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

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

Safety Considerations for IL-17 Inhibitors in Psoriasis 

This episode, titled ‘Safety Considerations for IL-17 Inhibitors in Psoriasis,’ the expert faculty focuses on the safety profile of IL-17 inhibitors in psoriasis, highlighting both class-wide considerations and differences among individual therapies. The panelists emphasize that modern biologics targeting the IL-17 pathway are generally well tolerated, with favorable safety profiles compared with earlier generations of systemic therapies.

The expert dermatologists discuss how there is an increased risk of mild fungal infections, such as tinea and candidiasis, which is a known class effect related to IL-17 inhibitors. They note that these infections are typically manageable, and often occur early in treatment without recurring in most patients. This safety signal reflects the targeted nature of IL-17 inhibition rather than broad immunosuppression.

The panelists also address the potential association between IL-17 inhibitors and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including both exacerbation of preexisting disease and possible new onset. The faculty highlights the importance of screening for personal and family history of IBD and incorporating this information into treatment selection and patient counseling. Emerging insights into mechanistic differences within the IL-17 pathway suggest that variations in cytokine targeting may influence these risks, although this remains an area of ongoing research. The expert faculty reinforces the importance of balancing efficacy with safety while tailoring treatment decisions to individual patient profiles in psoriasis care.

In the next episode, ‘Managing Treatment Failure in Psoriasis,’ panelists examine strategies for managing treatment failure in psoriasis, including differentiating primary and secondary non-response and optimizing therapy. It highlights the importance of patient-centered decision-making and the potential value of initiating treatments early to improve long-term outcomes.

Videos

IL-17 inhibitors clear psoriasis fast; meta-analyses highlight brodalumab, bimekizumab and ixekizumab, with flexible dosing that builds patient confidence.

Clinical

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

Video Series

Safety Considerations for IL-17 Inhibitors in Psoriasis

Strober explains how the arrival of icotrakinra, a first-in-class oral IL-23 receptor blocker, has meaningfully shifted the psoriasis treatment paradigm.

Biologics Versus Oral Small Molecules — Redefining the Psoriasis Treatment Hierarchy 

The treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis has been transformed over the past decade by the development of biologic agents targeting the IL-23/IL-17 axis — a cytokine cascade now well established as central to the pathophysiology of psoriatic inflammation. Agents including risankizumab, guselkumab, bimekizumab, and ixekizumab have demonstrated the capacity to achieve deep skin clearance, with substantial proportions of patients reaching Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 and PASI 100 responses in pivotal trials and real-world settings. These agents remain among the most efficacious treatments in dermatology across any indication, and their performance ceiling — in terms of both speed and depth of response — currently exceeds that of available oral alternatives. For patients in whom rapid, profound clearance is the primary goal, advanced biologics continue to define the standard of care.

That hierarchy has nonetheless been complicated by the introduction of icotrakinra, a first-in-class oral small molecule that targets the IL-23 receptor directly, blocking the downstream effects of IL-23 signaling without requiring injection. Oral agents have historically occupied a lower tier in psoriasis management — effective at mild to moderate disease burdens but unable to approach the response rates of advanced biologics. Icotrakinra challenges that positioning. Phase 3 trial data demonstrated PASI 90 response rates of approximately two-thirds of patients at week 24, a level of efficacy without precedent for an oral psoriasis therapy and one that meaningfully narrows the gap with injectable IL-23 inhibitors. Icotrakinra's once-daily oral dosing, absence of a requirement for routine laboratory monitoring, and manageable safety profile — including a label notation regarding tuberculosis screening that does not mandate testing in all patients — collectively represent a practical convenience profile that injectable biologics cannot match.

In this video discussion on psoriasis treatment selection, Bruce Strober, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, describes how icotrakinra's arrival has already influenced his prescribing behavior in clinical practice. Drawing on approximately 6 weeks of early real-world experience across multiple patients, Strober characterizes icotrakinra as a therapy that is straightforward to initiate, well tolerated, and capable of producing responses he describes as impressive by oral therapy standards. He positions it not as a replacement for advanced biologics but as a meaningful new option for a specific patient population — those who prefer or require oral administration and for whom the efficacy ceiling of an oral IL-23 receptor blocker is acceptable given their disease severity, lifestyle, and treatment goals. The availability of a once-daily oral agent approaching biologic-level outcomes represents, in his view, a genuine paradigm shift for dermatology — one whose full implications for prescribing patterns are still being defined.

Icotrakinra brings once-daily oral IL‑23 receptor blockade with near‑biologic psoriasis clearance, expanding injection-free options for treatment-seeking patients.

Rapid Response in Psoriasis Treatment

In ‘Rapid Response in Psoriasis Treatment,’ our panel explores the clinical importance of rapid treatment response in psoriasis and how speed of efficacy has become valued in biologic therapy selection. While early treatment paradigms prioritized long-term outcomes over initial response, the faculty discuss how rapid skin clearance is now recognized as both clinically meaningful and impactful for patients. Certain life events, such as social engagements, relationships, or seasonal activities, can heighten the urgency for faster improvement, making speed of response an important consideration in real-world practice.

The panelists highlight that IL-17 inhibitors as a class are generally associated with rapid onset of action, with some agents demonstrating faster response rates than others based on clinical trial and meta-analysis data. However, the discussion emphasizes that differences in onset, while measurable, may not always be clinically significant across all patients. Instead, rapid improvement can serve as an important factor in building patient confidence and strengthening the physician–patient relationship, particularly early in treatment.

They also address practical considerations related to dosing strategies, including induction regimens and injection frequency. While some therapies require more frequent dosing upfront to achieve rapid control, others offer simplified regimens without compromising efficacy. The faculty note that clinicians no longer need to trade off speed for long-term outcomes, as newer therapies can deliver both rapid and sustained disease control. This discussion reinforces the growing role of treatment speed as part of a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to psoriasis management.

Our next episode, ‘Safety Considerations for IL-17 Inhibitors in Psoriasis,’ the expert faculty reviews the safety profile of IL-17 inhibitors in psoriasis, including common class effects such as mild fungal infections and considerations related to inflammatory bowel disease. It emphasizes the importance of individualized risk assessment and patient counseling when selecting targeted therapies.

Clinicians unpack dual IL‑17A/F blockade in psoriasis and reveal why long‑term efficacy claims vary without rigorous head‑to‑head data.

Noreen Galaria, MD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained dermatologist based in the Washington, D.C. area with over 20 years of experience. She is the founder of Inner Glow Vitamins and practices at Galaria Plastic Surgery & Dermatology.

Discussing Challenges of Work in Dermatology Today, With Noreen Galaria, MD

 podcast, Noreen Galaria, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Inner Glow Vitamins, and private practice clinician, discussed the growing impact of misinformation in dermatology and how it is shaping patient interactions in clinical practice.

Galaria emphasized that one of the most pressing challenges today is the influence of social media, where patients often arrive more informed, but not necessarily accurately informed, about their skin health. While some individuals present with helpful baseline knowledge, others may have encountered misleading or even harmful content online, requiring clinicians to actively guide them.

Galaria highlighted that dermatology is particularly susceptible to misinformation due to the highly individualized nature of skin care. Unlike other areas of medicine where treatment approaches may be more standardized, dermatologic care varies widely based on factors such as skin type, tone, and environmental exposure.

As a result, widely shared recommendations or trending products may not translate effectively or safelyacross different patients. She noted that part of her role now involves helping patients distinguish between what is trending and what is scientifically supported, while reinforcing that treatment plans must be tailored to the individual. This challenge is especially evident in areas such as sunscreen use, where misinformation has led some patients to question or avoid well-established preventive measures.

Beyond misinformation, Galaria also elaborated on her clinical interest in supplementation and internal approaches to skin health, particularly in the context of photoprotection. She described how her experience practicing in Utah, where rates of skin cancer are among the highest in the US prompted her to explore additional preventive strategies for patients who were already adhering to standard recommendations such as sunscreen and protective clothing but continued to develop skin cancers. This led her to investigate oral antioxidants, including polypodium leucotomos, as adjunctive measures to support skin protection from within.

Galaria detailed her work in developing antioxidant-based supplements designed to complement traditional photoprotection strategies, emphasizing the importance of rigorous research and formulation to ensure clinical efficacy. She also highlighted emerging data on supplementation for pigmentary disorders such as melasma, noting that adjunctive use of targeted antioxidant formulations may enhance treatment outcomes when combined with conventional therapies.

Overall, this segment underscored both the challenges and opportunities facing modern dermatology, with Galaria emphasizing the need for clinicians to navigate misinformation while embracing evolving, evidence-based approaches that integrate topical and internal strategies to optimize patient care.

Editor’s note: This segment was summarized with the help of AI tools.

This segment of the latest episode of the Skin of Color Savvy podcast highlights key challenges faced by Galaria in her dermatology practice.

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.

Podcasts

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

Nonstatin Prescriptions Increasing, Still Behind Statins in ASCVD, With Michael Blaha, MD, MPH

prescription has expanded substantially among patients at risk for 

atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)

, according to a recent study; however, it still has not closed the gap with statins.

A plethora of recent research has reinforced the efficacy of nonstatin LLTs in the reduction of ASCVD risk, and several therapies have received approval to lower LDL-C and other atherogenic lipoproteins. Among these are ezetimibe, bile acid sequestrants, PCSK9 inhibitors, bempedoic acid, fibrates, icosapent ethyl, and niacin. Additionally, recently published guidelines have recommended the addition of nonstatin LLTs when statin therapies are insufficient. However, implementation has lagged behind that of statins over the years.

“In some cases, clinicians think of statins as a simple yes or no,” Michael Blaha, MD, MPH, professor of cardiology and epidemiology, director of clinical research for the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, and co-author of the present study, told 

. “Of course, the new guidelines are really going to push people to think more about LDL goals. Statins will remain the cornerstone of therapy, but maybe only step 1. Maybe you need step 2 or step 3 after that, with the addition of nonstatin therapy and, of course, more appreciation of statin intolerance and how best to handle that."

This cross-sectional study utilized IQVIA’s National Prescription Audit, which collects data from January 2019 to December 2024. Bhala and colleagues quantified dispensed prescriptions for ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, and the fixed-dose combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe, as well as alirocumab, icosapent ethyl, and evolocumab. Older nonstatins without recent cardiovascular outcome data were excluded.

Investigators recorded roughly 94.8 million nonstatin and 1.35 billion statin prescriptions dispensed between 2019 and 2024. Annual nonstatin prescriptions rose by roughly 10.7 million (10.9 to 21.6 million), while statin prescriptions increased by roughly 18.2 million (217.3 to 235.5 million). Additionally, the ratio of nonstatin to statin prescriptions rose from 1:20 in 2019 to 1:11 in 2024. Blaha and colleagues also grouped prescribers as cardiology, endocrinology, primary care physicians (PCPs), advanced practice practitioners (APPs), and others. The team used American Medical Association Physician Masterfile counts to estimate prescriptions per active clinician for a specialty-specific comparison.

Of the included nonstatin therapies, ezetimibe was the dominant therapy throughout the study period, reaching about 15.3 million prescriptions annually and accounting for roughly 2/3 of all nonstatin prescriptions. Bempedoic acid likewise rose from 39,600 prescriptions in 2020 to 395,202 in 2024; however, overall volume was consistently lower than other therapies. Evolocumab prescriptions rose from 757,000 in 2019 to 3.56 million in 2024 (absolute increase roughly 2.81 million). Alirocumab prescription volumes rose through 2023, but decreased again in 2024; similarly, icosapent ethyl rose from 2019 to 2022 before declining through 2024.

After normalization per 100 clinicians, cardiologists exhibited the highest prescribing intensity for all nonstatin therapies. In 2024, cardiologists wrote roughly 98 ezetimibe prescriptions per 100 clinicians, versus 21 per 100 among PCPs. For evolocumab, cardiologists covered 48 prescriptions per 100 clinicians, compared to roughly 2-3 per 100 among PCPs and APPs.

According to Blaha and colleagues, these prescription trends align with recent guideline emphasis on combination LDL-C-lowering strategies, as well as rapidly accumulating evidence for ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, and bempedoic acid. However, the team also noted that nonstatins continue to represent only a small share of overall LLT use.

“I think the education gap is closed – really, it’s more of an implementation gap now. Sometimes, that’s resistance from the patient, or statin intolerance, or similar things,” Blaha said. “I think the next step is with the patients who are unwilling to take a statin, or unable to take a statin, or unable to take a maximal dose of a statin. How can we implement nonstatin therapies in an evidence-based way?”

Editors’ Note: Blaha reports disclosures with Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Merck & Co., Novartis, and others.

Burka S, Dzaye O, Cao T, et al. US trends in prescribing nonstatin lipid-lowering therapy, 2019-2024. 

Kamanu C, Karalis DG. The Role of Non-Statin Lipid Lowering Therapies to Reduce ASCVD Events in Primary Prevention. 

Blaha discusses his study analyzing nonstatin prescriptions from 2019-2024, highlighting the need for further clinical implementation of modern guidelines.

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

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Laurie Keefer, PhD, is a clinical health psychologist and professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

1-year results from ASPIRE-CD suggest risankizumab (Skyrizi) improves HRQL, well-being, and treatment satisfaction in adults with Crohn's Disease.

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on digestive and GI conditions. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for 

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

Conference

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

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

On the HCPLive inflammatory bowel disease page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into IBD can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on IBD and more.

Risankizumab’s 1 Year Crohn's Disease Improvement in HRQL and Wellbeing in ASPIRE-CD

Physician and CEO, Chicago Allergy Center, and board director at American Lung Association

Black Americans bear a disproportionate burden of asthma mortality, and clinicians and policymakers must address a number of factors to make meaningful progress.


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.

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.

World Asthma Day 2026: Uncontrolled Disease and Racial Disparities Demand Structural Solutions, With Juanita Mora, MD

Nicole Beaulieu Perez, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, an assistant nursing professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing

In this interview, Perez discusses data linking monocyte epigenetic age acceleration to non-somatic depressive symptoms.


Psychiatry

Psychiatry condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on mental illnesses. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and more.

Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder condition center page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into depression can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on MDD research, treatment, and drug development.

Monocyte Aging Links to Non-Somatic Depression Symptoms, With Nicole Perez, PhD

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.

Articles

COBRA findings suggest 1 day of antibiotic treatment is preferred in acute cholangitis after adequate biliary drainage compared to longer guidelines.


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!

Hepatology

Shorter Antibiotic Treatment After Adequate Biliary Drainage Non-Inferior in Acute Cholangitis

Edward Barnes, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology and co-director of the Multidisciplinary Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Edward Barnes, MD, MPH, explains mirikizumab’s strong remission and durable response in Crohn’s disease patients after anti-TNF failure, supporting second-line use.

VIVID Post Hoc Analysis Supports Mirikizumab After Anti-TNF Failure in Crohn’s Disease

Maria Abreu, MD, is Executive Director of the F. Widjaja Inflammatory Bowel Disease Institute at Cedars-Sinai.

Maria Abreu, MD, breaks down efficacy and safety data for dual-target co-antibody JNJ-4804, offering a potential new option for heavily pretreated UC patients.

DUET-UC Data Highlight Potential of Dual-Pathway Targeting in Refractory Ulcerative Colitis

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.

Catch up on key clinician insights, major FDA decisions, groundbreaking trial results, and more.

Endocrinology

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

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

Thyroid Disorders

8 Endocrinology Headlines You Missed in April 2026

Abigail Brooks is an assistant managing editor for 

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

The phase 3 FUZION trial found guselkumab achieved increased fistula remission rates than placebo in perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease.

Guselkumab Shows Efficacy in Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease in Phase 3 FUZION Trial

Updated results from the NordICC trial build upon previous 10 year findings and shed further light on once-only colonoscopy as a primary screening modality.

NordICC: Single Colonoscopy Cuts Colorectal Cancer Incidence but Not Mortality at 13 Years

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.

In the ongoing JADE EXTEND trial, long-term treatment with abrocitinib led to sustained skin clearance and other improvements through 112 weeks.

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.

Latest News

Safety Considerations for IL-17 Inhibitors in Psoriasis

Biologics Versus Oral Small Molecules — Redefining the Psoriasis Treatment Hierarchy

Rapid Response in Psoriasis Treatment

Discussing Challenges of Work in Dermatology Today, With Noreen Galaria, MD

Nonstatin Prescriptions Increasing, Still Behind Statins in ASCVD, With Michael Blaha, MD, MPH