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.

 and key trial results have punctuated 2025 for ophthalmology, making it a wildly productive year for the industry. Everything from diabetic retinopathy (DR) to 

 was addressed at some point, with crucial drugs like Susvimo and Acoltremon Ophthalmic Solution receiving approval to enter US markets. Treatment pipelines with Nanoscope and eSight also made significant progress this past year, as detailed in episodes of New Insight with Veeral Sheth, MD.

In light of the sheer number of news releases in 2025, the editorial team at 

 has summarized some of the most impactful headlines from throughout the year. Catch up on any bit-ticket stories you may have missed from 2025 below.


FDA Approves Susvimo for Diabetic Macular Edema


After this approval was announced on February 4, 2025, Susvimo, a ranibizumab-filled implant formerly known as the Port Delivery System with ranibizumab, became the first FDA-approved continuous delivery treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME). In addition to requiring fewer injections than standard therapy, Susvimo displayed continuous vision improvement in the phase 3 Pagoda study while remaining consistent with its known safety profile. During the trial, patients also received 4 loading doses of intravitreal ranibizumab prior to Susvimo implantation.


FDA Approves Revakinagene Taroretcel (ENCELTO) for MacTel


This March 6, 2025 approval marks the first ever FDA-approved treatment for macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel), a neurodegenerative disease of the retina that can cause progressive and irreversible vision loss. Revakinagene taroretcel was designed to deliver continuous therapeutic dosses of ciliary neurotrophic factor to the retina via Neurotech’s encapsulated cell therapy technology. After implantation, the device’s semi-permeable exterior membrane allows nutrients to enter and proteins to travel to the retina.


FDA Approves Susvimo for Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy


Another major Susvimo approval took place on May 22, 2025, marking it the first and only FDA-approved continuous delivery ttreatment capable of maintaining vision in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) – requiring only 1 refill every 9 months. The phase 3 Pavilion study highlighted Susvimo’s superiority to standard-of-care for DR, with roughly 80% of patients on Susvimo achieving a ≥2-step DR severity score improvement by week 100.


FDA Approves Acoltremon Ophthalmic Solution (TRYPTYR) for Dry Eye Disease


On May 28, 2025, the FDA’s approval of acoltremon ophthalmic solution for signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) marked a significant turning point in treating one of the most common ocular surface disorders in the world. The decision was based on positive topline results from the COMET-2 and COMET-3 trials, which displayed acoltremon ophthalmic solution’s superiority to vehicle control. 42.6% of patients in COMET-2 achieved a ≥10 mm increase in unanesthetized Schirmer’s score compared to 8.2% receiving vehicle, and 53.2% of acoltremon patients versus 14.4% of vehicle patients achieved the same in COMET-3.


FDA Approves Prednisolone Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension for Ocular Inflammation


Announced on June 12, 2025, the FDA’s approval of prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension provides a new salvo against ocular inflammation, a notoriously difficult-to-treat condition due to physiological barriers such as frequent blinking and the tear film. Most commercial eyedrops also have low ocular bioavailability, requiring frequent doses; prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension, 1%, is a self-administered eye drop intended for use 2-4 times daily.


Intravitreal UBX1325 Shows Efficacy in Diabetic Retinopathy, DME, with Dante Pieramici, MD


The BEHOLD and ASPIRE trials have prominently displayed the safety and efficacy of UBX1325 (foselutoclax), an intravitreal injection targeting cellular senescence to slow the progression of DME and DR. The editorial team at 

 spoke with Dante Pieramici, MD, of the California Retina Research Foundation, to discuss the implications of this new gene therapy for common ocular diseases.


Lifitegrast 5% Improves All Biomarkers of Dry Eye Disease, Study Suggests


During a 12-week prospective observational case series study, lifitegrast displayed improvements in all measured clinical biomarkers of dry eye disease (DED) in adult patients. The antagonist of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 prevents inflammatory response by blocking this antigen from interacting with intercellular adhesion molecule 1. It also increases goblet cell number and area, as well as tear formation.


Veligrotug Shows Durability for Thyroid Eye Disease in Phase 3 Trial Results


The phase 3 THRIVE trial has highlighted veligrotug’s long-term durability in treating thyroid eye disease. These results came soon after the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to the intravenously delivered anti-IGF-1R antibody. Veligrotug has the potential to be the intravitreal treatment of choice for active and chronic thyroid eye disease patients.


Faricimab Rapidly Reduces Retinal Fluid in nAMD in TENAYA and LUCERNE


A post-hoc analysis of the TENAYA and LUCERNE clinical trials highlighted faricimab as exhibiting greater improvements in anatomic outcomes versus aflibercept in patients with neovascular 

. In both trials, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes were substantially higher with faricimab compared to aflibercept, as well as effectively extending the time between treatments without sacrificing efficacy.


Faricimab Confirmed Safe for Treatment of Retinal Vein Occlusion


A secondary phase of the BALATON and COMINO trials met their primary endpoints of faricimab noninferiority to aflibercept at week 24, reaffirming faricimab’s efficacy in treating macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion. These sustained increases have not been seen in earlier central or hemiretinal retinal vein occlusion anti-VEGF trials – robust BCVA gains and CST reductions were maintained through all 72 weeks of the study.


New Insight: Restoring Sight With Nanoscope's MCO-010, With Ashish Patel, PhD, MBA


In this episode, host Veeral Sheth, MD, MBA, speaks with Ashish Patel, PhD, MBA, the senior vice president of sales and marketing at Nanoscope Therapeutics, Inc., to discuss the company’s current pipeline in therapeutic devices. The lead program, the MCO-010, is designed to deliver a broadband, highly sensitive opsin to bipolar cells, artificially converting them into surrogate photoreceptors and thereby restoring vision without requiring external goggles or light stimulation.


New Insight: The eSight Go with Roland Mattern, eSight Director of Marketing


In this episode, Sheth spoke with Roland Mattern to discuss the eSight Go, a fifth-generation wearable low-vision device built to enhance central vision function in patients suffering from macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and Stargardt’s disease. Mattern details the history of the company, from its founding to its current pipeline, which aims to help patients with low vision regain mobility and independence.


New Insight: Exploring ENCELTO for MacTel with Rich Small, CEO of Neurotech


In this episode, Sheth spoke with Rich Small, the chief executive officer of Neurotech, about the FDA’s approval of revakinagene taroretcel-lwey for macular telangiectasia type 2. Small details the history of Neurotech, the scientific foundation of revakinagene taroretcel-lwey, and the ideal patient profile for this revolutionary medication. Small also indicated ENCELTO.com, a patient service hub aimed at streamlining diagnosis, treatment, and access to care for patients with macular telangiectasia type 2.


New Insight: A Deep Dive into the Oculis Pipeline with Riad Sherif, MD


In this episode, Sheth met with Riad Sherif, MD, the chief executive officer of Oculis, to discuss the company’s current treatment pipeline in ophthalmic therapeutics. The conversation highlighted OCS-05, a neuroprotective agent which has shown promising results in acute optic neuritis. At the time, the phase 2 ACUITY trial had just been presented, displaying OCS-05’s preservative effects on retinal ganglion cells, which in turn improved low-contrast visual acuity. Additionally, the majority of patients receiving OCS-05 experienced substantially fewer multiple sclerosis relapses, highlighting potentially broader neuroprotective potential.

Articles

The year 2025 was marked by significant advancements in ophthalmology, with numerous FDA approvals and key trial results. Notable approvals included Susvimo for diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy, Revakinagene Taroretcel for macular telangiectasia type 2, and Acoltremon Ophthalmic Solution for dry eye disease. Trials such as BEHOLD, ASPIRE, and THRIVE demonstrated promising results for treatments targeting diabetic retinopathy, thyroid eye disease, and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Additionally, podcasts and features highlighted innovative therapeutic devices and treatments, including Nanoscope's MCO-010 and eSight Go.

Catch up on the most impactful headlines in ophthalmology from all of 2025 with our Year in Review.

News

news page, resources on the topics of disease- and specialty-specific medical news and expert insight can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on health care research, treatment, and drug development.

Clinical

clinical page is a resource for content on every specialty, disease, and topic available on our medical news site.

FDA News

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into ophthalmic disease can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on eye disease research, treatment, and drug development.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

age-related macular degeneration condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on retina disease. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for patients with AMD.

Diabetic Macular Edema

The HCPLive diabetic macular edema page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on DME. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for the leading cause of blindness, and more.

Ophthalmology in 2025: Year in Review

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.

 team spotlighted an array of unique developments in dermatology news centered on 

 treatment, including summarizing key approvals from the 

 and the release of significant clinical trial data shaping the evolving therapeutic landscape of eczema management.

Beyond regulatory decisions and clinical research advances, 2025 also featured a series of 

 podcast episodes or feature articles aimed at atopic dermatitis. In the site's Year in Review overview, 

 has curated some of the most significant updates and thought leadership shared on the 

 platform, providing readers with a comprehensive look back at atopic dermatitis–related news and a peak at trends projected to impact the field moving forward:

FDA Approves Ruxolitinib Cream for Pediatric Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

In September 2025, ruxolitinib cream (OPZELURA) was approved by the FDA for children aged 2 - 11 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. This announcement by the Incyte Corporation highlighted ruxolitinib cream’s indication for the short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in non-immunocompromised children ≥ 2 years of age whose atopic dermatitis is not well controlled with topicals or when such drugs are not recommended. The FDA’s decision follows positive phase 3 TRuE-AD3 trial findings.

Delgocitinib (Anzupgo) Scores FDA Approval for Chronic Hand Eczema

Delgocitinib (Anzupgo) cream was also approved in 2025 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema (CHE). LEO Pharma highlighted delgocitinib cream’s indication for CHE in adults who have had an inadequate response to, or for whom topical corticosteroids are not advisable, and its approval was based on data from the DELTA 1 and DELTA 2 clinical trials.

FDA Approves Roflumilast (Zoryve) Cream 0.05% for Atopic Dermatitis in Children Aged 2-5 Years

In October 2025, Arcutis Biotherapeutics’s roflumilast (Zoryve) cream 0.05% was approved by FDA officials for the topical treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children 2-5 years of age. The decision to approve this medication was based on findings from the INTEGUMENT-PED phase 3 study, the INTEGUMENT-OLE long-term extension study, and a phase 1 pharmacokinetic analysis. The decision represents the sixth FDA approval for the roflumilast armamentarium in just over 3 years.

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Rezpegaldesleukin for Atopic Dermatitis

In February 2025, Nektar Therapeutics announced the FDA’s decision to grant Fast Track designation to rezpegaldesleukin for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The medication is an investigational biologic formulated to stimulate the proliferation of regulatory T cells by targeting the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor complex. The phase 2b REZOLVE-AD study assessed rezpegaldesleukin's efficacy, enrolling 398 patients and assessing patients’ mean EASI score improvements.

Notable Findings on Lebrikizumab in ADmirable Study Assessing Patients with Skin of Color

During the Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference, new data on the efficacy of lebrikizumab (Ebglyss) for atopic dermatitis in adult and adolescent patients with skin of color were presented. These findings pointed to improvements observed by the phase 3b ADmirable study investigators over 24 weeks. The 

 team spoke at RAD with Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, an ADmirable investigator and professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, on these new lebrikizumab data and their implications for patients with skin of color.

Phase 3 Data Show Amlitelimab Effective in Adults, Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis

In phase 3 findings released in September 2025, amlitelimab therapy, administered every 4 or every 12 weeks, was shown to significantly improve patients’ level of skin clearance and to significantly reduce severity versus placebo among those with atopic dermatitis at 24 weeks. The findings, announced by Sanofi SA, were the result of the global COAST 1 trial (NCT06130566) assessing the use of amlitelimab, a fully human, non–T-cell depleting monoclonal antibody directed against OX40-ligand (OX40L), in those aged 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Topline Results Announced on Rocatinlimab for Adults with Atopic Dermatitis

In preliminary results from the ASCEND study, rocatinlimab therapy was shown by investigators to provide sustained skin clearance and itch improvements for individuals with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The drug also maintained a favorable long-term safety profile and low rates of discontinuation. The ASCEND analysis enrolled nearly 2600 participants, assessing the long-term efficacy and safety of rocatinlimab over 104 weeks with dosing every 4 or 8 weeks.

Next Step for OX40/OX40L: Real-World Data in Atopic Dermatitis, With Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD

Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, of Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, spoke in an interview with HCPLive on the promise of the OX40/ OX40L target as a first-line treatment for conditions such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and chronic urticaria in recent phase 2 and 3 clinical research. Chovatiya noted the impact of the OX40-targeted therapies and highlighted his own anticipation toward seeing some more sub-analyses and better understanding what it means to be truly naive, or treatment-experienced, and to be treated with medications such as rocatinlimab and amlitelimab.

Rethinking the Black Box: JAK Inhibitors Find Their Place in Dermatology

In an editorial feature posted in October 2025, the 

 team interviewed a series of experts in dermatology to highlight perceptions in Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor safety, to explore the initial excitement surrounding such medications, the subsequent caution resulting from black box warnings, and the more recent confidence expressed in recent months. JAK inhibitors have seen an explosion in approvals and are fast becoming key players in the management of conditions such as psoriasis, alopecia areata, and atopic dermatitis.

The Skin–Brain Axis: Emerging Evidence Transforming Dermatologic Care

In an October 2025 feature, 3 experts were interviewed regarding the mounting evidence suggesting the brain and skin are more closely connected than previously understood. This feature highlighted data linking inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis to neurocognitive and emotional health outcomes. This feature touched on the skin–brain axis, a bidirectional pathway of neural, immune, and endocrine signals, as a key driver of both dermatologic and psychiatric comorbidities.

HCPLive Five - Dermatology Updates at RAD Conference 2025

 highlighted the 2025 RAD Conference, touching on both new data and sessions by dermatology leaders presenting at RAD. Insights on the management, pathophysiology, and therapeutic innovations for atopic dermatitis were all highlighted in 

’s on-site coverage, and this summary included 5 standout video interviews from the meeting. These interviews included conversations related to allergy's connection to atopic dermatitis, concerns over JAKis, dose flexibility, and more.

In 2025, significant advancements in atopic dermatitis treatment were highlighted, including FDA approvals for ruxolitinib, delgocitinib, and roflumilast creams, and a Fast Track designation for rezpegaldesleukin. Clinical trials revealed promising results for lebrikizumab, amlitelimab, and rocatinlimab, enhancing therapeutic options. The HCPLive platform provided comprehensive coverage through podcasts and features, discussing JAK inhibitors' evolving role and the skin-brain axis's impact on dermatologic care. The RAD Conference showcased new data and expert insights, emphasizing the ongoing evolution in managing atopic dermatitis.

Catch up on some of the most significant headlines in atopic dermatitis news coverage from 2025 with our Year in Review.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis condition center page, audiences can find a variety of coverage mediums for medical news and updates, including articles, video interviews, podcasts, and breaking news on dermatitis research, treatment, and drug development.

Dermatology

The HCPLive dermatology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on skin disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for dermatologic conditions, and more.

Atopic Dermatitis in 2025: Year in Review

Image Credit: US Food and Drug Administration

 accepted the Biologics License Application (BLA) for – and granted Priority Review to – veligrotug, an intravenous anti-insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) antibody in development for 

Announced by parent company Viridian Therapeutics, veligrotug’s BLA is supported by positive topline data from the THRIVE and THRIVE-2 phase 3 clinical trials. During both trials, veligrotug achieved the primary and all secondary endpoints, showing a rapid onset of clinical benefit. Additionally, the FDA has announced a PDUFA target action date of June 30, 2026.

“We are thrilled that the FDA granted Priority Review for veligrotug, marking another significant milestone for Viridian and the TED community,” Steve Mahoney, president and CEO of Viridian, said in a statement. “This designation is a recognition that, if approved, veligrotug would be a significant improvement in the safety or effectiveness of treating a serious condition.”

THRIVE saw veligrotug compared to placebo among patients with moderate to severe TED. To be eligible for inclusion, patients had to have a Clinical Activity Score of ≥3 on the 7-item scale for the study eye and moderate to severe TED with documented evidence of ocular symptoms or signs beginning within 15 months before screening. Patients who had received prior treatment with another anti-IGF-1R therapy, had used systemic corticosteroids or selenium within 2 weeks of Day 1, or had received rituximab, tocilizumab, or other immunosuppressive agents within 8 weeks of Day 1 were excluded, among other criteria.

Patients were randomized to receive either veligrotug 10 mg/kg or a matching placebo. THRIVE’s primary endpoint was proptosis responder rate in the study eye at week 15. Secondary measures included change from baseline in proptosis as measured by exophthalmometer, change from baseline in Clinical Activity Score, and change from baseline in proptosis as measured by MRI/CT.

Ultimately, 70% of veligrotug recipients (21/30), who were proptosis responders at week 15 and continued treatment out to the end of the study at 52 weeks, maintained their proptosis response. Additionally, 65% of recipients were proptosis responders after adjusting for placebo. There were no changes to the safety profile for the duration of the follow-up period.

THRIVE-2 was a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study involving patients with chronic TED. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they exhibited severe chronic TED with documented evidence of ocular symptoms and had a clinical diagnosis of TED with any Clinical Activity Score. Patients were excluded if they had received prior treatment with anti-IGF-1R therapy, systemic corticosteroids, or other immunosuppressive drugs, among other criteria.

Patients were randomly assigned to receive 5 intravenous infusions of either veligrotug 10 mg/kg or a matching placebo every 3 weeks for a duration of 12 weeks. The trial’s primary endpoint was the proptosis responder rate in the most proptotic eye. Secondary endpoints included change from baseline in proptosis, Clinical Activity Responder Rate in the most proptotic eye, and diplopia responder rate, among others.

Ultimately, 56% of veligrotug recipients were proptosis responders, compared to 8% in the placebo arm. Proptosis response was significant at all time points, beginning at 3 weeks after the first infusion, which demonstrated veligrotug’s rapid onset of response. Additionally, the veligrotug arm achieved a mean proptosis reduction of 2.34 mm, compared to 0.46 mm in the placebo arm. THRIVE-2 also saw 56% of veligrotug recipients achieve a diplopia response, compared to 25% in the placebo arm. Rapid onset was observed as early as 6 weeks after the first 2 infusions. 32% of veligrotug recipients achieved complete resolution of diplopia, compared with 14% of the placebo arm.

“We very much appreciate all of the support we’ve received from patients, investigators, and our clinical partners,” Mahoney said in a statement. “We look forward to working closely with the FDA as we advance toward our goal of delivering a potentially transformative therapy to people living with thyroid eye disease and establishing Viridian as a leading commercial company in TED.”

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. Viridian Therapeutics Announces BLA Acceptance and Priority Review for Veligrotug for the Treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease. 

. December 22, 2025. Accessed December 22, 2025. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251222159703/en/Viridian-Therapeutics-Announces-BLA-Acceptance-and-Priority-Review-for-Veligrotug-for-the-Treatment-of-Thyroid-Eye-Disease

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. A Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy Study of Veligrotug (VRDN 001) in Healthy Volunteers and Participants With Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) (THRIVE) (THRIVE). ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05176639. Updated July 18, 2025. Accessed December 22, 2025. 

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05176639

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. Viridian Therapeutics Announces Positive Long-Term Durability Data from the Veligrotug Phase 3 THRIVE Clinical Trial in Patients with Active Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). May 20, 2025. December 22, 2025. 

https://investors.viridiantherapeutics.com/news/news-details/2025/Viridian-Therapeutics-Announces-Positive-Long-Term-Durability-Data-from-the-Veligrotug-Phase-3-THRIVE-Clinical-Trial-in-Patients-with-Active-Thyroid-Eye-Disease-TED/default.aspx

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. An Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability Study of Veligrotug (VRDN-001), in Participants With Chronic Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) (THRIVE-2) (THRIVE-2). ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06021054. Updated October 23, 2025. Accessed December 22, 2025. 

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06021054

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. Viridian Therapeutics Announces Positive Topline Results from Veligrotug Phase 3 THRIVE-2 Clinical Trial in Patients with Chronic Thyroid Eye Disease. December 16, 2024. Accessed December 22, 2025. 

https://investors.viridiantherapeutics.com/news/news-details/2024/Viridian-Therapeutics-5: Announces-Positive-Topline-Results-from-Veligrotug-Phase-3-THRIVE-2-Clinical-Trial-in-Patients-with-Chronic-Thyroid-Eye-Disease/default.aspx

The FDA has accepted the Biologics License Application for veligrotug, an anti-IGF-1R antibody for thyroid eye disease, granting it Priority Review. Supported by positive results from the THRIVE and THRIVE-2 phase 3 trials, veligrotug demonstrated rapid clinical benefits and met all primary and secondary endpoints. The THRIVE trial showed a 70% proptosis response rate, while THRIVE-2 showed a 56% response rate with significant proptosis reduction. The FDA's PDUFA target action date is June 30, 2026, marking a potential advancement in TED treatment.

The FDA’s decision is based on positive results from the phase 3 THRIVE and THRIVE-2 clinical trials, which showed veligrotug’s efficacy and rapid onset of benefits.

FDA Accepts, Grants Priority Review to Veligrotug BLA for Thyroid Eye Disease

Alex Hillenbrand is an assistant editor for 

. She earned her BA in English from Lafayette College in 2023 and went on to write for pop culture, entertainment, and sports media outlets before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2025. In her free time, Alex enjoys cooking, going on walks, and meeting new people. Contact her at mjhlifesciences.com.

New cross-sectional surveillance data from a 13-state, 98-county analysis show adults hospitalized with 

, underscoring its continued association with severe outcomes in the later stages of the pandemic.

These findings underscore the increased risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes in adults with CKD even in the later stages of the pandemic, when vaccine coverage and hybrid immunity were widespread.

“For older adults and others at high risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, these findings underscore the importance of staying up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccines and seeking prompt outpatient antiviral treatment after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result,” wrote study investigator Sarah Hamid, PhD, from the department of epidemiology at Emory University and colleagues.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic medical conditions were associated with increased hospitalization risk. By 2022, > 96% of US adults had immunity through vaccination, prior infection, or both, coinciding with substantially lower rates of COVID-19–associated hospitalizations and deaths in the general population. However, the risk for severe disease among vulnerable groups has persisted, and their association with hospitalization risk has not been well characterized.

To address this gap in research, investigators conducted a cross-sectional analysis across 3 surveillance seasons (week 40 of 1 year through week 39 of the next), comparing chronic conditions reported in the nationwide Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) with medical records from the COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET).

Investigators included the following chronic conditions: 

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

y (body mass index [BMI] 30–39 kg/m²), severe obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m²), and current smoking status.

For each condition, hospitalization rates were stratified by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. To assess the combined effects of multimorbidity, investigators examined commonly co-occurring condition pairs, including diabetes and CAD, diabetes and CKD, and CKD and CAD.

The 13-state analysis included 23,106 hospitalized, community-dwelling adults ≥ 18 years of age from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah. Among those individuals, 69.3% had ≥1 of 8 chronic conditions.

The eligibility criterion was restricted to patients who reported COVID-19-related illnesses as the primary reason for hospital admission. Those inhabiting congregate settings, such as long-term care facilities, at the time of hospitalization, were excluded.

Upon analysis, investigators found that during the 2022–2023 surveillance season, 70.1% of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 were ≥ 65 years of age, compared with 22.2% of adults in the general population residing in COVID-NET states.

The prevalence of chronic conditions in COVID-NET mirrored national estimates. However, adults hospitalized with COVID-19 had an increased prevalence of chronic medical conditions than community-dwelling adults in these states. The largest differences were observed for diabetes (35.2% vs 11.5%), CKD (24.5% vs 3.7%), coronary artery disease (23.4% vs 6.3%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (17.9% vs 6.3%), and history of stroke (12.5% vs 3.3%).

When compared with adults without chronic conditions, investigators reported that the adjusted rate ratios (aRRs) for COVID-19–associated hospitalization increased stepwise with comorbidity burden: 2.1 (95% Uncertainty Interval [UI], 1.7-2.5) for 1 condition, 4.0 (95% UI, 3.3-4.9) for 2 conditions, and 5.8 (95% UI, 4.7-7.1) for ≥3 conditions.

Across individual conditions, aRRs ranged from 1.0 (95% CI, 0.8–1.2) for non-severe obesity to 4.5 (95% CI, 3.4–5.9) for CKD. CKD, diabetes mellitus, and CAD were associated with increased hospitalization risk across all age groups, with relative risks ranging from 1.6- to 8.8-fold, depending on age.

Investigators also noted adults with both diabetes and CAD, diabetes and CKD, or CKD and CAD had increased rates of COVID-19–associated hospitalization than those with either condition alone.

Across all surveillance seasons, adults with 1, 3, or ≥ 3 chronic conditions experienced increased COVID-19–associated hospitalization rates than adults with no chronic conditions. The proportion of hospitalizations involving ≥2 chronic conditions increased from 32.7% (95% CI, 30.7–34.8) in 2020–2021 to 44.9% (95% CI, 40.3–49.6) in 2022–2023.

Between the 2020–2021 and 2022–2023 surveillance seasons, investigators called attention to the proportion of hospitalized adults with coronary artery disease increased from 13.6% (95% CI, 12.6–14.6) to 23.4% (95% CI, 21.1–25.9), history of stroke from 5.2% (95% CI, 4.6–5.9) to 12.5% (95% CI, 10.5–14.8), CKD from 15.3% (95% CI, 14.2–16.4) to 24.5% (95% CI, 22.2–27.0), and COPD from 10.3% (95% CI, 9.5–11.2) to 17.9% (95% CI, 15.9–20.1).

In contrast, the proportion of hospitalized adults with non-severe obesity declined from 35.0% (95% CI, 33.7–36.3) to 24.2% (95% CI, 22.0–26.4), and severe obesity declined from 15.4% (95% CI, 14.4–16.4) to 7.9% (95% CI, 6.7–9.2) over the same period.

“8 of 9 chronic conditions assessed were associated with increased risk of COVID-19 hospitalization; risk varied by condition and age. Older age was the strongest risk factor,” concluded investigators. “Findings can guide prevention and treatment by identifying populations at greatest risk of COVID-19 hospitalization.”

Hamid S, Derado G, Pham H, et al. Chronic Conditions as Risk Factors for COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization Among Adults, 2020–2023. 

. Published online December 2025:108227. doi:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2025.108227

Jones JM, Irene Molina Manrique, Stone M, et al. Estimates of SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Incidence of Primary SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Blood Donors, by COVID-19 Vaccination Status — United States, April 2021–September 2022. 2023;72(22):601-605. doi:

New surveillance data from a 13-state analysis highlights the significant impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on COVID-19 hospitalization risk, even in the pandemic's later stages. Despite widespread vaccine coverage and hybrid immunity, adults with CKD and other chronic conditions remain at heightened risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. The study emphasizes the importance of vaccination and prompt antiviral treatment for high-risk groups. It also reveals that the prevalence of chronic conditions among hospitalized COVID-19 patients is higher than in the general population, with CKD, diabetes, and coronary artery disease being particularly significant.

A multi-state cross-sectional analysis linked chronic kidney disease with increased COVID-19 hospitalizations, indicating more severe disease outcomes


Nephrology

The HCPLive nephrology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on kidney disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in nephrology, and more.

COVID-19

COVID-19 page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into coronavirus can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on COVID-19 research, treatment, and drug development.

Chronic Kidney Disease

CKD Among Top Chronic Conditions Linked to COVID-19 Hospitalization

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.

A scoping review found that real-world adherence to biologic therapies in 

 is influenced by a combination of systemic barriers, clinical factors, and underrecognized psychological determinants.

“This review highlights that adherence to biologic therapies in asthma is a multidimensional phenomenon that cannot be fully understood through a purely biomedical lens,” wrote study investigators Valentina Poletti, PhD candidate, and Eleonora Volpato, PhD, both from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy. “While biologics have markedly improved the management of severe asthma, their effectiveness relies on sustained, long-term use, an aspect influenced by far more than pharmacological efficacy alone.”

In this review, investigators sought to answer the question: “What are the psychosocial and related factors that influence adherence to biologic therapies in patients with asthma?” The team conducted a methodical search of PubMed, Scopus, and APA PsycINFO of studies between April 1 and May 31, 2025, and included studies if they focused on patients with asthma undergoing biologic treatment and addressed adherence-related outcomes regarding psychosocial or behavioral factors. In total, the review included 12 studies, published between 2018 and 2015, with most conducted in the United States (70%).

Adherence rates to biologic therapies for moderate-to-severe asthma varied across studies. PDC was a common measure for treatment adherence, which assesses the percentage of days within a defined period during which the patient had access to the prescribed medication.

Many US-based retrospective studies reported good, albeit suboptimal, adherence levels. One study reported a median PDC of 87%; adherence varied among specific biologics, with dupilumab showing the lowest adherence.

 Another study reported a mean PDC of 0.76 during the first 6 months of treatment, with 61% of patients reaching a PDC ≥ 0.75; here, dupilumab showed the greatest adherence (98.15%), followed by reslizumab (92.04%) and omalizumab (71.89%).

When examining all the studies, adherence ranged anywhere from 84.9% to 95%.

One study did not report PDC values but highlighted low overall biologic utilization due to systemic, socioeconomic, and insurance-related issues. Another study reported that 29.8% of patients discontinued treatment due to perceived lack of efficacy.

The review identified perceived treatment benefit, disease control beliefs, and collaborative decision-making processes as facilitators of adherence. Individuals had poorer adherence if they did not experience symptom relief and if symptoms were under control without treatment. Conversely, individuals with frequent exacerbations, increased oral corticosteroid use, or recent asthma-related hospitalizations were more likely to adhere to biologics.

“These findings reinforce that the therapeutic relationship, communication quality, and patient involvement are not ancillary aspects of care but central determinants of long-term engagement,” investigators wrote.

 “Treatment settings perceived as supportive—whether in specialist clinics or structured home-care models—can further enhance adherence by reducing psychological and organizational burden.”

The study found that comorbid psychological conditions, especially depression, may diminish motivation to remain on treatment. This coincides with studies that have shown that the presence of depression is negatively associated with adherence to biologics.

Investigators noted that factors such as treatment-related anxiety (for example, needle phobia), illness denial, and stigma suggest that adherence is shaped by both medication-related concerns, such as long-term adverse events, and the emotional and symbolic meanings patients attach to biologic therapy. These influences are often unaddressed in asthma clinical care but can strongly affect treatment behavior.

“Together, these findings suggest that clinicians must go beyond the prescription,” investigators wrote.

 “Understanding how patients make sense of their illness, what meanings they assign to biologic therapies, and how they emotionally and cognitively respond to the idea of long-term treatment is essential. Adherence is not merely a matter of instruction and compliance—it is embedded in the patient’s subjective experience and day-to-day reality. Recognizing this dimension can help clinicians identify vulnerabilities, tailor interventions, and better support sustained engagement with biologic therapy.”

The team acknowledged several limitations, including restriction to peer-reviewed literature, a predominance of observational studies conducted in Western countries, heterogeneous definitions and measures of adherence, and the frequent assessment of psychosocial determinants as secondary outcomes, which limited quantitative synthesis.

“From a clinical standpoint, this scoping review calls for a paradigm shift in asthma care,” investigators concluded.

 “Beyond assessing biological eligibility (e.g., eosinophil counts, exacerbation history), it is crucial to evaluate psychological readiness, health beliefs, emotional distress, and contextual challenges.”

Poletti V, Volpato E. Psychological and Related Factors Influencing Adherence to Biologic Therapies in Asthma: A Scoping Review. 

. 2025;25(1):60. Published 2025 Dec 17. doi:10.1007/s11882-025-01242-5

Ledford D, Soong W, Carr W, Trevor J, LT-A of A. Real-world severe asthma biologic administration and adherence differs by biologic: CHRONICLE study results. 2023. Elsevier n.d.

Osazuwa-Peters O, Greiner M. AO-TJ of A. Factors related to biologic adherence and outcomes among moderate-to-severe asthma patients. 2022. Elsevier n.d.

A scoping review highlights that adherence to biologic therapies in asthma is influenced by systemic barriers, clinical factors, and psychological determinants. The effectiveness of biologics in managing severe asthma depends on sustained, long-term use, which is affected by more than just pharmacological efficacy. Factors such as perceived treatment benefit, disease control beliefs, and collaborative decision-making enhance adherence, while psychological conditions like depression diminish it. The review calls for a paradigm shift in asthma care, emphasizing the importance of understanding patients' psychological readiness and contextual challenges.

A review shows that real-world persistence with asthma biologics depends not only on efficacy, but also on patient perceptions and mental health.

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