Belatacept + Dazodalibep: Mechanistic Breakthrough in Transplant Immunosuppression

Dual costimulation may represent a new paradigm in kidney transplantation immunosuppression, according to study investigators.

Recently, the first clinical trial of dual costimulation blockade in humans combined dazodalibep and belatacept as the sole maintenance antirejection therapy in adults undergoing kidney transplantation. The regimen prevented transplant rejection in over 50% of patients, with most rejections occurring by week 12, allowing for early recognition and intervention.

“Even though we knew this would work back in the 1990s, this is the first time we were able to do it in humans,” said Allan Kirk, MD, PhD, a transplant surgeon at Duke Kidney/Transplant Clinic in an interview with 

Since the 1990s, calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids have been the standard of care in kidney transplantation, successfully reducing acute rejection, but not improving long-term graft survival. Due to the therapeutic regimens’ nephrotoxicity and association with diabetes and hypertension, many patients report reduced quality of life.

Belatacept, a selective CD28–CD80/86 costimulation blocker, was first evaluated in kidney transplantation in the phase 3 BENEFIT trial. In BENEFIT recipients demonstrated improved renal function, fewer cardiovascular and metabolic adverse effects, and a survival advantage at 7 years compared with cyclosporine-treated patients, led to approval by the 

However, CD28–CD80/86, which is critical for early T cell priming, does not inhibit other costimulatory pathways that sustain effector T cell responses or promote T cell–B cell interactions. This incomplete suppression allows some T cells to become activated, which demonstrated increased rates of early acute rejection in belatacept-treated patients, highlighting the limitations of targeting a single costimulatory pathway.

Mechanistically, full T cell activation requires costimulatory signals from multiple, nonredundant pathways. Key pathways include the immunoglobulin-related superfamily, such as CD28–CD80/86 and inducible costimulator–inducible costimulator ligand (ICOS–ICOSL), as well as tumor necrosis factor–related interactions including CD40–CD40 ligand. While CD28 signaling is critical for early T cell priming, ICOS signaling sustains effector T cell responses and promotes T cell–B cell collaboration and antibody production.

Dazodalibep is a nonantibody fusion protein that selectively inhibits CD154 (CD40 ligand), a critical mediator of T cell–B cell interactions and effector T cell survival. CD154 signaling promotes T cell help to B cells, antibody production, and expansion of effector T cells, pathways that are not fully suppressed by CD28 blockade alone. By disrupting these complementary costimulatory signals, dazodalibep prevents both cellular and humoral alloimmune responses, supporting long-term graft tolerance.

Importantly, unlike earlier anti-CD154 antibodies, dazodalibep lacks an Fc domain, minimizing the risk of thromboembolic complications observed in preclinical and early clinical studies. Combined with belatacept, dual blockade therefore addresses both early T cell priming and downstream effector pathways, providing a mechanistic rationale for more durable, CNI-free maintenance immunosuppression.

Investigators evaluated the dual costimulatory blockade in a phase 2a, open-label, single-arm, pilot trial evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of dual costimulation blockade combining dazodalibep and belatacept in adult recipients of a first, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)–nonidentical kidney allograft from a deceased, living unrelated, or living related donor.

To follow along with the findings, watch the rest of our interview with Dr. Kirk here.

Editor’s Note: Kirk reports relevant disclosures with Ededon Pharmaceuticals.

Vincenti F, Shoji J, Wojciechowski D, et al. Dual costimulation blockade with the CD154-specific fusion protein dazodalibep and belatacept for prophylaxis of kidney allograft rejection. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajt.2025.12.290

Schroder PM, Fitch ZW, Schmitz R, Choi AY, Kwun J, Knechtle SJ. The past, present, and future of costimulation blockade in organ transplantation. 

https://doi.org/10.1097/mot.0000000000000656

Videos

Targeting CD28 and CD154 pathways, dual blockade with belatacept and dazodalibep offers a new mechanistic approach in kidney transplant care.

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Mechanistic Rationale for Dual Costimulation Blockade, Belatacept, Dazodalibep in Kidney Transplantation

Ahmad Anouti, MD, is a pediatric resident at the University of Texas Southwestern in the Physician Scientist Training Program.

Advancing Prognostic Tools in Biliary Atresia Care

Early recognition remains the single most important determinant of outcomes in biliary atresia, a rare but life-threatening cholestatic liver disease of infancy.

Hepatoportoenterostomy, also known as a Kasai procedure, can effectively treat biliary atresia and delay, or in some cases prevent, the need for a liver transplant, especially when performed early. While several serum markers have been suggested to better predict post-hepatoportoenterostomy outcomes, emerging research is shedding light on the potential utility of serum predictors of native liver survival in these patients.

In a recent interview with HCPLive, Ahmad Anouti, MD, a pediatric resident at UT Southwestern, underscored how easily biliary atresia can be overlooked and how costly delays can be.

Biliary atresia is characterized by absent, collapsed, or nonfunctional bile ducts, preventing bile from draining from the liver into the intestine. As bile accumulates, progressive inflammation and fibrosis lead to cirrhosis. Clinically, infants present with jaundice driven by rising direct bilirubin levels.

“The most common causes of jaundice are physiologic: breastfeeding, breast milk, just natural jaundice, and so and the majority of babies are jaundice, more than 60%,” Anouti explained. “Most of the time, it is not biliary atresia, but if it is biliary atresia, and we're saying ‘Oh, this is normal jaundice, this is physiological, we're not fractionating,’ and we're missing the direct bilirubin, then the kids are going to get worse.”

Timing is critical for the primary surgical intervention, hepatoportoenterostomy, which connects the intestine directly to the liver in an attempt to restore bile flow. Outcomes decline significantly after 60 days of life, with each day of delay associated with increased mortality risk. If the Kasai fails, liver transplantation becomes the only definitive option.

Against this clinical backdrop, Anouti and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis, published in the 

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

, examining serum biomarkers as potential prognostic tools in biliary atresia. While direct bilirubin and other markers help establish diagnosis, reliable predictors of long-term outcomes remain elusive. The team systematically reviewed existing literature to identify serum values that may correlate with prognosis.

Their findings suggest several potential thresholds. Elevated direct bilirubin > 1 mg/dL within the first 48 to 72 hours of life may signal biliary atresia. Beyond diagnosis, persistent direct bilirubin levels > 1 mg/dL at 12 months may indicate a poorer prognosis. Total bile acids also show promise as longer-term prognostic indicators.

However, as Anouti noted, the analysis is limited by the quality and heterogeneity of the underlying studies. Additionally, he pointed out much of the existing literature focuses on diagnosis rather than risk stratification.

Ultimately, the study highlights both progress and gaps. While early detection remains paramount, advancing prognostic tools could help clinicians better counsel families, tailor surveillance, and identify patients most likely to require transplant, moving the field beyond diagnosis toward precision management.

Anouti A, Dahshi H, Cotter TG, Rabbani TA, Corbitt N, Hassan S. Serum predictors of native liver survival post-Kasai: Systematic review and meta-analysis. 

. Published online January 29, 2026. doi:10.1002/jpn3.70355

NIDDK. Treatment for Biliary Atresia. September 2017. Accessed February 18, 2026. 

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/biliary-atresia/treatment

Anouti outlines why early bilirubin testing and emerging serum markers are key to improving prognosis in biliary atresia.

Hepatology

Advancing Prognostic Tools in Biliary Atresia Care, With Ahmad Anouti, MD

Nina Ajmone Marsan, MD, is a research fellow in the department of cardiology at Leiden University Medical Center.

Pilar Lopez Santi, MD, is a research fellow in the department of cardiology at Leiden University Medical Center.

Females With AR Exhibit Lower Mortality LVESVi Thresholds, With Nina Marsan, MD, and Pilar Santi, MD

 exhibit worse survival during medical management due to lower mortality thresholds for left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVi) in women than in men, according to a recent study.

Because LV dilatation is a strong indicator of adverse outcomes in patients with AR, current guidelines recommend using LV end-systolic diameter index (LVESDi) as a criterion for aortic valve surgery (AVS). However, other studies have indicated that LVESVi may depict adverse LV remodeling better than LVESDi, serving as a more effective predictor of heart failure, mortality, and survival. The 2025 European guidelines recognize LVESVi as an alternative criterion for AVS; however, the recommendation includes the same threshold for men and women.

“Existing literature is really predominantly focused on the male population, and there is not so much attention on sex-specific cutoffs, which have been proposed by the guidelines,” Nina Ajmone Marsan, MD, a research fellow in the department of cardiology at Leiden University Medical Center and co-author of the study, told 

 in an exclusive interview. “So, although the recent guidelines from the European Society of Cardiologists make mention of different cutoffs, we still don’t have enough data to support fully sex-specific cutoffs.”

Investigators collected data on asymptomatic patients with moderate-to-severe AR and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥50% on transthoracic echocardiography, sourced from an ongoing multicenter registry. Patients with relevant symptoms, acute AR, aortic or mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation more than mild, or previous aortic or mitral valve surgery were excluded from the study, as were patients with incomplete data for the assessment of AR severity or LV dimensions.

A total of 808 asymptomatic patients were included in the trial; among these, the mean age was 56 years (standard deviation [SD] 19 years). 371 patients (47%) had arterial hypertension, and 113 (15%) had coronary artery disease. The mean LVEF was 60% (SD, 6%), mean LVESVi was 35 mL/m2 (SD, 16), and mean LVESDi was 20 mm/m2 (SD, 4).

All patients were followed up with for the occurrence of a primary endpoint of all-cause mortality under medical management, censored at time of AVS, and all-cause mortality following AVS. Of the 808 included patients, 323 underwent AVS; of these, preoperative LV measurements performed within 3 months before surgery were available in 285 patients.

Based on echocardiographic data, women had a smaller mean LV mass index (111 g/m2 [SD, 54] vs 137 g/m2 [SD, 45]; 

 <.001) and lower prevalence of bicuspid aortic valve compared to men (36% vs 49%; 

 <.001). However, mean LVESDi values were similar between the sexes (20 mm/m2 [SD, 20] in women vs 20 mm/m2 [SD, 4] in men; 

 = .77), while mean volumetric LV end-systolic dimensions were larger in men than women (39 mL/m2 [SD, 16] vs 31 mL/m2 [SD, 31]; 

Over a median follow-up period of 7 years (interquartile range [IQR], 4-11), 125 patients died, of whom 61 were female and 64 were male. AVS was conducted more frequently in men than women (223 vs 100; 

 <.001). Of the 125 deaths, 74 occurred under medical management and 51 after AVS. Among those patients receiving medical treatment, 41 deaths occurred in women versus 33 in men. Adjusted survival at 1, 4, and 6 years’ follow-up was also substantially lower among women than men (96% vs 98%; 84% vs 91%; 80% vs 89%; 

After conducting receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, investigators identified an association between LVESDi ≥20 mm/m2 for both sexes, LVESVi ≥40 mL/m2 for women, and LVESVi ≥45 mL/m2 for men and mortality. The team then validated these cutoffs with age-adjusted cubic splines; the cutoffs remained associated with outcomes after multivariable adjustment, with a differential effect by sex for LVESVi but not for LVESDi. Coupled with the fact that survival did not differ by sex after AVS, this determined that only preoperative LVESVi was associated with mortality with a substantial sex interaction (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1-1.06; 

“We need to evolve from simple, linear measurements to volumetric measurements, and our research shows that we cannot rely as much on the diameters that we have,” Pilar Lopez Santi, MD, a research fellow in the department of cardiology at Leiden University Medical Center and lead author of the study, told 

 in an exclusive interview. “We must start looking at the volumes in these patients; otherwise, the mortality penalty that women will suffer will be high.”

Editor’s Note: Marsan reports disclosures with Abbott Vascular, Philips Ultrasound, Pfizer, and GE Healthcare. Santi reports no relevant disclosures.

Lopez Santi P, Fortuni F, Bernard J, et al. Sex Differences in Left Ventricular Remodeling for Risk Stratification of Patients With Aortic Regurgitation. 

Praz F, Borger MA, Lanz J, et al. 2025 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease. 

Marsan and Santi discuss their recent study highlighting the need for lower LVESVi thresholds in aortic valve surgery in women to reduce mortality outcomes.

Cardiology

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Female Patients With AR Exhibit Lower Mortality LVESVi Thresholds, With Nina Marsan, MD, and Pilar Santi, MD

In the second part of his conversation with HCPLive, Raffi Tachdjian, MD, MPH, from the department of pediatrics at the University of California Los Angeles, further contextualized new real-world data demonstrating sustained reductions in 

 attack rates at 18 months following initiation of berotralstat (ORLADEYO).

Tachdjian emphasized that one of the most clinically meaningful aspects of the analysis is its scale and inclusion of patients with normal C1 inhibitor HAE (HAE-nC1INH), a subgroup historically underrepresented in clinical trials. The study cohort represents one of the largest real-world populations receiving long-term oral prophylaxis, offering insight into treatment performance beyond controlled trial settings.

The analysis included patients with HAE from Optimal Care (Dec 2020–Jan 2024) with ≥ 2 dispensings and documented attack assessments before and after treatment. Among the sample, 390 had a C1 esterase inhibitor (C1INH) deficiency, and 311 had normal C1INH (HAE-nC1INH).

Over 12 months, mean monthly attack rates decreased from 2.50 to 0.79 among patients with HAE-C1INH and from 4.59 to 1.68 among those with HAE-nC1INH (both P <.001). Reductions continued through 18 months of follow-up and were observed regardless of baseline attack frequency or HAE subtype.

In this Q&A, Tachdjian explains how to interpret the sustained attack reductions at 12 and 18 months, explores differences in response between HAE-C1INH and HAE-nC1INH that may influence treatment decisions, and discusses how these real-world data complement or differ from findings in clinical trials.

 What is the most clinically meaningful takeaway from these real-world attack rate reductions following berotralstat initiation?

The exciting thing about this study is that it represents one of the largest real-world patient population cohorts that are receiving long-term prophylaxis for hereditary angioedema, and this [includes] patients with normal C1 inhibitor HAE. This is a population in which clinical data are limited.

 How should clinicians interpret the sustained reductions at 12 and 18 months when counseling patients about long-term prophylaxis expectations?

The significant attack reductions observed at 12 months and sustained at 18 months in this study suggest that the clinical benefit of treatment with ORLADEYO can be maintained over time, including in patients with higher baseline disease activity and different HAE types. This provides additional context for treatment discussions, reinforcing that long-term prophylaxis with ORLADEYO can offer durable disease control for many patients—an essential objective in the management of hereditary angioedema.

 Were there differences in response between HAE-C1INH and HAE-nC1INH that should influence treatment strategy?

In this real-world study, we observed clinically and statistically meaningful differences in response for patients with HAE-C1INH and those with HAE-nC1INH, which is notable given the more limited evidence base in the latter group. These findings suggest that ORLADEYO could be considered as part of a long-term prophylactic strategy for people with HAE regardless of type.

 How does real-world specialty pharmacy data complement—or differ from—what we learned in clinical trials?

While clinical trials establish efficacy and safety in a controlled environment, real-world specialty pharmacy data show us how ORLADEYO performs across a diverse HAE population in routine clinical practice, including patients with varying disease severity and types. Seeing significant and sustained attack reductions outside the trial setting through a protocol-driven real-world study reinforces confidence in the role of ORLADEYO as a long-term prophylactic option across HAE types and disease severity.

Tachdjian R. HCPLive. Sustained HAE Attack Reductions at 18 Months with Berotralstat, With Raffi Tachdjian, MD. HCPLive. Published on February 16, 2026. Accessed on February 18, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/sustained-hae-attack-reductions-18-months-berotralstat-raffi-tachdjian-md

Davis-Lorton M, Tachdjian R, Lopez-Gonzalez L, et al. Attack rate reductions following berotralstat initiation among US patients with hereditary angioedema in the real-world. 

Articles

A large specialty pharmacy cohort supports sustained reductions in attack rates across HAE subtypes, including normal C1 inhibitor disease.

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Allergy condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on allergic and inflammatory diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for food and seasonal allergies, as well as allergic asthma and related conditions.

Real-World HAE Control with Berotralstat at 18 Months, With Raffi Tachdjian, MD

Chelsie Derman is an associate editor for 

who covers psychiatry, sleep medicine, geriatrics, migraine, and allergy. She joined MJH Life Sciences in September 2023 after graduating from The College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and professional writing. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing and reading.

 in children and adolescents recommends sebetralstat, an oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor, as a first-line option for the acute treatment of attacks in patients aged ≥ 12 years. The guidance places particular emphasis on early treatment, self-administration, and ensuring on-demand therapy is accessible “anytime, anywhere.”

For clinicians managing pediatric HAE, the update formalizes a shift that has been evolving over the past decade: from reactive, injection-based rescue treatment toward rapid, patient-controlled intervention at the earliest sign of symptoms. The committee issued a strong recommendation for sebetralstat in adolescents, based on clinical trial evidence and recent regulatory approvals.

Recommend oral sebetralstat as first-line on-demand therapy for adolescents aged ≥12 years

Ensure all pediatric patients have on-demand therapy available at all times

Treat attacks as early as possible at symptom onset

Consider treatment for all attacks, regardless of anatomic location or perceived severity

Maintain supply sufficient to treat ≥ 2 attacks, even in patients receiving long-term prophylaxis

Sebetralstat (Ekterly) is a small-molecule, oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor designed for on-demand treatment of acute HAE attacks. Its US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval in July 2025 for patients aged ≥12 years was supported by the phase 3 KONFIDENT trial, which demonstrated significantly faster time to beginning of symptom relief compared with placebo.

 The drug has also received marketing authorization in the European Union and other regions.

“The first-line recommendation for EKTERLY so soon after becoming commercially available underscores the strength of our clinical data and reinforces the importance of ensuring patients have immediate access to effective on-demand therapy,” said Paul Audhya, MD, MBA, chief medical officer of KalVista.

 “As the first and only oral on-demand treatment for HAE, EKTERLY uniquely enables guideline-aligned care by supporting early intervention and simplifying self-administration.”

Pooled data from KONFIDENT and KONFIDENT-S demonstrated that the mean time to achieve symptom relief was less than 2 hours (1.79; range, 0.76 – 7.12).

 On average, reduction in severity took 3.58 hours, and complete attack resolution took 15.09 hours.

The new pediatric guideline incorporates these data into broader management recommendations. The panel advises that all pediatric patients with HAE should have immediate access to on-demand therapy, treat attacks as early as possible, and consider treating all attacks regardless of location or severity.

Patients should maintain an adequate supply to treat ≥ 2 attacks, even if receiving long-term prophylaxis. The guideline also recommends ensuring on-demand treatment is available during medical, dental, or surgical procedures and emphasizes maintaining normal activities when rapid treatment access is secured.

These recommendations build on prior international consensus guidance, including the 2022 WAO/EAACI HAE guideline, which also stressed early treatment and universal access to on-demand therapy.

 What distinguishes the pediatric update is its explicit framing around developmental and psychosocial considerations, including the burden of injections in adolescents and the importance of self-efficacy in disease management.

Before the availability of oral on-demand therapy, acute HAE treatment options included intravenous or subcutaneous plasma-derived C1-INH, recombinant C1-INH, the bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist icatibant, and the kallikrein inhibitor ecallantide.

 Although effective, these agents require injection or infusion, which may contribute to delays in treatment, particularly in younger patients dependent on caregivers.

Although the guideline strongly recommends sebetralstat in adolescents aged ≥ 12 years, several caveats remain. Head-to-head comparative data between sebetralstat and injectable therapies are lacking. Real-world effectiveness and adherence data in pediatric populations are still emerging.

Younger children remain an unmet need. The ongoing KONFIDENT-KID study is evaluating sebetralstat in children aged 2 to 11 years, with safety and pharmacokinetic data anticipated to inform future regulatory submissions.

At present, sebetralstat is not approved for patients younger than 12 years.

The guideline signals a maturation of pediatric HAE care, integrating pathophysiologic rationale, trial evidence, and patient-centered considerations.

 For clinicians, the key message is less about replacing existing therapies and more about ensuring rapid, reliable access to early treatment in a population for whom timing and feasibility are critical determinants of outcome.

“Ped-HAE-C1INHs deserve special attention in the diagnosis and management of their disease,” wrote first author Henriette Farkas, from Semmelweis University, in Hungary, and colleagues.

 “Early diagnosis, family screening, education and counseling of patients and their caregivers, selection of appropriate individualized therapy, development of a therapeutic strategic plan with shared decision making, centralized care, and regular follow-up of patients are essential to reach the goal of ensuring that these young patients can lead normal lives similar to their peers.”

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Announces Inclusion of EKTERLY® (sebetralstat) as a First-Line Therapy for Adolescents 12 and Older in International Pediatric HAE Guideline. BusinessWire. Published on February 18, 2026. Accessed on February 18, 2026. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218359223/en/KalVista-Pharmaceuticals-Announces-Inclusion-of-EKTERLY-sebetralstat-as-a-First-Line-Therapy-for-Adolescents-12-and-Older-in-International-Pediatric-HAE-Guideline

Farkas H, Martinez-Saguer I, Bork K, et al. International guideline on the diagnosis and management of pediatric patients with hereditary angioedema. 

Johnson V. HCPLive. Sebetralstat FDA-Approved as First Oral, On-Demand for Hereditary Angioedema. Published on July 7, 2025. Accessed on February 18, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/sebetralstat-fda-approved-as-first-oral-on-demand-for-hereditary-angioedema

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Announces European Commission and Swissmedic Approval of EKTERLY® (sebetralstat), First and Only Oral On-Demand Treatment for Hereditary Angioedema. Kalvista. Published on September 19, 2025. Accessed on February 18, 2026. 

https://kalvista.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kalvista-pharmaceuticals-announces-european-commission-and

Maurer M, Magerl M, Betschel S, et al. The international WAO/EAACI guideline for the management of hereditary angioedema-The 2021 revision and update. 

Approved HAE Treatments. US Hereditary Angioedema Association. Accessed on February 18, 2026. 

Updated international guidance reinforces early self-administered on-demand therapy and integrates newer kallikrein-targeted agents into routine HAE management.


Pediatric HAE Guideline Recommends Sebetralstat as First-Line Therapy

Alan Buchman MD, MSPH, is a professor of Clinical Surgery and Medical Director of the Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago and director of gastroenterology at Elevance Health.

New data show limited uptake of SBS-specific ICD-10 codes, raising concerns about misclassification and the true burden of disease.

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, IBS and IBD, Crohn's disease, and more.

ICD-10 Adoption and the True Burden of Short Bowel Syndrome, With Alan Buchman, MD, MSPH

Ryan Livingston joined the MJH Life Sciences team in March of 2025, shortly after graduating from TCNJ with a bachelor’s degree in English. He enjoys creative writing, reading, and scuba diving. He can be reached at rlivingston@mjhlifesciences.com.

These retrospective cohort studies also showed the vaccine’s reduction of heart attack, stroke, and asthma/COPD flare-ups in patients with RSV.

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AREXVY Vaccine Reduces Hospitalization, Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in RSV

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.

These data, released by Lilly, suggest ixekizumab (Taltz) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) are more effective when used together versus ixekizumab monotherapy.

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Ixekizumab, Tirzepatide Effective Together for Psoriasis and Obesity or Overweight

Ann Marie Navar, MD, PhD, is an associate professor of cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Navar discusses the positive data from the phase 3 trial and emphasizes substantial treatment adherence throughout the 52-week period.

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CORALreef Lipids: Enlicitide Reduces LDL-C in Patients With ASCVD, With Ann Marie Navar, MD, PhD

Linda Stein Gold, MD, is a dermatologist at Henry Ford Health. 

Dermatology leaders preview 2026 breakthroughs including oral psoriasis drugs, new biologics, novel acne drugs, and AI tools transforming patient care.

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What’s Next in Dermatology? Dermatologists Weigh In On 2026

Sophie Stocker is an Associate Professor in the Sydney Pharmacy School. She is also an Honorary Senior Hospital Scientist in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney; an Adjunct Senior Lecturer of the St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales; and an Honorary Scientist at the Garvan Medical Research Institute.

Stocker discusses the potential for a wearable patch to continuous drug measurement of vancomycin, especially in pediatric patients and outpatient settings.



Wearable Patch May Prevent Acute Kidney Injury

Abraham Kazemi, MD, is the director of Cosmetic and Laser Dermatology for Virginia’s Pinnacle Dermatology sites.

This clip from the latest episode of the Skin of Color Savvy podcast highlights Kazemi's experiences as a dermatologist working to help underserved communities.

Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color

Hosted by Skin of Color Society and produced by HCPLive, 

 delves into the latest research, clinical insights, and culturally intelligent care practices in dermatology with leading experts. 

Whether it’s groundbreaking research, practice-changing insights, or highlights from the SOCS community, this twice-monthly program provides dermatologists and care providers with expert perspectives on treating patients with skin of color.

Daily Challenges as a Dermatologist Helping Underserved Patients

Diana Isaacs, PharmD, is an endocrine clinical pharmacist, director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology, and codirector of Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy at the Cleveland Clinic.

Diabetes Dialogue Cohosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, cover the patient awareness motivation behind Novo Nordisk’s recent announcement.

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Type 2 Diabetes

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Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives is a monthly podcast hosted by Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, aimed at providing a regular roundup of the latest clinically applicable insights across diabetes and metabolic diseases, with a focus on leveraging technology to improve care.

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Novo Nordisk Rebrands Rybelsus as Ozempic to Increase Patient Awareness

In this segment, Dr Cristancho describes a pragmatic follow-up schedule and objective criteria—including early weight-loss benchmarks—to determine whether to continue, adjust, or discontinue non-incretin treatment.

Follow-up structure and objective thresholds for evaluating non-incretin therapy

Dr Cristancho reviews the targeted role of sympathomimetic agents and outlines essential cardiovascular, psychiatric, and drug–drug interaction assessments before initiating non-incretin medications.

Latest News

Mechanistic Rationale for Dual Costimulation Blockade, Belatacept, Dazodalibep in Kidney Transplantation

Advancing Prognostic Tools in Biliary Atresia Care, With Ahmad Anouti, MD

Female Patients With AR Exhibit Lower Mortality LVESVi Thresholds, With Nina Marsan, MD, and Pilar Santi, MD

Real-World HAE Control with Berotralstat at 18 Months, With Raffi Tachdjian, MD

Pediatric HAE Guideline Recommends Sebetralstat as First-Line Therapy