Ross M. Levy, MD, serves as a dermatologist at Endeavor Health in Illinois, specializing in cosmetic and surgical dermatology with expertise in Mohs surgery for skin cancer.

At LEADderm 2026, a panel titled ‘Skin Angels at LEADderm: Building the Next Generation of Dermatology Innovation’ addressed the topic of entrepreneurship in 

 The session walked attendees through how an idea becomes a company and outlined ways clinicians can support innovation alongside routine clinical work. Panelists framed innovation broadly, covering new treatments and devices as well as technologies reshaping the clinician and patient experience.

The panel also highlighted how many clinicians already contribute to innovation without recognizing it, whether through daily practice feedback or side projects, and outlined pathways for deeper involvement in supporting these companies. For early-career dermatologists, panelists emphasized starting from an everyday clinical pain point rather than waiting for a polished business plan. Ross Levy, MD, a dermatologist at Endeavor Health specializing in cosmetic and surgical dermatology with Mohs surgery expertise, joined fellow panelists Manju Dawkins, MD, Buu Duong, MD, Peter Lio, MD, and Ross Lane Pearlman, MD.

In the following interview, Levy spoke with 

 at LEADderm 2026 in Newport Beach, California, about why the panel mattered and what innovation looks like day to day in dermatology for clinicians:

: Why did you feel this Skin Angels panel was an important talk to give at LEADderm?

It's a great question. No matter what you do in dermatology or in healthcare, innovation and new companies moving our field forward is important for everybody to be aware of, and to understand how it happens. Sometimes the process of how an idea starts and becomes a company can be a little opaque. Part of the session was introducing people to how that process works, how often clinicians are already involved in that innovation, and how people can get involved, both through their regular work and on the side if they want to support these companies. That was the genesis of the session.

: What does dermatology innovation look like day to day, and how does that connect to the Skin Angels community?

Generally speaking, innovation is just thinking outside the box and doing something new. That's especially true for people in their mid to later careers, like myself, who have our own certain ways of doing things. When we talk about innovation as a broad term, it's everything: innovation on a personal level, and innovation with respect to new treatments and devices coming out. Specifically along the lines of Skin Angels, that innovation is generally on the industry side, meaning what new devices and treatments are coming and how we can improve the specialty for our patients, not just in terms of treatments and devices, but also technologies that improve the clinician and patient experience. From the standpoint of our group, it's really about innovating in how we interact with patients and with the rest of the world.

: As part of Skin Angels, what gap were you trying to fill that existing dermatology mentorship or education pathways don't cover?

It's about getting involved and thinking more broadly beyond your own practice. We spend the whole day treating patients and doing clinical medicine, and the point of the session and the group as a whole is to stand back from that and ask what else is going on in dermatology we can be involved in.

Editor's Note: This transcript has been edited for grammar and clarity using artificial intelligence tools. Levy did not have any relevant disclosures of note.

LEADderm. About LEADderm: the missing curriculum. 

Dawkins M, Lio P, et al. Skin Angels at LEADderm: Building the Next Generation of Dermatology Innovation. Session presented at LEADderm. Aug 29-30, 2026.

Articles

Dermatology entrepreneurship was positioned as a practical, clinician-accessible continuum from bedside observations to scalable companies. Emphasis centered on demystifying how ideas evolve into ventures, and on recognizing that routine clinical feedback and side projects already constitute meaningful innovation. Innovation was defined broadly to include therapeutics, devices, and workflow technologies that improve clinician and patient experiences. Early-career physicians were encouraged to start with concrete, recurring clinical pain points rather than waiting for a fully formed business plan.

Ross Levy, MD, explains why the LEADderm Skin Angels panel matters and what dermatology innovation looks like in daily practice.

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Dermatology's Path From Idea to Innovation, With Ross Levy, MD

Victoria Johnson joined MJH Life Sciences in 2020 and has written for NeurologyLive, CGTLive, and is now an assistant managing editor for HCPLive and RheumatologyLive. She doesn’t have enough time for her numerous hobbies. You can reach her at vjohnson@mjhlifesciences.com.

pipeline — a pair of divergent trial readouts, an FDA regulatory action, and a Fast Track designation — alongside a major bronchiectasis milestone and a timely public health reminder on COVID-19 prevention. The month's most consequential clinical data came from the phase 2b ELEVATE-IPF trial, published in the 

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

, showing that deupirfenidone (LYT-100; Celea Therapeutics) 825 mg three times daily slowed FVC decline by 91.0 mL vs placebo at 26 weeks (

 =.02), with the rate of FVC decline approaching the range expected in healthy aging — a benchmark no approved or investigational idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis therapy has previously reached in a controlled trial. The ELEVATE-IPF result provides a clear phase 3 path and arrives in an IPF pipeline that received additional momentum from FDA's Fast Track designation granted August 20 to LTI-03, an inhaled Caveolin-1-derived peptide from Rein Therapeutics targeting both fibrotic signaling and alveolar epithelial repair — a dual mechanism that, if validated, would distinguish it from existing antifibrotics. 

Counterbalancing the positive IPF signals, pamufetinib — an oral multikinase inhibitor evaluated in progressive fibrosing ILD — failed to slow FVC decline vs continued nintedanib or pirfenidone in a phase 2b trial, with FVC declines of -157.8 mL (100 mg) and -96.0 mL (50 mg) vs -63.6 mL in the control arm, alongside greater DLCO decline and higher acute exacerbation rates on the investigational agent.

Beyond ILD, August brought significant movement in pulmonary vascular disease and a pivotal bronchiectasis milestone. The FDA accepted United Therapeutics' NDA for ralinepag in pulmonary arterial hypertension on August 24, with a PDUFA date of June 24, 2027 — a consequential filing for the first high-potency oral prostacyclin receptor agonist, backed by the phase 3 ADVANCE OUTCOMES trial showing a 55% reduction in clinical worsening vs placebo. On the 1-year anniversary of brensocatib's August 12, 2025, approval for non-CF bronchiectasis, 2 prescribing pulmonologists described a field transformed — with most patients reporting subjective improvements in cough and sputum clearance, a tolerability profile holding up better than initially feared, and a real-world prescribing experience that continues to raise questions about which patients benefit most and how the drug performs alongside common comorbid infections. 

In pulmonary sarcoidosis, namilumab — an investigational anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibody — failed its primary endpoint in the phase 2 RESOLVE-Lung trial, with rescue events occurring in 37.5% of namilumab-treated patients vs 23.5% of placebo-treated patients over 26 weeks, leaving the condition without an approved targeted therapy. Juanita Mora, MD, closed out August's coverage with an American Lung Association COVID-19 prevention campaign interview, noting that only 18% of adults received a COVID-19 vaccine in the 2025–26 respiratory season despite twice-yearly circulation patterns and approximately 6-month waning immunity, and urging pulmonologists to counsel high-risk patients on summer boosting and the underused antiviral prophylaxis option. 

Check out this August 2026 pulmonology month in review for full coverage of these stories and more.

One Year Later: How Brensocatib Has Changed Bronchiectasis Care

One year after the FDA approved brensocatib (Brinsupri; Insmed) as the first disease-modifying therapy for non-CF bronchiectasis — based on phase 3 ASPEN trial data showing 20% reductions in annualized exacerbation rates at both doses vs placebo and a 38 mL slowing of FVC decline at 25 mg over 12 months — Mark L. Metersky, MD, of UConn Health and Ashwin Basavaraj, MD, of NYU Langone described a field with a genuine first-in-class treatment and real-world prescribing experience accumulating. Tolerability, including skin changes involving thickening behind the knees, elbows, and hands, has been limited and has not deterred uptake; both physicians noted that patients who followed the drug's development before approval have responded well. Outstanding questions include how brensocatib performs in patients with concurrent nontuberculous mycobacteria infection — present in roughly half of US bronchiectasis patients — and how its early real-world safety profile holds up over longer-term follow-up.

FDA Fast Tracks LTI-03 for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

The FDA granted Fast Track designation on August 20, 2026, to LTI-03 (Rein Therapeutics), an inhaled Caveolin-1-scaffolding-protein-derived peptide being evaluated in the phase 2 RENEW trial in IPF. LTI-03's mechanism targets fibrotic signaling while aiming to preserve and restore alveolar epithelial progenitor populations — a reparative approach that, if validated, would distinguish it mechanistically from both pirfenidone and nintedanib, which slow progression without restoring lung architecture. The Fast Track designation follows prior Orphan Drug status; RENEW is enrolling approximately 120 patients across five countries with interim safety and FVC change data anticipated in the second half of 2026.

Deupirfenidone Slows FVC Decline in Phase 2b IPF Trial

Deupirfenidone (LYT-100; Celea Therapeutics), a deuterium-modified form of pirfenidone designed to improve tolerability by reducing CYP1A2-mediated metabolism, slowed FVC decline by 91.0 mL vs placebo at 26 weeks in the phase 2b ELEVATE-IPF trial (

 =.02), with the 825 mg three-times-daily arm achieving a rate of decline (-21.5 mL) approaching the range expected in healthy older adults. ELEVATE-IPF was the first IPF trial to include an active standard-of-care comparator alongside placebo — pirfenidone 801 mg TID, which produced -51.6 mL — providing context that positions deupirfenidone's effect size approximately 50% larger than the active comparator's. Progression delay was also significant (HR, 0.439; 

 =.0023), and Celea Therapeutics is advancing toward the phase 3 SURPASS-IPF trial.

Pamufetinib Fails to Slow FVC Decline in Progressive Fibrosing ILD

Pamufetinib (TAS-115), an oral multikinase inhibitor targeting VEGFR, FGFR, MET, AXL, and Src, failed to slow FVC decline vs continued nintedanib or pirfenidone in 243 patients with progressive CF-ILD in a 41-site, double-dummy phase 2b trial — with 26-week FVC declines of -157.8 mL and -96.0 mL at the 100 mg and 50 mg doses vs -63.6 mL in the control arm. Secondary outcomes favored the control arm, including greater DLCO decline and higher acute exacerbation rates on pamufetinib; deaths were numerically higher in the pamufetinib arms, though the trial was underpowered for mortality inference. Investigators hypothesized that off-target MET/AXL/Src inhibition may have impaired alveolar epithelial repair, consistent with an early FVC suppression that reversed after week 16.

FDA Accepts NDA for Ralinepag in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

The FDA accepted United Therapeutics' NDA for ralinepag, an investigational once-daily oral prostacyclin receptor agonist, for pulmonary arterial hypertension on August 24, 2026, with a PDUFA target action date of June 24, 2027. The application is based on the phase 3 ADVANCE OUTCOMES trial in 687 PAH patients on background therapy, which demonstrated a 55% reduction in time to adjudicated clinical worsening — including hospitalization, escalation to parenteral prostacyclin therapy, disease progression, or death — at individualized doses without a prespecified ceiling. The acceptance moves the first high-potency oral IP receptor agonist into FDA review in a class currently represented only by selexipag, which carries a fixed-dose ceiling.

Namilumab Fails Primary End Point in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis

Namilumab, an investigational subcutaneous anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibody, failed its primary endpoint in the phase 2 RESOLVE-Lung trial, with rescue events — defined as clinically significant worsening requiring treatment escalation — occurring in 37.5% of namilumab-treated patients vs 23.5% of placebo-treated patients over 26 weeks in 107 patients with chronic active pulmonary sarcoidosis. The trial required FDG-PET/CT evidence of active disease and mandated a corticosteroid taper to 5 mg/day or less by week 6 or 10, a design that may have increased worsening risk in the treatment arm during the tapering window. The result leaves pulmonary sarcoidosis without an approved targeted therapy; current management relies on corticosteroids and off-label immunosuppression with methotrexate or similar agents.

ALA: Why COVID-19 Boosters Matter Now, With Juanita Mora, MD

In an interview tied to the American Lung Association's COVID-19 prevention campaign, allergist Juanita Mora, MD, of Chicago Allergy Center, reported that only 18% of adults received a COVID-19 vaccine during the 2025–26 respiratory virus season — a figure that rose to 31% among adults aged 65–74 and 37% among those 75 and older, the groups at greatest risk for severe disease. Mora described COVID-19 as having settled into a predictable twice-yearly circulation pattern with approximately 6-month waning of antibody protection, supporting summer boosting for high-risk patients including those aged 65 and older and those with chronic lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or immunocompromise. Antiviral use remains below 15% and timely initiation within the 5-day window only 16%, gaps she said pulmonologists are well positioned to close through patient counseling and provider-level advocacy.

August 2026 pulmonology developments were led by interstitial lung disease, with phase 2b ELEVATE-IPF data positioning deupirfenidone as a potential step-change in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by achieving near–healthy-aging rates of FVC decline and enabling a clear phase 3 trajectory. Regulatory momentum continued in IPF with FDA Fast Track for inhaled LTI-03, a Caveolin-1–derived peptide aimed at both antifibrotic signaling and epithelial repair. In contrast, pamufetinib and namilumab posted negative phase 2 readouts. Outside ILD, ralinepag entered FDA review for PAH, while brensocatib’s first year reshaped non-CF bronchiectasis practice amid evolving real-world questions.

August 2026 pulmonology highlights include deupirfenidone's positive phase 2b ELEVATE-IPF results, FDA Fast Track for LTI-03, 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.

Pulmonary Fibrosis

7 Pulmonology Headlines You Missed in August 2026

Type 2 inflammation-targeted biologics have transformed 

 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management within the past 2 years, with 2 agents now approved specifically for COPD's eosinophilic phenotype. Dupilumab (Dupixent) became the first COPD biologic in September 2024, when the FDA approved it based on the BOREAS (n = 468) and NOTUS (n = 470) trials, which showed 30% and 34% reductions, respectively, in annualized moderate or severe exacerbations among patients with blood eosinophil counts of 300 cells/µL or higher, alongside sustained gains in FEV1 and quality-of-life scores.

Mepolizumab (Nucala) followed 8 months later, becoming the first COPD biologic approved for eosinophil counts as low as 150 cells/µL based on the MATINEE (rate ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66-0.94; 

=.01) and METREX (rate ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68-0.98; 

 The 2026 GOLD report further lowered the threshold for its highest-risk Group E classification to a single moderate exacerbation in the prior year and folded dupilumab and mepolizumab into its follow-up algorithm for eosinophilic, still-exacerbating patients, while the 2026 GINA update sharpened its push to minimize oral corticosteroid (OCS) exposure in favor of biologic therapy.

Against that backdrop, a panel of pulmonary nurse practitioners gathered virtually, moderated by Mollie A. Chartoff, MSN, of the Vanderbilt Lung Institute and included APPs representing academic, community hospital, and private pulmonary practices across Tennessee, Louisiana, and Alabama.

The conversation landed at a moment when both diseases are increasingly reframed around biomarker-driven phenotyping rather than diagnostic labels alone, with guidelines asking clinicians to identify type 2 inflammation—elevated blood eosinophils or fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)—regardless of whether a patient carries an asthma or COPD diagnosis. The panel used that lens to work through new data on airway mucus plugging, cumulative steroid burden, and the access barriers shaping their day-to-day escalation decisions.

Type 2 Inflammation Guides Biologic Selection in Asthma

Much of the discussion centered on when to escalate beyond inhaled triple therapy. Panelists agreed recurrent OCS bursts—sometimes just 1 or 2 in a 6-month span—should trigger consideration of a biologic, citing data that cumulative prednisone doses of 500 to 1,000 mg over a lifetime meaningfully raise the risk of diabetes, cataracts, osteoporosis, and heart failure. For asthma, the panel weighed dupilumab, mepolizumab, and tezepelumab (Tezspire) against one another and agreed insurance coverage often dictates the choice as much as biomarker profile does; several panelists said tezepelumab, which targets thymic stromal lymphopoietin and carries no eosinophil threshold, has become their fallback when patients do not qualify for interleukin-4, interleukin-13, or interleukin-5-targeted options. Mucus plugging drew specific engagement: panelists cited VESTIGE trial data showing dupilumab significantly reduced airway mucus plug scores by week 24, correlating with lung function gains, and CASCADE trial findings that tezepelumab similarly reduced occlusive mucus plugs on CT imaging.

 Several panelists said they now actively look for mucus plugging on CT as a cue to consider a biologic in symptomatic patients.

COPD Biologics Show Exacerbation, Lung Function Gains

On the COPD side, panelists described dupilumab and mepolizumab as having changed what they can offer patients who previously had little beyond inhalers and chronic steroids, citing BOREAS, NOTUS, MATINEE, and METREX data on exacerbation reduction and, for dupilumab, sustained FEV1 gains.

 One nurse practitioner on the panel described the effect on a patient who had cycled repeatedly through hospitalizations before starting dupilumab: “He has not been in the hospital since. He’s completely off of oxygen. He never has exacerbations anymore.” Panelists agreed biologics are still started too late in COPD, often only after patients are referred for advanced lung disease evaluation, and called for better workflow support, clearer patient-selection algorithms, and real-world data on whether biologics meaningfully reduce cumulative steroid exposure. Looking ahead, several panelists expressed interest in tozorakimab, an interleukin-33-targeted agent in development that would carry no eosinophil threshold, as a potential option for COPD patients without a clear type 2 signature.

FDA Approves Dupilumab as Add-On Maintenance Therapy For Adults With COPD. Pharmacy Times. Published September 27, 2024. Accessed September 2, 2026. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/fda-approves-dupilumab-as-add-on-maintenance-therapy-for-adults-with-copd

Jampel J. FDA Approves Mepolizumab as Add-On Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. DocWire News. Published May 23, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2026. https://www.docwirenews.com/post/mepolizumab-approved-as-add-on-treatment-for-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease

GOLD 2026 Report: Key Updates for COPD Management. Sanofi Campus. Accessed September 2, 2026. https://www.campus.sanofi/om/science/copd/cutting-edge-science/2026/ar/gold-2026-report-key-updates-for-copd-management

Perez De Llano L, Dunican E, Lugogo NL, et al. Effect of dupilumab on mucus burden in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma: the VESTIGE trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2025;212(2):241-253. doi:10.1164/rccm.202410-1894OC

Nordenmark LH, et al. Tezepelumab and mucus plugs in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma. NEJM Evid. doi:10.1056/EVIDoa2300135

Type 2 inflammation–targeted biologics are rapidly reshaping asthma and COPD care, with dupilumab and mepolizumab now FDA-approved for eosinophilic COPD based on consistent exacerbation reductions and lung function benefits. Contemporary GOLD and GINA updates reinforce biomarker-driven phenotyping and earlier biologic consideration to limit cumulative oral corticosteroid toxicity. Clinicians are increasingly using blood eosinophils, FeNO, and imaging evidence of mucus plugging to guide escalation beyond inhaled triple therapy, while payer requirements and access barriers frequently determine real-world agent selection.

Nurse practitioners discuss escalating biologic therapy for asthma and COPD, mucus plugging data, and access barriers.

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Pulmonary NPs Debate Biologic Escalation in Asthma, COPD Care

A post hoc analysis of the phase 2 ALPACA trial, presented by Steven E. Nissen, MD, of Cleveland Clinic, at the 

European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2026

 in Munich, Germany, showed lepodisiran produced dose-dependent, durable reductions in 

Lp(a)-associated oxidized phospholipids (OxPL)

. Lepodisiran, an investigational small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], lowered OxPL levels by up to 94% at day 240 with the highest studied dose.¹

Lp(a) is a causal, genetically determined risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and aortic stenosis, with much of its harm hypothesized to stem from the OxPL it carries. In the phase 2 ALPACA trial, lepodisiran previously produced up to 95% average Lp(a) reduction over 1 year with 2 doses given 180 days apart, but its effect on OxPL had not been assessed. This post hoc analysis tested whether near-complete pharmacologic suppression of apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] lowers OxPL proportionally and whether reductions relate to systemic inflammation.

"In fact, it is the major reservoir of oxidized phospholipids, and that is why it is such a promising target for treatment," Nissen said in an interview with

Lepodisiran Reduces OxPL Tied to Lp(a), With Steven Nissen, MD

Lepodisiran Effects on OxPL-apo(a) and OxPL-apoB by Dose

The randomized, placebo-controlled ALPACA trial enrolled 320 participants aged ≥ 40 years with Lp(a) levels above 175 nmol/L at 66 centers in 10 countries. Participants received lepodisiran 16 mg, 96 mg, or 400 mg subcutaneously at baseline and again at day 180, or placebo. This post hoc sub-study included 213 participants who received 2 active doses or placebo and had OxPL measured at baseline, day 240, and day 360 in stored samples (placebo, n = 59; 16 mg, n = 31; 96 mg, n = 65; 400 mg, n = 58).

Placebo-adjusted geometric mean percent changes in OxPL-apo(a) at day 240 were −21.9% (95% CI, −45.0% to 11.0%), −65.1% (95% CI, −73.8% to −53.6%), and −94.2% (95% CI, −95.7% to −92.2%) for the 16-mg, 96-mg, and 400-mg groups, respectively. OxPL-apoB changes at day 240 were −39.5% (95% CI, −51.2% to −25.0%), −76.9% (95% CI, −80.6% to −72.5%), and −88.5% (95% CI, −90.4% to −86.3%) across the same dose groups.

Lp(a) Correlations and Safety Findings for Lepodisiran


Lepodisiran is an investigational, extended-duration small interfering RNA (siRNA) that suppresses hepatic apolipoprotein(a) synthesis to produce durable reductions in circulating Lp(a).

How does lepodisiran affect oxidized phospholipids on Lp(a)?


In the ALPACA substudy, the 400-mg dose reduced OxPL-apo(a) by 94.2% and OxPL-apoB by 88.5% at day 240, with effects sustained through day 360.

Does lowering Lp(a) with lepodisiran reduce systemic inflammation?


No significant correlation was observed between changes in OxPL and hsCRP, and no anti-inflammatory effect of Lp(a) lowering has been demonstrated to date.

At day 360, placebo-adjusted percent changes in OxPL-apo(a) were −23.7% (95% CI, −47.0% to 9.8%), −41.6% (95% CI, −56.4% to −21.6%), and −80.7% (95% CI, −85.7% to −73.9%) across the 16-mg, 96-mg, and 400-mg groups. OxPL-apoB changes at day 360 were −30.6% (95% CI, −46.4% to −10.2%), −57.1% (95% CI, −65.2% to −47.2%), and −79.9% (95% CI, −83.8% to −75.2%), respectively.

For the 400-mg group, percent change in Lp(a) correlated strongly with percent change in OxPL-apo(a) at day 240 (95% CI, 0.90-0.96; 

 <.001) and moderately with OxPL-apoB (95% CI, 0.43-0.76; 

 <.001). By day 360, correlations strengthened for OxPL-apo(a) (95% CI, 0.86-0.95; 

 <.001) and OxPL-apoB (95% CI, 0.81-0.93; 

No significant correlation emerged between percent changes in OxPL and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a biomarker of systemic inflammation.

"Nobody, including our own study, has been able to demonstrate an anti-inflammatory effect of lowering of lipoprotein(a)," Nissen said. "hsCRP is only one measure of inflammation, and we may not have measured the right measures."

These findings provide additional biological rationale for the ongoing phase 3 ACCLAIM-Lp(a) cardiovascular outcomes trial (NCT06292013), which is evaluating lepodisiran in around 17,300 participants with elevated Lp(a), though the investigators caution the data do not establish clinical benefit.

 Similar OxPL reductions have been reported with the antisense oligonucleotide pelacarsen and the siRNA olpasiran, placing lepodisiran among a growing class of Lp(a)-lowering nucleic acid therapies under investigation.¹

Nissen SE, Navar AM, Krege JH, et al. Effect on Lipoprotein(a) Oxidized Phospholipids of Lepodisiran, an Extended-Duration siRNA Targeting Lipoprotein(a). 

A Study to Investigate the Effect of Lepodisiran on the Reduction of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Adults With Elevated Lipoprotein(a) - ACCLAIM-Lp(a). ClinicalTrials.gov. Accessed September 4, 2026. 

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06292013

Videos

A post hoc ALPACA analysis presented at ESC Congress 2026 shows lepodisiran cut Lp(a)-bound oxidized phospholipids by up to 94% at the 400-mg dose.

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...

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team in 2022 and is currently an associate editor for 

. He is also the executive producer of two podcasts: 

. 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.

August of 2026 proved to be another eventful month for the field of 

, with the field being pushed forward on multiple fronts by clinicians and researchers alike. From regulatory milestones to late-breaking data from clinical trials, the field witnessed a steady stream of developments underscoring just how quickly standards for patient care continue to shift and evolve.

Additionally, with conference previews and thoughtful podcast conversations on equity and representation in the field, August provided plenty for practicing dermatologists to keep pace with. Here, the 

 team summarizes the top 6 news headlines covered in August, spanning recent findings on upadacitinib in alopecia areata, a notable 

 approval for dermatomyositis, and a summary of the 2026 LEADderm Conference:

FDA Approves First Oral Treatment of Dermatomyositis in Adult Patients

Brepocitinib (Lisraya) tablets for the treatment of dermatomyositis in adults were approved in August by the FDA, adding a once-daily oral Janus kinase (JAK/TYK2) inhibitor specifically studied among this patient population. The agency granted this drug Orphan Drug and Priority Review designations ahead of this decision. Dermatomyositis had previously been a condition commonly managed with treatments designed for other conditions, so the approval by the FDA provides specialists with an agent assessed specifically among this population.

UP-AA: Upadacitinib Attains Primary Endpoint in New Alopecia Areata Data

In the two phase 3 replicate randomized clinical trials, UP-AA1 and UP-AA2, upadacitinib (Rinvoq) was shown to have significantly outperformed placebo in its attainment of a Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score of 20 or less at the 24-week mark in adults and adolescents with severe alopecia areata. As a result, it met the trial’s primary efficacy endpoint at both the 15-mg and 30-mg doses. Additionally, patient-reported outcomes were found to have improved significantly on AA-Symptom Impact Scale and Skindex-16 alopecia areata emotion/functioning domains.

Conference Preview: 2026 LEADderm Conference in Newport Beach, CA

Founded and chaired by Jennifer Soung, MD, the LEADderm conference of 2026 took place from August 29–30, 2026, at the Pendry Hotel in Newport Beach, California. The meeting was designed to bring together dermatologists, nurse practitioners, physician associates, and industry partners. It involved 2 days of session presentations centered on community, leadership, and diversity in dermatology, as well as several unique opportunities for those in dermatology to get involved in the investment side of the field.

Skin of Color Savvy: Advice on Diagnosing Psoriasis in Diverse Skin Tones

Jennifer Soung, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of clinical research at Southern California Dermatology in Santa Ana, California, spoke alongside Mona Shahriari, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University, in the latest episode of 

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

, a podcast hosted by Skin of Color Society (SOCS) leaders and produced by HCPLive. The pair highlighted several key points related to diagnosing and treating psoriasis in those with diverse skin tones, noting its requirement of a different visual approach and a deeper conversation about burden.

Skin of Color Savvy: Mentorship in Dermatology—Building the Next Generation of Leaders

, Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, spoke with guest host Jessica Mercer, MD, co-managing owner of Georgia Dermatology Partners near Atlanta, Georgia, about the ways in which mentorship shapes careers and improves care for individuals with skin of color. Alexis had previously mentored Mercer since early in her career. The pair noted mentorship provides guidance, support, and inspiration most clinicians rely on.

The Medical Sisterhood: The Pressure of Representation, With Tiffany Mayo, MD

Mona Shahriari, MD, spoke with Tiffany Mayo, MD, associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in the latest episode of 

 podcast about what they both called the pressure of representation resulting from becoming a leader in medicine. Mayo, known for her specialization in alopecia and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), also discussed setting boundaries and staying authentic as a woman of color.

August 2026 delivered multiple dermatology inflection points spanning regulation, phase 3 efficacy signals, and professional development. FDA approved brepocitinib, a once-daily oral JAK/TYK2 inhibitor, as the first therapy specifically studied for adult dermatomyositis under Orphan Drug and Priority Review pathways. Replicate UP-AA1/UP-AA2 trials showed upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg achieved SALT ≤20 at week 24 with meaningful patient-reported benefit. Concurrent programming emphasized leadership, diversity, diagnostic nuance in skin of color psoriasis, and mentorship and boundary-setting for underrepresented leaders across multidisciplinary teams and industry partnerships.

A roundup of dermatology's biggest August headlines, from an FDA approval to conference previews and conversations on equity in care.

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.

6 Dermatology Headlines You Missed in August 2026

Deepak Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA, discusses the efficacy of this investigational IL-6 antibody among patients at high inflammatory risk.

Chronic Kidney Disease

TRANQUILITY: Pacibekitug Reduces hs-CRP, Inflammatory Biomarkers in CKD

Scott P. Commins, MD, PhD, from UNC Health, specializes in food allergies, particularly alpha-gal allergy to red meat.

Alpha-gal syndrome remains vastly underdiagnosed, with expanding tick geography and delayed reactions complicating recognition across specialties.

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.

Food Allergy

Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Closing an Underrecognized Allergy Diagnostic Gap 

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.

Gastroenterology in August 2026: RAS inhibitor approval for pancreatic cancer, ABTECT UC data, CRC screening mortality, and GI cancer risk.

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.

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.

6 Gastroenterology Headlines You Missed in August 2026

Hepatology in August 2026: FDA designations for volixibat and lonafarnib, ketogenic diet liver data, and alcohol use in CLD.

Hepatology

5 Hepatology Headlines You Missed in August 2026

Radhika Shah, MD, serves as a board-certified dermatologist for the Schweiger Dermatology Group.

Radhika Shah, MD, explains why chronic hand eczema requires distinct diagnosis and treatment strategies, from topical limits to systemic therapy.

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.

Chronic Hand Eczema: A Clinical Forum Recap, With Radhika Shah, MD

Stephen Greene, MD, is an associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and cardiologist at the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, NC. Greene is a member of HCPLive's advisory board and co-host of Don't Miss a Beat, a podcast presented by Inside Cardiology.

Podcasts

Stephen Greene, MD, and Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, break down CARDIO-TTRansform and the new 2026 ESC heart failure guidelines.

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

Don’t Miss a Beat

The Don't Miss a Beat podcast breaks down the latest evidence and clinical trial insights across cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases. Don’t Miss a Beat as Steve Greene, MD, and Muthu Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, critically examine recent advances in clinical care and research with perspectives from global experts in the field.

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.

Don't Miss a Beat: CARDIO-TTRansform and New HF Guidelines at ESC 2026

Chelsie Derman is an associate editor for 

who covers allergy and  psychiatry. 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.

New approval for tirzepatide, phase 3 wins for avexitide and retatrutide, and a GLP-1 telehealth safety gap in August's biggest endocrinology stories.

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.

This page also hosts content previously published by EndocrinologyNetwork. 


Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

4 Endocrinology Headlines You Missed in August 2026

David T. Rubin, MD is a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, and chair of the International Organization for the Study of IBD (IOIBD).

David T. Rubin, MD, on the questions, screening tools, and system barriers standing between IBD care and the whole patient.

Individualizing IBD Care Beyond the Bowel, With David T. Rubin, MD

Owen Muir, MD, DFAACAP, FCTMSS, co-founder and chief medical officer at Radial.

Owen Muir, MD, calls accelerated SWIFT Deep TMS his personal first-line approach for active suicidal ideation, not an established guideline.

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.

Accelerated Deep TMS for Acute Suicidality, With Owen Muir, MD

PAH specialists discuss sotatercept, risk-based escalation, and access barriers shaping pulmonary arterial hypertension care.

Latest News

Dermatology's Path From Idea to Innovation, With Ross Levy, MD

7 Pulmonology Headlines You Missed in August 2026

Pulmonary NPs Debate Biologic Escalation in Asthma, COPD Care

Lepodisiran Reduces OxPL Tied to Lp(a), With Steven Nissen, MD

6 Dermatology Headlines You Missed in August 2026