On New Roflumilast Cream Data on Atopic Dermatitis in Children, With Lawrence Eichenfield, MD

 interview, Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children's Hospital–San Diego and lead author of the INTEGUMENT-OLE publication, highlighted the value of new 

 supporting roflumilast cream .05% (ZORYVE) as a sustained treatment option for young children living with atopic dermatitis.

Eichenfield opened by contextualizing the need for the open-label extension study. Although the earlier 4-week, phase 3 trial successfully demonstrated the drug’s safety and efficacy as a once-daily cream versus vehicle in children aged 2 - 5 years, Eichenfield described this short observation window as having inherent limitations, especially related to characterizing adverse events (AEs) and long-term tolerability.

In his discussion, Eichenfield underscored the unmet need for non-steroidal options in this population. Eichenfield later also noted young children with atopic dermatitis often present with high body surface area (BSA) involvement, even among those classified as mild-to-moderate, making a safe and sustained topical option especially helpful.

The INTEGUMENT-OLE trial had recruited 562 participants, all of whom had previously taken part in INTEGUMENT-PED, and treated them with once-daily roflumilast cream .05% as monotherapy. This would last for up to 52 weeks. Eichenfield highlighted the novel design element of the extension study, noting individuals attaining a complete level of skin clearance, defined as a vIGA-AD score of 0 at or after Week 4, were shifted to a proactive twice-weekly maintenance regimen.

He described this approach as generating "very interesting data" on long-term disease control, with Kaplan-Meier analysis ultimately estimating a median disease control duration of 238 days among those who entered the maintenance phase.

On the safety front, Eichenfield and colleagues found treatment-emergent adverse events in approximately half of participants, with the majority classified as mild or moderate. Serious adverse events occurred in 3.2% of children, though none were deemed treatment-related. Application-site tolerability was also favorable, with investigators reporting no signs of irritation in at least 97% of subjects throughout the study.

From an efficacy standpoint, these findings point to sustained and gradually improving responses over time. By the 56-week mark, 63.1% of those completing the extension showed a vIGA-AD score of clear or almost clear, and more than 70% across treatment arms achieved EASI-75. Eichenfield pointed to the findings as helpful within the broader context of pediatric dermatology, describing young patients as carrying a substantial disease burden while having access to relatively few approved medications.

The quotes used in this interview were edited for the purposes of clarity.

Disclosures: Eichenfield previously reported receiving personal fees from Pfizer Inc; grant funding from AbbVie, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Bausch + Lomb, Castle Biosciences, Dermavant Sciences Inc, Galderma SA, Pfizer Inc, Regeneron, and Sanofi SA and consulting for ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, Almirall, SA, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc, Dermavant Sciences Inc, Galderma SA, Incyte Corporation, LEO Pharma A/S, Eli Lilly and Company, Ortho Dermatologics, Pfizer Inc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Sanofi SA, and UCB; and serving on the board of directors of Forté Pharma.

Smith T. New Long-Term Data Announced on Roflumilast Cream for Atopic Dermatitis in Children. HCPLive. March 10, 2026. Accessed March 16, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/new-long-term-data-announced-roflumilast-cream-atopic-dermatitis-in-children

Smith T. INTEGUMENT: Quality of Life with Roflumilast Cream (Zoryve) in Atopic Dermatitis. HCPLive. October 24, 2025. Accessed March 16, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/integument-quality-of-life-roflumilast-cream-zoryve-atopic-dermatitis

Videos

This interview highlights key points regarding new data on roflumilast cream 0.05% in children aged 2 to 5 years with atopic dermatitis.

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.

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.

On New Roflumilast Cream Data for Atopic Dermatitis in Children, With Lawrence Eichenfield, MD

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

Eingun James Song, MD, is the director of clinical research for Frontier Dermatology. 

Identifying and Managing Patients with Moderate Psoriasis

In this episode, "Identifying and Managing Patients with Moderate Psoriasis," the expert dermatologists explore the challenges of classifying psoriasis severity and the practical framework for identifying which patients are candidates for systemic therapy.

Dr. Stein Gold opens by highlighting the confusion surrounding severity classification, noting that BSA and Investigator's Global Assessment can yield very different conclusions for the same patient. By BSA, moderate psoriasis is defined as 3 to 10% body surface area involvement, yet clinical trials typically require at least 10% BSA for inclusion. She points out that the International Psoriasis Council guidelines recognize that many moderate patients fall below that threshold.

Dr. Crowley elaborates on this gap, citing clinical trial data showing that patients with mild to moderate disease still report quality of life scores comparable to those seen in phase three trials involving patients with much higher BSA. Dr. Stein Gold further reinforces this point by referencing a study using risankizumab, demonstrating that even when BSA is reduced significantly in moderate patients, the DLQI score barely moves, underscoring that visible disease in any amount continues to affect patients meaningfully.

Dr. Song adds that high impact areas carry a quality of life burden disproportionate to their BSA, and supports aligning with the NPF and IPC recommendations to reframe mild versus moderate and severe around treatment approach rather than BSA thresholds, with mild corresponding to topical-managed patients and moderate to severe corresponding to systemic candidates.

Dr. Crowley offers a practical clinical lens, suggesting the key question is simply whether a patient can adequately control their disease with topicals. If not, they are a systemic therapy candidate regardless of BSA. Dr. Song builds on this by referencing newly published IPC guidelines defining topical failure as two consecutive four-week treatment courses without reaching the treatment goal, providing clinicians and payers a clearer, more actionable standard for escalating care.

The next episode in this series, "Redefining Treatment Success in Psoriasis," features the panelists advancing their conversation on psoriasis and focusing on the evolution of treatment goals toward complete skin clearance, the role of NPF treat-to-target guidelines in combating treatment inertia, and practical strategies for determining when to optimize, modify, or switch therapy based on individual patient response and disease location.

Psoriasis severity goes beyond BSA: IGA, DLQI and high-impact areas redefine “moderate,” guiding when to move from topicals to systemic therapy.

Video Series

Choosing Between Septal Reduction and Myosin Inhibitors in oHCM Patients

Despite rapid therapeutic advances, oHCM remains a chronic, progressive, and heterogeneous disease.

Mariko Harper, MD, notes that while cardiac myosin inhibitors have “obliterated” obstruction for many patients and substantially improved exercise capacity and daily functioning, they are currently positioned as long-term therapies rather than proven disease-modifying agents. Moreover, many patients with nonobstructive HCM, or those who may transition from nonobstructive to obstructive disease over time, lack robust data to guide preventive or early use of cardiac myosin inhibitors, underscoring the need for continued surveillance and research across the HCM spectrum.

Matthew Martinez, MD, stresses that no single strategy can address all clinical scenarios. Some patients favor the durability and procedural finality of septal reduction therapy (surgical myectomy or alcohol septal ablation), particularly when they seek to minimize long-term medication exposure. The discussion becomes especially complex for individuals of childbearing potential and adolescents or young adults who might otherwise face many decades of continuous medical therapy. For these groups, Martinez and Harper contemplate whether a staged strategy—achieving stability through growth and then intervening with septal reduction at an optimal time—may be more appropriate than lifelong pharmacologic management alone.

Within this framework, the experts describe an “and” rather than “or” paradigm, with cardiac myosin inhibitors and septal reduction procedures functioning as complementary rather than mutually exclusive options. In this segment, Martinez and Harper demonstrate how life stage, reproductive planning, anticipated adherence, and long-term care infrastructure influence the selection and sequencing of interventions. The conversation illustrates the need for individualized, longitudinal planning and shared decision-making when balancing medical therapy and procedural options in complex oHCM populations.

Martinez and Harper discuss the limits of current therapies, the role of septal reduction procedures versus cardiac myosin inhibitors, and the complexities of managing younger and childbearing-age patients with oHCM.

Challenges in Managing Plaque Psoriasis

Welcome back to another HCPLive Peer Exchange series. In this episode titled "Challenges in Managing Plaque Psoriasis," the moderator, Dr. Linda Stein Gold, and expert panelists, Dr. Jeffrey Crowley and Dr. James Song, discuss the most pressing challenges facing dermatologists treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis patients in 2026 and the significant quality of life impact of residual disease.

Dr. Song identifies three core challenges. First, despite an increasingly robust treatment landscape, drug discontinuation remains a significant problem, with 30 to 50% of patients stopping or switching their first therapy within the first couple of years. He stresses the need for better patient-to-drug matching to reduce unnecessary switching. Second, he raises the more aspirational goal of addressing systemic comorbidities beyond skin clearance, noting emerging evidence that early skin clearance may prevent or delay the onset of psoriatic arthritis and cardiometabolic disease. Third, he highlights ongoing access barriers, particularly for patients who fall below the 10% BSA threshold commonly required by payers.

Dr. Stein Gold reinforces the importance of framing psoriasis as a systemic disease when counseling hesitant patients, noting that this perspective often improves patient willingness to pursue systemic therapy.

Dr. Crowley then addresses the quality of life impact of residual disease, citing clinical trial data showing incremental quality of life improvements as patients progress from PASI 75 to PASI 90 to PASI 100. He emphasizes that even small amounts of remaining disease, particularly in visible or sensitive areas like the face, can meaningfully affect patient wellbeing and may necessitate a change in therapy.

In the next episode, "Identifying and Managing Patients with Moderate Psoriasis," panelists will continue their discussion on plaque psoriasis and highlight the complexities of defining disease severity beyond BSA alone, the quality of life impact of moderate disease in high impact areas, and the practical framework for identifying systemic therapy candidates using updated IPC guidelines on topical treatment failure.

Dermatology experts share how IL‑23 therapies and comparative data boost clearance, cut switching, and improve psoriasis quality of life

Challenges in Managing Plaque Psoriasis”

Patrick Campbell is the editorial director of HCPLive. Patrick has spent years spearheading coverage surrounding cardiometabolic health and rheumatic disease for MJH Life Sciences. Before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2019, he spent time as a beat reporter and/or multimedia specialist with the Pocono Record, Star News Group, and NJ Advance Media. He is the executive producer for multiple HCPLive podcasts, including Diabetes Dialogue, Don't Miss a Beat, Kidney Compass, Medical Ethics Unpacked, The Medical Sisterhood, and Skin of Color Savvy. 


Follow him on Twitter @RealPatCampbell or reach him via email at PCampbell@mjhlifesciences.com.

Hiddo Heerspink, PharmD, PhD
Credit: University of Gronigen

Bayer has announced the phase 3 FIND-CKD trial evaluating finerenone (Kerendia) in adult patients with nondiabetic 

 met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in eGFR slope versus placebo over 32 months.

In their March 16, 2026 announcement, the company indicated it plans to submit the data to the 

 to seek a label expansion into this patient population, which would represent the broadest application of the agent to date across a CKD program now spanning more than 20,000 patients in phase 3 trials.

“Patients with chronic kidney disease have substantial risk for cardiovascular events and kidney failure, so new treatments are needed to help slow kidney disease progression and improve outcomes,” said Hiddo L. Heerspink, PharmD, PhD, professor of Clinical Trials and Personalized Medicine, clinical trialist at the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands, and cochair of the study’s Executive Committee.

 “The FIND-CKD topline results are encouraging because they now provide evidence for finerenone in a non-diabetic chronic kidney disease population, on top of its established evidence in diabetic chronic kidney disease.”

FIND-CKD (NCT05047263) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial enrolling more than 1500 adults with non-diabetic CKD, including patients with hypertension-related disease and chronic glomerulonephritis. Patients were randomized to receive finerenone 10 mg or 20 mg once daily, dosed based on serum potassium levels and eGFR, or placebo, added to individually tolerated maximum labeled doses of a RAS-blocking therapy, either an ACE inhibitor or an ARB.

The primary endpoint was the mean annual rate of change in eGFR from baseline to month 32, a validated surrogate endpoint for kidney disease progression. Finerenone demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in eGFR slope compared with placebo, with a safety profile consistent with the agent's established record across prior studies. Full efficacy and safety data are expected to be presented at an upcoming scientific conference.

Finerenone’s Expanding Indication Profile

According to Bayer, FIND-CKD represents the fifth consecutive positive phase 3 trial in the finerenone program and the largest phase 3 study to date focused specifically on non-diabetic CKD.

Finerenone first received FDA approval in 2021 for adults with CKD associated with type 2 diabetes, based on findings from the pivotal FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD trials. Those studies established the agent's ability to reduce risk of cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, non-fatal myocardial infarction, sustained eGFR decline, and end-stage kidney disease in patients with diabetic kidney disease, forming the clinical foundation for subsequent development.

From this foundation, the program has expanded in two directions simultaneously. In heart failure, the phase 3 FINEARTS-HF trial supported FDA approval in July 2025 for heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or higher, extending finerenone's reach beyond CKD into a second major cardiorenal indication.

In parallel, the CKD program has pushed further into non-diabetic populations. The phase 3 FINE-ONE trial, presented at ASN Kidney Week 2025, demonstrated finerenone produced a 25% relative reduction in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio versus placebo over 6 months in patients with type 1 diabetes and CKD. FINE-ONE enrolled 242 participants across nine countries, and its safety findings were consistent with prior studies. Bayer is pursuing separate regulatory submissions for this population as well.

FIND-CKD now extends the non-diabetic CKD evidence base further, enrolling patients across a range of underlying etiologies and over a longer 32-month follow-up period than FINE-ONE.

“The FIND‑CKD findings mark the fifth consecutive Phase III trial in the KERENDIA clinical development program to meet its primary endpoint and represent a major milestone for people living with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease,” said Carolina Aldworth, MD, MSc, executive medical director at Bayer.

 “When considered alongside the growing evidence base, this important trial adds to our understanding of KERENDIA across multiple patient populations with heart and kidney diseases.”

Bayer. KERENDIA® Meets Primary Endpoint. Bayer.com. Published March 16, 2026. Accessed March 16, 2026. 

https://www.bayer.com/en/us/news-stories/kerendiar-meets-primary-endpoint

Campbell P. FINE-ONE: Finerenone Proves Benefit in Type 1 Diabetes and CKD. Hcplive.com. Published November 6, 2025. Accessed March 16, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/fine-one-finerenone-proves-benefit-in-type-1-diabetes-and-ckd

Articles

Bayer reported positive phase 3 FIND-CKD topline results for finerenone in adults with nondiabetic CKD, showing a statistically significant benefit versus placebo on mean annual eGFR slope through 32 months. The regimen was layered onto maximally tolerated ACE inhibitor or ARB therapy with dosing guided by potassium and baseline renal function. Safety was consistent with prior experience. The company plans an FDA submission to expand labeling, potentially broadening finerenone beyond diabetic CKD and complementing its 2025 heart failure indication.

Phase 3 FIND-CKD shows finerenone slows non-diabetic CKD decline by improving eGFR slope; Bayer prepares FDA filing for expanded use.

Chronic Kidney Disease

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.

Finerenone Proves CKD Benefit Extends Beyond Diabetes in FIND-CKD

Lebrikizumab posts strong Phase 3 gains in infants to teens with atopic dermatitis, supporting FDA label expansion and itch relief.

Phase 3 Trial Supports Lebrikizumab in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis

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

An audio recap of the top 5 stories in healthcare news from the week of 03/02-03/08.

Plaque Psoriasis

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

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...

MASH / MASLD

The HCPLive MASH & MASLD page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and steatohepatitis. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for fatty liver disease, steatohepatitis, and more.

Hepatology

HCPLive 5 Stories in Under 5: Week of 03/08

Nicole Negbenebor, MD, is a clinical assistant professor of dermatology and the director of the Skin of Color Clinic for the University of Iowa, as well as a Skin of Color Society (SOCS) member.

Nicole Negbenebor, MD, discusses how writing and collaboration help advance dermatologic research and patient advocacy.

Using Writing to Advocate for Patients in Dermatology, With Nicole Negbenebor, MD

Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn, MD, PhD, of NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

At AAAAI 2026, Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn, MD, discussed the use of ondansetron, home management strategies, and guidance on the gradual reintroduction of foods in FPIES.

Allergy

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.

Conference

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

Best Practices for Managing FPIES Reactions, With Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn, MD, PhD

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

Obesity Management

Obesity Management condition center page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into clinical weight management can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on obesity research, treatment, and drug development.

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

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

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

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

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

Anaphylaxis

The HCPLive anaphylaxis page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on acute allergic reactions. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for preventing anaphylaxis, and more.

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

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.

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

FDA News

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis Suppurativa 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 dermatology research, treatment, and drug development.

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

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

Where Teledermatology is Today: Expanding Access and Navigating Limits

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

COPD

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

Asthma

The HCPLive asthma page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on asthmatic disease. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for allergic and severe asthma, and more.

Latest News

On New Roflumilast Cream Data for Atopic Dermatitis in Children, With Lawrence Eichenfield, MD

Identifying and Managing Patients with Moderate Psoriasis

Choosing Between Septal Reduction and Myosin Inhibitors in oHCM Patients

Challenges in Managing Plaque Psoriasis”

Finerenone Proves CKD Benefit Extends Beyond Diabetes in FIND-CKD