Spyridon Fortis, MD, from the division of pulmonary, critical care, and occupational medicine at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

Bronchodilator Response Predicts COPD Risk, With Spyridon Fortis, MD

Bronchodilator responsiveness has traditionally been associated with 

, often leading clinicians to consider asthma-COPD overlap when airflow limitation is observed. However, in 

, Spyridon Fortis, MD, of the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, said that this perspective may overlook the broader prognostic value of bronchodilator response, particularly in smokers with preserved spirometry.

“A lot of people…use the bronchodilator response stimulus as a [criterion]… to say, ‘Oh, my patient has asthma,’ or ‘My patient has…COPD.’ Bronchodilator responsiveness [is] actually [a] diagnostic [criterion] to demonstrate lung function viability in asthma. In COPD, [it] has no role, and it should not be used to distinguish the two diseases,” Fortis said. “It's very common to have bronchodilator responsiveness [in both] COPD and asthma…it shouldn't play any role to say my patient has asthma-COPD, asthma-COPD overlap. I don't even like the term [of asthma-COPD overlap]. Every year, [I] teach medical students, [it is] very difficult [for them] to accept that bronchodilator responsiveness cannot distinguish the two diseases.”

Fortis and colleagues conducted the COPDGene analysis, a cross-sectional study evaluating whether genetic predisposition to 

 is associated with bronchodilator responsiveness and whether these factors independently or jointly influence lung function decline among individuals at risk for COPD.

 The study included 4824 adults aged 45 to 80 years with ≥ 10 pack-year smoking history and normal baseline spirometry. Bronchodilator responsiveness, measured as the percent change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) after bronchodilator administration, was compared with polygenic risk scores to determine which better predicted long-term lung function decline and COPD development.

Across racial groups, bronchodilator responsiveness consistently outperformed genetic risk scores, demonstrating higher predictive accuracy for FEV₁ decline and progression to COPD. Genetic risk was correlated with bronchodilator response only in non-Hispanic White participants, not in African American participants.

During the interview, Fortis emphasized that bronchodilator responsiveness should not be used to distinguish asthma from COPD. While it remains a diagnostic criterion for asthma, in COPD it primarily reflects airway pathology. such as inflammation and smooth muscle constriction, rather than disease classification. The study supports this view, showing that even among individuals with normal spirometry, bronchodilator responsiveness identifies subclinical airway disease that may signal future lung function decline.

The analysis also highlighted the challenges of applying rigid thresholds for bronchodilator response. Historical guidelines define responsiveness using different criteria, but no single cutoff reliably stratifies long-term risk. Responsiveness can vary over time, influenced by disease activity and airway inflammation. Nevertheless, greater responsiveness consistently correlated with faster FEV₁ decline, underscoring its value as a prognostic marker rather than a diagnostic test.

Fortis noted that interventional studies are needed to determine whether early treatment in individuals with preserved lung function and significant bronchodilator responsiveness could slow or prevent COPD progression. If successful, such studies could shift clinical practice toward earlier risk identification and proactive intervention, moving COPD care beyond traditional diagnostic frameworks and leveraging bronchodilator responsiveness as a tool for prevention rather than classification.

“If we test and prove…that existing treatment in people with bronchodilator response [and] normal spirometry can prevent them [from losing] lung function, that can change [our] practice…and that will be a new focus,” Fortis said.

Derman C. Bronchodilator Response Outperforms Genetic Risk in Predicting COPD Progression. HCPLive. Published on January 14, 2026. Accessed on January 22, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/bronchodilator-response-outperforms-genetic-risk-predicting-copd-progression

Fortis S, Comellas AP, Bowler RP, et al. Relationships between bronchodilator responsiveness, a COPD polygenic risk score, and COPD progression. Respir Med. Published online January 9, 2026

Videos

Fortis discusses new data that challenge the use of bronchodilator response as a tool for distinguishing asthma from COPD.

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.

Pulmonology

Infectious Disease condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on respiratory health. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, COVID-19, and more.

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.

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.

Results from 2 global phase 3 studies suggest amliteli­mab therapy may offer clinical benefit for individuals with 

, although prespecified secondary endpoints, including measures of erythema, were not met in all analyses.

These new results were announced by Sanofi on January 23. Encouraging findings from the 

 (NCT06130566) had been reported in September 2025.

 The new data resulted from 2 additional global phase 3 studies, namely SHORE (NCT06224348) and COAST 2 (NCT06181435), strengthening the evidence base supporting amlitelimab as a potential medication option for adolescents and adults with atopic dermatitis.

"Importantly, these results validate amlitelimab’s novel mechanism of action to block OX40-ligand without T-cell depletion and its promise to normalize the immune system over time," Houman Ashrafian, executive vice president and head of Research & Development at Sanofi, said in a statement.

Amlitelimab is a fully human monoclonal antibody designed not to deplete T cells, selectively targeting OX40 ligand (OX40L). OX40L is an important regulator of immune activation, and this inhibition of OX40L signaling early in the inflammatory cascade is designed to modulate excessive T-cell–driven inflammation while also preserving immune cell populations.

The SHORE and COAST 2 studies evaluated efficacy at the 24-week mark in patients with moderate-to-severe disease who were treated with amlitelimab every 4 weeks (Q4W) or every 12 weeks (Q12W). The primary endpoint for the US and US reference countries, was the proportion of participants attaining a validated Investigator Global Assessment for AD (vIGA-AD) score of 0 or 1, with at least an improvement of 2 points from baseline. This was analyzed via non-responder imputation. Within the European Union, EU reference countries, and Japan, the studies’ co-primary endpoints included the same vIGA-AD response as well as attainment a 75% improvement at least in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75).

The SHORE trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-arm phase 3 analysis involving 596 patients aged 12 years and older. Those evaluated were given amlitelimab Q4W or Q12W in combination with medium-potency topical corticosteroids, with or without the use of topical calcineurin inhibitors. By the 24-week mark, both amlitelimab regimens had met all of the studies’ primary and key secondary endpoints versus placebo across US and EU analyses.

COAST 2 involved a similar design, with 547 participants treated with amlitelimab as monotherapy. Both dosing schedules used in this study in the US and US reference countries also met their primary endpoint at Week 24 as opposed to placebo. However, a key secondary endpoint assessing vIGA-AD 0/1 with barely perceptible erythema did not attain statistical significance. Within EU and EU reference regions, neither regimen was successful in attaining statistical significance for the co-primary vIGA-AD and EASI-75 endpoints. Subsequent secondary endpoint 

Findings related to safety were comparable between amlitelimab and placebo in both trials. In SHORE, the most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) included upper respiratory tract infection (7.9% versus 4.4%), nasopharyngitis (9.5% with amlitelimab versus 12.5% with placebo), and atopic dermatitis (2.7% versus 5.6%). In the COAST 2 trial, common TEAEs were upper respiratory tract infection (4.8% versus 4.0%), nasopharyngitis (5.9% versus 7.4%), and atopic dermatitis (5.3% versus 2.7%).

Sanofi’s release described rates of serious AEs and discontinuations as similar between treatment and placebo arms in both studies. Additional long-term data were drawn from a preliminary analysis of the ongoing open-label ATLANTIS phase 2 study (NCT05769777). This phase 2 trial followed 591 subjects provided amlitelimab treatment Q4W through Week 52. Findings highlighted indicated continued improvements in skin clearance and atopic dermatitis severity beyond the 24-week mark, with strong tolerability.

The most common TEAEs were headache (10.3%), nasopharyngitis (19.1%), influenza (9.1%), upper respiratory tract infection (7.2%), atopic dermatitis (8.6%), and accidental overdose connected to scheduling errors (5.1%). Serious adverse events occurred in 4.7% of patients, and 2.9% discontinued treatment. One case of cutaneous Kaposi’s sarcoma was reported in an individual with known risk factors, leading to treatment cessation; the patient was described as recovering.

"The totality of data seen to date reinforce our confidence in amlitelimab’s potential to deliver both Q12W dosing from the start and progressive efficacy through Week 52,” Ashrafian said in a statement.

 “We look forward to sharing additional results, including longer-term data, as we move toward global regulatory submissions.”

The results from COAST 1, COAST 2, SHORE, and the interim ATLANTIS analysis are slated to be presented during upcoming medical conferences.

Press Release: Sanofi's amlitelimab confirms its potential in atopic dermatitis. Sanofi. January 23, 2026. 

https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2026/2026-01-23-06-00-00-3224400

Smith T. Phase 3 Data Show Amlitelimab Effective in Adults, Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis. HCPLive. September 4, 2025. Accessed January 23, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/phase-3-data-amlitelimab-effective-adults-adolescents-atopic-dermatitis

Articles

Amlitelimab has shown efficacy and safety in treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in patients aged 12 and older, as demonstrated in two global phase 3 studies, SHORE and COAST 2. These studies confirmed amlitelimab's novel mechanism of action, targeting OX40 ligand without depleting T cells. Both studies met primary endpoints in the US, but COAST 2 did not achieve statistical significance for some endpoints in the EU. Safety profiles were comparable to placebo, with common adverse events including upper respiratory infections and nasopharyngitis. Long-term data from the ATLANTIS phase 2 study indicated continued efficacy and tolerability.

However, key secondary endpoints, including measures of erythema, were not met in all analyses.

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.

Amlitelimab Effective, Safe for Atopic Dermatitis in Patients 12 Years and Older

Niels Lund, MSc is the vice president of Changing Diabetes at Novo Nordisk.

Managing Prediabetes Lowers Carbon Footprint Compared to T2D Care, With Niels Lund, MSc

Preventing the progression of prediabetes to 

 through lifestyle changes may more than halve the carbon footprint associated with disease treatment, according to a recent modeling study by the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Health System Task Force.

Investigators from various medical organizations across Europe, including AstraZeneca and Novo Nordisk, came together to analyze the potential carbon reduction of preventive treatment of prediabetes versus standard management of T2D in adult patients. The study was conducted in response to data showing that the carbon footprint of end-to-end healthcare delivered by the National Healthcare Service in England equated to 25 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019.

“We believe that the total patient carbon footprint, which also brings in the product carbon footprint, is influenced by many factors: medicine, equipment, transport, outpatient care, inpatient care, complications, and so on,” Niels Lund, MSc, vice president of Changing Diabetes at Novo Nordisk and lead investigator of the study, told 

 in an exclusive interview. “We zoomed in on 2 scenarios – prevention and improved care for diabetes in the UK.”

Lund and colleagues utilized the framework of the IQVIA core diabetes model after adapting it to include an environmental module – this was accomplished by replacing cost inputs with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with set interventions for T2D management. A total of 1000 patients were selected for the simulation and were simulated 1000 times each to achieve stability. The analysis was conducted over a lifetime horizon of 50 years.

The simulation was broken into 2 main scenarios; the first included a target population of adults with prediabetes, aged ≥40 years. 2 management pathways were assumed for this population – people receiving diet and exercise from a nutritionist for 4 years, adhering to it for life, and not progressing to T2D (representing the intervention arm), and people not receiving advice and progressing to T2D. The second scenario included adults with T2D, aged ≥54.5 years. This scenario’s 2 pathways were timely and effective T2D treatment and no treatment.

Ultimately, preventing the progression of prediabetes to T2D improved undiscounted life years (6.357) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) (3.747) versus natural progression to T2D over a lifetime horizon. Patients remaining prediabetic had fewer diabetes-related complications or events (244 vs 60,167 events per 100 patients over lifetime).

Total GHG emission associated with the care of patients with no progression to T2D was 67% less than that of those who progressed naturally. This reduction was largely due to a similar reduction in the need for management of diabetes-related complications, primarily cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and eye diseases. A modest increase in emissions was noted for disease management in patients who remained prediabetic, but this became negligible when annualised savings were estimated, which were higher than those with lifetime GHG emission savings (72% vs 67%).

The second scenario saw patients with well-controlled T2D have improved undiscounted life years (1.947) and QALYs (0.734) compared with patients with uncontrolled T2D. Care for well-controlled T2D was also associated with a 21% reduction in GHG emissions compared with uncontrolled T2D over a lifetime. This reduction was largely driven by reduced emissions for the management of complications.

“Hopefully, our findings can inspire other therapy areas outside of diabetes, and systems outside the UK,” Lund said. “When it comes to long-term disease management, these data could be relevant to see how the impact of different strategies in disease management can actually contribute to higher or lower carbon emissions.”

Editor’s Note: Lund reports that he is an employee and shareholder of Novo Nordisk.

BMJ Group. Type 2 diabetes prevention could more than halve carbon footprint linked to disease complications. 

. January 20, 2026. Accessed January 22, 2026. 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112970

Lund N, Maslova E, Chen J, et al. Assessment of greenhouse gas emission of type 2 diabetes management in adults: A modelling study in the UK. BMJ Open. 2026;16(1). 

Lund discusses a recent study detailing the comparatively lower greenhouse gas emissions caused by preventive care versus diabetes management.

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 2 Diabetes

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

GRI-0621 was well tolerated by people with 

(IPF) over a 12-week treatment period, meeting the primary end point of the Phase 2a GRI-0621-IPF-02 clinical trial.

The trial also met its secondary end point, with treated participants exhibiting improvements in serum biomarkers. More recently, the GRI Bio also announced positive flow cytometry data.

“Treatment of patients with IPF in the GRI-0621 Phase 2a trial was observed to be safe and well tolerated through the completion of the 12-week study,” Toby Maher, MD, PhD, Professor of Clinical Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, USC Los Angeles, said in a statement.

 “Secondary endpoints related to the effect of GRI-0621 on biomarkers associated with disease progression provided evidence that GRI-0621 maintains a net anti-fibrotic effect compared to standard of care. Lastly, FVC improved in patients treated with GRI-0621, with more patients experiencing an increase at 12 weeks than with standard of care. We look forward to watching the clinical advancement of GRI-0621 as a potential treatment for patients with IPF.”

The phase 2a randomized, double-blind, multinational, multicenter, placebo-controlled, parallel-design study enrolled 35 patients with IPF randomized 2:1 to receive oral GRI-0621 4.5 mg or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of treatment, no safety or tolerability concerns were identified among enrolled participants, with dry skin, dry lips, and muscle or joint pain representing the most frequently reported adverse events. Notably, no increases in cough were observed in the GRI-0621–treated group (0%) compared with placebo (25%), and gastrointestinal disorders were less frequent with GRI-0621 than with placebo, including diarrhea reported in 13% versus 33% of patients, respectively. Most participants (80%) were receiving background antifibrotic therapy with pirfenidone or nintedanib.

Treatment with GRI-0621 was also associated with favorable changes in serum biomarkers of collagen turnover, consistent with fibrosis resolution and activation of alveolar basement membrane repair mechanisms. Levels of PRO-C6, a marker of type VI collagen synthesis, decreased from baseline by 3% in GRI-0621–treated patients but increased by 12% in those receiving placebo plus standard of care. In contrast, C6M, a biomarker of type VI collagen degradation, increased by 6% with GRI-0621 and decreased by 3% with placebo. Overall, the type VI collagen remodeling rate shifted from fibrogenic in the placebo group (+10%, reflecting continued fibrosis progression) to fibrolytic in the GRI-0621 group (−7%, reflecting fibrosis resolution). Reductions in biomarkers of neutrophil and macrophage activity, as well as downregulation of genes associated with fibrosis, disease progression, and mortality, were also observed in GRI-0621–treated patients compared with placebo.

Placebo-adjusted changes from baseline in FVC showed an increase of 99 mL in the GRI-0621 arm and 139 mL among patients receiving both GRI-0621 and background standard of care. Given the known variability of spirometry, a post hoc analysis excluding extreme FVC outliers demonstrated placebo-adjusted increases of 54 mL in the overall GRI-0621 group and 81 mL in the subgroup on combination therapy. At week 12, 39% of patients treated with GRI-0621 experienced an increase in FVC, whereas 80% of placebo-treated patients experienced a decline.

“There remains a tremendous unmet need for safe, tolerable, and truly effective treatments for patients suffering from IPF,” Marc Hertz, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GRI Bio, said.

 “GRI-0621 continues to demonstrate a compelling profile, combining favorable safety and tolerability with a dual mechanism of action as both an immunomodulator and an anti-fibrotic agent.”

More recently, GRI announced that immune cell analyses from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed that GRI-0621 treatment inhibited invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell activity and drove a clear immunomodulatory shift toward an anti-fibrotic phenotype. Treated patients produced higher levels of the anti-fibrotic cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) alongside reduced production of pro-fibrotic cytokines, including interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-13, IL-17A, IL-22, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β).

Consistent with reduced chronic activation, iNKT cells from GRI-0621–treated subjects demonstrated increased T-cell receptor (TCR) expression after 12 weeks compared with baseline and placebo-treated subjects receiving standard of care. Across both BAL and PBMC samples, T-cell subsets showed increased type 1–associated cytokine expression (IFN-γ) with concomitant reductions in type 2 (IL-4, IL-13) and type 3 (IL-17A, IL-22) cytokines. Reductions in TGF-β were also observed after 12 weeks of GRI-0621 treatment across multiple immune cell populations—including regulatory T cells (Treg and Treg-like), B cells, monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils—compared with baseline and placebo, further supporting a broad anti-fibrotic immunologic shift.

“Our Phase 2a study was intentionally designed to assess a broad range of clinical, biomarker, and mechanistic endpoints,” Hertz said.

 “The immune cell data announced today are highly consistent with our earlier findings on collagen turnover, lung tissue repair, and improvements in pulmonary function, further strengthening the overall clinical proof-of-concept for GRI-0621.”

GRI Bio Announces Positive Topline Data from its Phase 2a Study in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (“IPF”). News release. GRI Bio. December 10, 2025. https://gribio.com/gri-bio-announces-positive-topline-data-from-its-phase-2a-study-in-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-ipf/

GRI Bio Announces Additional Positive Data from Phase 2a Study in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Strengthening Clinical Proof-of-Concept for GRI-0621. News release. GRI Bio. January 8, 2026. 

https://gribio.com/gri-bio-announces-additional-positive-data-from-phase-2a-study-in-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-strengthening-clinical-proof-of-concept-for-gri-0621/

GRI-0621 demonstrated safety and tolerability in a Phase 2a trial for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), achieving primary and secondary endpoints. The trial showed improvements in serum biomarkers and forced vital capacity (FVC) in treated patients. GRI-0621 exhibited a dual mechanism as an immunomodulator and anti-fibrotic agent, reducing pro-fibrotic cytokines and enhancing anti-fibrotic cytokine production. Immune cell analyses revealed a shift towards an anti-fibrotic phenotype, with increased T-cell receptor expression and reduced chronic activation. These findings support GRI-0621's potential as a treatment for IPF.

Pulmonary Fibrosis

GRI-0621 Well-Tolerated, Shows Positive Biomarker and FVC Data in IPF

 who failed to adequately respond to dupilumab may attain skin and itch improvements after switching to upadacitinib, new findings suggest.

These new data were the result of a second period of the 

, authored by such investigators as Christopher Bunick, MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine. In this second LEVEL UP period, Bunick and colleagues built on prior findings from the initial phase of the phase 3b/4 LEVEL UP head-to-head trial.

The prior analysis suggested upadacitinib use resulted in greater concurrent achievement of near-complete skin clearance and minimal to absent pruritus versus dupilumab after 16 weeks in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe disease.

“The current report extends these findings by providing results from period 2 of the LEVEL UP study where patients not achieving ≥ 75% improvement in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI 75) from baseline at the end of period 1 (week 16) entered an additional 16-week treatment period (period 2),” the team wrote.

Design and Findings on Switching from Dupilumab to Upadacitinib

Individuals who failed to achieve a 75% improvement from baseline at minimum in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI 75) by Week 16 at the conclusion of period 1 of LEVEL UP (NCT05601882) were considered eligible to enter a 16-week extension phase. Bunick and coauthors designated this phase as period 2. In this second phase of LEVEL UP, those who had been treated with dupilumab were switched to upadacitinib at an initial dose of 15 mg. They were given the option to raise their dosage to 30 mg depending on their clinical responses.

Evaluations of efficacy in the second phase of the trial were aimed at greater thresholds of atopic dermatitis control and relief in itch. Assessments included a Worst Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (WP-NRS) score of 0 or 1, attainment of EASI 90, and the combined achievement of both at the 20 and 32-week marks. There were 208 trial subjects who were transitioned from dupilumab to upadacitinib and entered period 2 of LEVEL UP.

A substantial proportion of these individuals in the extension phase demonstrated, at Week 32, meaningful improvements following the medication switch.

 Bunick and colleagues noted 79.6% reached an EASI 75 score. Additionally, they highlighted the achievement of EASI 90 by 58.7% and EASI 100 by 19.9%. Among study subjects showing a baseline WP-NRS score of 4 at minimum, the investigative team found 60.2% had a reduction of 4 points or more in their level of itch severity.

They found 37.0% of those who entered the second phase with a baseline WP-NRS score exceeding 1 achieved little to no itch, as reflected by a WP-NRS score of 0 or 1.

 In another notable result, the team found 26.8% had met the stringent composite end point of simultaneous EASI 90 and WP-NRS 0/1 by the 32-week mark. Improvements considered clinically meaningful were already evident, according to Bunick et al, at the 20-week mark.

 This result suggested a relatively rapid response after switching medications.

From a safety perspective, a lack of unexpected adverse events (AEs) during this second phase was observed.

 The consistency of the investigators’ safety findings and the established safety profile of upadacitinib was highlighted by Bunick and colleagues. No new safety concerns were identified during the extension phase.

The investigative team highlighted several potential limitations of their research, including noting the study’s limitation “by the absence of a comparator group during period 2 of the Level Up study; measures of improvement are based on a comparison to treatment response following a switch from the comparator group (DUPI) to the treatment group (UPA).”

Bunick CG, Magnolo N, Eyerich K, et al. Switching from Dupilumab to Upadacitinib in Adults and Adolescents with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis After Inadequate Response to Dupilumab: Efficacy and Safety Results from Period 2 of Phase 3b/4 Study (LEVEL UP). Am J Clin Dermatol. 2026 Jan 14. 

Silverberg JI, Bunick CG, Eyerich K. Efficacy and safety of upadacitinib versus dupilumab in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: week 16 results of an open-label randomized efficacy assessor-blinded head-to-head phase IIIb/IV study (Level Up). Br J Dermatol. 2024 Dec 23;192(1):36-45. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljae404. PMID: 39438067.

New findings suggest that patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who did not respond adequately to dupilumab may experience significant improvements in skin and itch after switching to upadacitinib. The LEVEL UP study's second phase demonstrated that a substantial proportion of patients achieved meaningful improvements in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores and itch severity after the switch. The study reported no unexpected adverse events, confirming upadacitinib's established safety profile. However, the absence of a comparator group in the second phase was noted as a limitation.

In these new phase 3b/4 data from LEVEL UP, findings on switching from dupilumab to upadacitinib in patients with atopic dermatitis are explored.

LEVEL UP: New Data on Switching from Dupilumab to Upadacitinib in Atopic Dermatitis

Diane MacDougall, MS, is the vice president of science and research at the Family Heart Foundation.

MacDougall discusses the Family Heart Foundation’s recent study indicating that very few adults with ASCVD are receiving guideline-directed therapy.

Cardiology

Cardiology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for heart disease and cardiovascular events, as well as associated diabetes, renal failure, and more...

Dyslipidemia

LDL-C Management is Dangerously Low Among US Adults With ASCVD, With Diane MacDougall, MS

Nancy Reau, MD, is Professor of Internal Medicine, Richard B. Capps Chair of Hepatology, Associate Director of Solid Organ Transplantation, and Section Chief of Hepatology at Rush University Medical Center.

Podcasts

Reau and Brown discuss recent research in hepatitis B, C, and D, including use of statins, GLP-1s, and more.

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.

Liver Lineup: Updates & Unfiltered Insights

Introducing Liver Lineup: Updates & Unfiltered Insights — an exciting new podcast delivering timely, candid perspectives on the most pressing topics in the fast-moving world of hepatology. Created by Nancy Reau, MD, and Kimberly Brown, MD, and hosted by HCPLive, this series dives into the cutting edge of liver disease research, clinical care, and real-world practice.

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

Liver Lineup: Advances, Gaps, and What’s Next in Viral Hepatitis

This summary of the 2026 Maui Derm Conference highlights some of the sessions and interviews to look forward to.

Conference

 conference coverage page features articles, videos, and expert-led live coverage from major medical meetings throughout the year.

What to Expect at the 2026 Maui Derm Conference

COPDGene data show bronchodilator response more accurately predicts FEV₁ decline and disease progression than polygenic risk scores, including among smokers with preserved spirometry.

Why Bronchodilator Response Matters in COPD Risk, With Spyridon Fortis, MD

Latha Palaniappan, MD, MS, is the associate dean for research at Stanford University.

Palaniappan explains what steps to take in managing cardiovascular disease risk among a population that does not adhere to the Life’s Essential 8 guidelines.

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.

Stroke

On the HCPLive stroke page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into CVA can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on stroke medicine, and more.

Hypertension

The HCPLive hypertension page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on high blood pressure. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for hypertension, and more.

AHA 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: Progress and Pitfalls, With Latha Palaniappan, MD, MS

Frances Lee, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the division of liver diseases at Mount Sinai.

A pair of hepatology experts discuss the shifting therapeutic landscape in PBC, lingering unmet needs, and where the field may be heading next.

Cholangitis

cholangitis page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into cholangitis can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on research, treatment, and drug development in PBC, PSC, and more!

Closing Gaps in PBC Care With Emerging and Established Second-Line Treatments

Ahmad Masri, MD, MS, is the director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at Oregon Health and Science University. 

Maron and Masri define the ongoing role of surgical myectomy and alcohol septal ablation in the myosin inhibitor era and preview emerging trials of aficamten in nonobstructive HCM.

Video Series

Integrating Myosin Inhibitors With Septal Reduction and Future Directions in Nonobstructive HCM

Maron and Masri discuss whether myosin inhibitors, particularly aficamten, should be considered first-line therapy for symptomatic obstructive HCM in treatment-naive patients, in light of data from trials like MAPLE-HCM.

Positioning Cardiac Myosin Inhibitors as First-Line Therapy: Evidence Versus Beta-blockers

Maron and Masri review pivotal phase 3 trials of mavacamten and aficamten and explain how efficacy and systolic function monitoring shaped their respective REMS programs.

Phase 3 Evidence and Safety Framework for Myosin Inhibitors: EXPLORER, VALOR, SEQUOIA, and REMS

Maron and Masri introduce cardiac myosin inhibitors—mavacamten and aficamten—explaining their sarcomere-level mechanism and the rationale for targeting hypercontractility in obstructive HCM.

Latest News

Bronchodilator Response Predicts COPD Risk, With Spyridon Fortis, MD

Amlitelimab Effective, Safe for Atopic Dermatitis in Patients 12 Years and Older

Managing Prediabetes Lowers Carbon Footprint Compared to T2D Care, With Niels Lund, MSc

GRI-0621 Well-Tolerated, Shows Positive Biomarker and FVC Data in IPF

LEVEL UP: New Data on Switching from Dupilumab to Upadacitinib in Atopic Dermatitis