Obstacles to Teledermatology’s Expansion

Some of the most important issues related to teledermatology as a practice in today’s world lie not in its implementation, when warranted, but in the obstacles preventing its implementation.

Specifically, teledermatology reimbursement has been less than optimal for some dermatology clinicians, attributed to inconsistent payment parity between in-person consultations and teleconsultations. Reimbursement, Nguyen noted in his 

 interview, is the single biggest barrier to teledermatology’s more widespread use among those who need it.

"Teledermatology often takes as much time and resources to be able to do it as in-person visits,” Nguyen said. “It is not so different from a time and resource perspective."

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, inconsistent reimbursement kept teledermatology use limited, with fewer than 4% of dermatologists utilizing live video conferencing.

 During the pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded payment parity under public health emergency waivers, a move driving 43 US states to adopt permanent coverage parity laws and 22 states to initiate explicit payment parity legislation.

Nevertheless, given the benefits cited by Nguyen and a significant amount of available data on telemedicine’s implementation, the appropriate reimbursement for asynchronous teledermatology assessment services remains a concern for many clinicians.

Adding to the discussion of obstacles to teledermatology, Brickley and Dinallo described an NP-specific licensure issue: the lack of a multi-state compact for NPs and the current presence of individual state licensing for every jurisdiction where NPs see patients. This, they note, is a time-consuming and expensive process.

“We don't have a compact for nurse practitioners where we can,” Brickley highlighted. “We have to get every single state license individually. You can only see a patient [for whom] you're licensed in the state where the patient is located."

Such obstacles remain a concern among dermatology clinicians and, in the coming years, may need to be addressed by US public health organizations.

Looking Toward the Future of Telemedicine

The demand for dermatology clinicians is high, due to population aging and increasing skin cancer rates. Teledermatology is uniquely positioned as a necessary response to such concerns and concerns over financial costs among patients.

The geographic maldistribution of clinicians is not likely to self-correct, making sustained teledermatology infrastructure a significant long-term priority for policymakers. Additionally, the value of maintaining the patient-centric nature of medicine has been described by clinicians as vital to medicine’s future.

Brickley and Dinallo’s interview concluded with a prediction of what is to come for teledermatology practices, with Brickley predicting a trend toward niche, specialized teledermatology services rather than broad general platforms. Dinallo echoes this sentiment, framing passion-driven specialty care as the model most likely to provide genuinely improved outcomes.

“The future is going to be similar to what we're doing, where we're focusing more on specialty care, where people that are really passionate about this one specific topic [are] then providing it to more people,” Dinallo concluded in her interview.

Nguyen concluded his discussion of teledermatology by, first and foremost, reiterating his pro-telemedicine views. He describes such practices as an important tool in the modern medical world for maintaining access among underserved patients, provided it is used efficiently and with the patient’s best interests in mind.

“Efficiency depends on whether the practice, the health system, or the clinician has the infrastructure set up so that telemedicine is done in an efficient manner,” Nguyen explained. “I would say that access is something that has been demonstrated to improve with telemedicine. How do we continue to maintain the viability of it? We come back to the reimbursement aspect, making sure that clinicians are reimbursed appropriately for their efforts in teledermatology.”

Teledermatology's future may not be determined by the innovation itself, but by whether the policymakers, the payers, and the clinicians involved ensure its success. The screen is likely not to fully replace the exam room, but its helpfulness as a tool for clinicians may increase over time.

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Okobi OE, Abreo E, Okafor AA, et al. Trends in Melanoma Incidence, Prevalence, Stage at Diagnosis, and Survival: An Analysis of the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) Database. Cureus. 2024 Oct 2;16(10):e70697. 

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Teledermatology has matured from early store-and-forward models into a pandemic-accelerated access modality with strong fit for visually driven disease assessment and longitudinal therapy monitoring. High diagnostic concordance and patient satisfaction are counterbalanced by measurable gaps versus in-person accuracy and clear limitations for total-body exams, equivocal eruptions, melanocytic lesions without dermoscopy, and procedural needs. Misdeployment and poor triage can create redundant visits or missed diagnoses. Sustained growth hinges on reimbursement parity, robust workflows, and curbing “prescription mill” practices.

In this feature, 3 experts discuss the expansion of telehealth and telemedicine use, including their positive and negative aspects in dermatology today.

Where Teledermatology is Today: Expanding Access and Navigating Limits

Victoria Johnson joined the MJH Life Sciences in 2020 and has written for NeurologyLive, CGTLive, and now HCPLive. You can reach her at vjohnson@mjhlifesciences.com

New biologics transform severe asthma and COPD, yet prednisone overuse persists—see practical selection tips and outpatient steroid stewardship gaps.

COPD

COPD condition center page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on COPD research, treatment, and drug development.

Asthma

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Steroid Stewardship in Severe Airway Disease: The Case for Earlier Biologic Escalation

Tatyana Kushner, MD, is an associate professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

With new therapies emerging for hepatitis D, Kushner discusses brelovitug’s potential and what will be learned from the phase 3 AZURE program.

Hepatology

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into HCV can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on hepatitis C virus research, treatment, and drug development.

Inside the AZURE Program of Brelovitug for Hepatitis D, With Tatyana Kushner, MD

Abigail Brooks is an assistant managing editor for 

She joined MJH Life Sciences in August 2023 shortly after graduating from Monmouth University where she earned her BA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations/Journalism and later an MA in Interactive Digital Media. She enjoys traveling, running, and reading books. She can be reached at abrooks@mjhlifesciences.com.

New CKD therapies and a cardiometabolic care model are reshaping kidney disease management.

Integrating Kidney Health Across the Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Care Spectrum

Lala discusses ongoing challenges in the HF treatment cascade, highlighting widespread misunderstandings among patients and the issue of extreme pill burden.

Heart Failure

The HCPLive heart failure page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on HF. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for heart disease, reduced and preserved ejection fraction, and more.

Improving Patient Education and Pill Burden in Heart Failure Treatment, With Anuradha Lala, MD

Podcasts

This March episode of The Medical Sisterhood, in honor of Women's History Month, covers building influence in the dermatology field as a woman physician.

podcasts page features a feed of medical news and interview podcast series, including DocTalk, Lungcast, Derm Discussions, and Heart Trials.

The Medical Sisterhood, with Mona Shahriari, MD

The Medical Sisterhood, hosted by Mona Shahriari, MD, is a podcast dedicated to empowering female physicians by providing a platform for shared experiences, mentorship, and support. 

Each episode delves into the unique challenges women in medicine face, including work-life balance, leadership roles, and overcoming gender biases. Shahriari aims to inspire women to lead fulfilling professional and personal lives on their own terms through candid discussions and expert interviews. 

e as we foster a community where women can uplift and support each other in achieving their goals!

The Medical Sisterhood: Building Influence in Medicine as Women Physicians, With Nastasha Mensikovzka, MD, PhD

Clinicians share practical tips to boost colorectal screening, comparing colonoscopy and stool tests while addressing fears.

Video Series

Comparing Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Performance and Prep Options

Doctors share tactics to boost colorectal screening: compare colonoscopy vs stool tests, address fears, and prevent cancer before symptoms.

Shared Decision-Making in Colorectal Cancer Screening

Shara Bialo, MD, is the senior medical director of T1D immunology at Sanofi.

Bialo discusses her perspective on the importance of T1D screening and its capacity to reduce the risk of disease progression and eventual complications later in life.

Endocrinology

The HCPLive endocrinology page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on endocrine system conditions. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for diabetes, hormonal disease, and more.

Type 1 Diabetes

T1D Screening is Effective but Underused Among Patients With No Disease History, With Shara Bialo, MD

Sayantani Sindher, MD, is a clinical associate professor at the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford University School of Medicine.

Data presented at AAAAI 2026 showed that adding dupilumab to omalizumab-facilitated oral immunotherapy improved desensitization and reduced gastrointestinal adverse events.

Latest News

The HCPFive: Top News for Healthcare Providers from the Week of 03/08

PCP's Role in Reducing ER Use Among ESKD Patients on Dialysis

Epinephrine Nasal Spray Shows Strong Patient Preference, With Douglas Mack, MD

FDA Approves Secukinumab for Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older with HS

Where Teledermatology is Today: Expanding Access and Navigating Limits