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Crisis Point

Patrick Campbell is the managing editor of HCPLive. Formerly the editorial lead of Endocrinology Network, Practical Cardiology, and Rheumatology Network, Patrick has spent years spearheading coverage surrounding cardiometabolic health and rheumatic disease for MJH Life Sciences. He now helps to lead coverage in each of these respective areas for HCPLive. Before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2019, he spent time as a beat reporter with the Pocono Record in Stroudsburg, PA, and Star News Group in Manasquan, NJ. He also touts experience in multimedia, having spent time as a multimedia specialist with NJ Advance Media and multimedia coordinator at the Pocono Record. Follow him on Twitter @RealPatCampbell or reach him via email at PCampbell@mjhlifesciences.com.

Data from the LIBERTY-CUPID Study C offer confirmation of the benefits of dupilumab (Dupixent) for reducing itch and disease activity among patients with uncontrolled 

One of 3 phase 3 trials in the LIBERTY-CUPID program, topline results from LIBERTY-CUPID Study C confirm findings of LIBERTY-CUPID Study A, which was used as the basis for approval of dupilumab in CSU patients aged 12 years in older in Japan. According to Sanofi, detailed results of the study will be provided to the US Food and Drug Administration by year-end in response to agency’s request for additional data to be included in the Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for dupilumab in CSU.

“The positive pivotal data from this study reinforce the potential of [dupilumab] to offer a new treatment option for the many people suffering from chronic spontaneous urticaria who do not respond to standard-of-care antihistamines," Dietmar Berger, MD, PhD, chief medical officer and global head of Development at Sanofi.

"With clinically meaningful reductions in itch and hives for patients receiving [dupilumab], we look forward to sharing these data with the FDA to bring [dupilumab] to patients with CSU in the US as soon as possible. With [dupilumab] now treating 1 million patients across seven approved indications, these new results underscore there are still many more patients that [dupilumab] can potentially benefit.”

 dating back to 2017, dupilumab is developed and marketed through a partnership by Sanofi and Regeneron. Using data from LIBERTY-CUPID Study A and B, Sanofi and Regeneron filed for an sBLA for dupilumab to treat adult patients aged 12 years and older with CSU not adequately controlled with standard of care antihistamine treatment in March 2023. The initial target action date for the FDA decisions October 2023.

On October 20, 2023, Sanofi and Regeneron announced the receipt of a Complete Response Letter requesting additional efficacy data to support a potential approval to treat CSU. In their announcements, the companies referenced an already ongoing trial they intended to use in support of the application.

Topline data from Study C indicated use of dupilumab met primary and key secondary endpoints for treatment of patients with uncontrolled, biologic-naïve CSU receiving background therapy with antihistamine. Among an overall population of 151 patients, use of dupilumab was associated 8.64-point reduction in itch severity from baseline to week 24 relative to a 6.10-point reduction observed with placebo (

Analysis of key secondary endpoints suggested use of dupilumab was associated with a 15.86-point reduction in urticaria activity severity from baseline to week 24 relative to an 11.21-point reduction observed with placebo (

= .02). The release from Sanofi also highlighted 30% of dupilumab-treated patients achieved complete response compared to just 18% of the placebo group (

According to the release, safety results were generally consistent with the known safety profile of Dupixent in its approved dermatological indications. Adverse events in the trial observed among 5% or more of dupilumab-treated patients compared to placebo-treated patients included injection site reactions (12% vs 4%), accidental overdose (7% vs 3%), and COVID-19 infection (8% vs 5%).

“Patients with uncontrolled chronic spontaneous urticaria experience debilitating itch and hives that appear without warning and disrupt their lives," said George D. Yancopoulos, MD, PhD, board co-chair, president, and chief scientific officer at Regeneron.

 "With a nearly 50% reduction in itch and urticaria activity scores compared to placebo, these positive phase 3 results reaffirm the potential of [dupilumab] to bring relief and its well-established safety profile to those living with this chronic inflammatory skin disease.”

Sanofi. Press release: Dupixent phase 3 study confirms significant improvements in itch and hives for patients with CSU. Sanofi. September 11, 2024. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2024/2024-09-11-05-05-00-2944239.

Kunzmann K. Regeneron, Sanofi receive CRL for add-on dupilumab sbla for chronic spontaneous urticaria. HCP Live. October 25, 2023. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-dupilumab-chronic-spontaneous-urticaria.

Office of the Commissioner. FDA approves New Eczema Drug Dupixent. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. March 28, 2017. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-eczema-drug-dupixent.

Articles

Dupilumab reduced itch and disease activity in patients with uncontrolled CSU, confirming prior findings from the LIBERTY-CUPID program in a phase 3 trial.

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.

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

The HCPLive chronic idiopathic urticaria page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on CIU. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for urticaria, and more.

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.

LIBERTY-CUPID Study C Confirms Benefit of Dupilumab in Biologic-Naive CSU

Gout, which impacts approximately 4% of US adults, requires careful management to maintain quality of life. It represents a growing public health burden, with prevalence more than doubling from the 1960s to the 1990s and a projected global prevalence reaching 95.8 million in 2050.

Along with managing direct symptoms of the disease itself, it is important to carefully consider and manage lifestyle and comorbidities to reduce gout flare ups, which can sometimes last for days or weeks and can contribute to permanent joint damage if left untreated. 

In 2020, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) issued new guidance and recommendations for the management of gout. The 17-page document, which was the group's first new guideline on the topic since 2012, contained 42 recommendations, including 16 strong recommendations. In this clinical quiz, the third in a series of 4 based on the guideline, we test your knowledge on the management of gout flares.

Reduced intake of fructose-rich beverages

Check out other quizzes on the 2020 ACR gout guidelines:

Initiation and titration of urate-lowering therapy

National Kidney Foundation. Quick facts: Gout and chronic kidney disease. National Kidney Foundation. August 19, 2024. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/quick-facts-gout-and-chronic-kidney-disease.

GBD 2021 Gout Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of gout, 1990-2020, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. 

. 2024;6(8):e507-e517. doi:10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00117-6

FitzGerald JD, Dalbeth N, Mikuls T, et al. 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout [published correction appears in Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Aug;72(8):1187. doi: 10.1002/acr.24401] [published correction appears in Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2021 Mar;73(3):458. doi: 10.1002/acr.24566]. 

. 2020;72(6):744-760. doi:10.1002/acr.24180

This clinical quiz, our third in a series of 4, focuses on recommendations for lifestyle and comorbidity management from the 2020 ACR guidelines.

Gout

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

Rheumatology

Rheumatology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on rheumatologic disease. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for arthritis, gout, nr-AxSpA, and more.

Quizzes

Clinical Quiz: Lifestyle and Comorbidities from 2020 ACR Gout Guidelines

 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in April 2021. He graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in Journalism and Professional Writing. He enjoys listening to records, going to concerts, and playing with his cat Squish. You can reach him at 

A recent investigation evaluated Google trends on systemic treatments for 

, particularly the most frequently asked questions and the sources of information for each query, to better define the role of the Internet in 

Commercial and government-based websites achieved high-quality scores for information on psoriasis, while academic and individual medical practice websites were less trafficked and of lower quality,

 Adalimumab revealed the highest search volume, primarily for its technical details and medication cost, rather than safety profile.

“Given that the internet has a tremendous impact on the dissemination and understanding of health-related information, dermatologists should consider tailoring their discussions when counseling patients on systemic medications for psoriasis,” wrote the investigative team, led by Gabriela A. Cobos, MD, department of dermatology, Tufts Medical Center.

Previous analyses have investigated the influence of Google on patients, particularly the search engine’s machine learning algorithm in answering frequently asked questions on medical topics.

 However, few studies have investigated these tools in the query of dermatological conditions.

For the current analysis, Cobos and colleagues explored the most frequently queried questions for the systemic treatment of psoriasis vulgaris, to assess the quality of online medical information. Using the Google Trends tool between January 2019 and January 2024, the relative search volume (RSV) of traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, and small-molecule inhibitors used to treat psoriasis.

Cobos and colleagues also used the People AlsoAsked (PAA) tool to show the most asked questions about the most searched medication in each therapeutic category. The quality of each information source was defined based on the benchmark criteria established by 

Upon analysis, adalimumab therapy showed the highest search volume among all queried medications (RSV = 1), followed by apremilast in the small molecule inhibitor category and methotrexate among DMARDS (RSV = 1).

Adalimumab demonstrated the most fact-based questions overall when compared with apremilast (46.3% vs. 33.6%; 

 = .04) and methotrexate (46.3% vs. 32.7%; 

 = .01), with most questions centered on technical details (24.5%) and cost (12.2%). Apremilast showed more cost-related questions than methotrexate (10.4% vs. 0.5%; 

 <.001), while methotrexate showed more questions about its risk versus adalimumab (40% vs. 23.8%; 

Cobos and colleagues noted these data on adalimumab indicate its superiority in public awareness, potentially due to direct-to-patient marketing. They pointed out that most inquiries centered on cost and objective details, rather than safety, reflecting trends in similar studies where individuals sought more factual information.

A total of 782 websites were classified, with most (46.3%) consisting of commercial sites, followed by social media platforms (24.4%), government-based sites (15.2%), academic sites (12.6%), and medical practice sites (1.5%).

Using the JAMA benchmark criteria, investigators scored the quality of each source, with commercial (3.1 of 4 points) and government sites (3.2 of 4 points) achieving the highest scores, compared with academic sites (2.3 of 4 points) and medical practice sites achieving the lowest (1.0 of 4 points) scores.

As most users were directed to commercial and government-based sites for psoriasis information, Cobos and colleagues indicated their reassurance about the quality of the source material. However, they noted further improvement is necessary for academic and medical practice sites, from both the practices and search engines.

“Enhancing the visibility and content quality of medical practice websites as determined by the JAMA benchmark criteria and optimizing search engine algorithms to prioritize higher-quality sources could improve patient access to reliable health information,” they wrote.

Lim S, Kooper-Johnson S, Chau CA, Chen C, Yang FC, Cobos G. Google search trends about systemic psoriasis treatment: what do people want to know about biologics and JAK inhibitors?. JMIR Dermatol. Published online September 7, 2024. doi:10.2196/62948

Silberg WM, Lundberg GD, Musacchio RA. Assessing, controlling, and assuring the quality of medical information on the Internet: Caveant lector et viewor--Let the reader and viewer beware. JAMA. 1997;277(15):1244-1245.

Yamaguchi S, Kimura S, Watanabe S, et al. Internet search analysis on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: What do people ask and read online?. PLoS One. 2023;18(9):e0285869. Published 2023 Sep 22. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0285869

Commercial and government-based sources on Google scored the highest in quality, while medical practices scored the lowest, for information on psoriasis.

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.

Internet Source Quality Influences Psoriasis Management 

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team as an assistant editor for HCPLive in August 2022. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in political science, working in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching TV, listening to podcasts, and rock climbing. You can contact him at 

 begins September 15. It was created to expand upon the excellent, high-quality dermatology education available for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. A series of 3 specialized meetings were created specifically for NPs and PAs in the field of dermatology, and this conference is 1 example.

Maui Derm NP+PA Fall is a 4-day conference, with in-person presentations at the Gaylord Opryland from September 15 - 18, 2024. The meeting’s website also notes that it may provides a variety of networking opportunities for PAs and NPs, with social functions, exhibits, and product theater luncheons.

 editorial team will be covering Maui Derm NP+PA Fall 2024, attending alongside prominent educators and leaders from both NP and PA groups. The conference’s curriculum provides updates on key topics in dermatology, with the content carefully structured with the aim of reinforcing essential concepts without repeating material.

The 2024 conference may allow greater awareness of the significant advances made in the field related to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of both cosmetic and medical dermatologic conditions. The meeting’s line-up is full of expert speakers and the latest updates in dermatology.

 onsite are slated for a variety of featured guests, some of which include the following:

, research director of JDR Dermatology Research and president of the American Acne and Rosacea Society.

, professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

, clinical associate professor of medicine at the Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School.

, director of the clinical trials and dermatitis center at Dermatologists of Greater Columbus.

These experts and others are slated to highlight some of the aforementioned developments and updates in the field of dermatology treatment and management research. Some examples of presentations attendees may wish to view include the following:

Ted Rosen, MD, and George Martin, MD, highlight some of the newest drugs and therapies in dermatology, discussing how NPs and PAs may be using them in 2024 and beyond.

Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Update 2024

Some of the faculty members will speak on what is new in 

 and psoriatic arthritis within the last year, highlighting new drugs and therapies. The event will also feature a series of challenging case scenarios in psoriatic disease, with attendees being asked to weigh in on their selection of therapies on a survey app.

Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, speaks about HS, one of the most challenging clinical situations in the dermatology space. Chovatiya highlights a combination of medical and surgical management strategies as well as the introduction of new treatments and how they will be implemented.

Blistering Diseases: What’s the Diagnosis

 cases which may challenge attendees’ diagnostic and therapeutic acumen. Following the presentation of case scenarios, those attending will be asked to weigh in on their diagnosis and therapeutic choices on the survey app.

Three pediatric dermatologists will highlight the latest in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic scenarios. These scenarios will involve neonates and children.

 to stay informed about onsite interviews with dermatologists, the contents of these presentations, and the latest developments in the field that are covered.

This is an overview of our upcoming Maui Derm NP+PA Fall 2024 Program conference coverage.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis condition center page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into eczema can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on dermatitis research, treatment, and drug development.

Conference

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

Maui Derm NP + PA 2024 | Fall Conference Preview

Banty discusses recent advancements in the ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease treatment landscapes, explaining how to navigate the growing number of treatment options.

Andrea Banty, NP, DNP: Navigating New Developments in IBD Therapeutics

 treatment landscape has experienced several major developments in recent years, providing patients with more therapeutic options than ever and prompting providers to reevaluate how they approach Crohn disease (CD) and 

The most recent pipeline development in IBD was the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of guselkumab (Tremfya) for UC on September 11, 2024. Paired with the plethora of other FDA approvals in recent years and drugs progressing through clinical development programs showing promise for FDA approval in the future, the CD and UC treatment armamentariums are expected to continue to grow at unprecedented rates.

2024 annual Gastroenterology and Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers (GHAPP) conference

 in National Harbor, Maryland, Andrea Banty, NP, DNP, a nurse practitioner at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, reviewed some of the most notable advancements in CD and UC and explained how providers can navigate the expanding IBD treatment landscape.

“It's always helpful to have more options, and there's been a huge drive to find new options to improve efficacy, improve side effect profile help patients with administration… good for insurance coverage,” Banty told 

. “Having different medications with different mechanisms and actions can help patients find that throughout that works for their type of IBD.”

Acknowledging that having so many treatment options may be overwhelming for patients, Banty explained how she typically starts by asking patients if there are any forms of treatment administration they want to avoid as well as what their treatment goals are. She noted many patients want to avoid steroid use, so finding a quick-acting medication is often important to prevent the need for a bridge with steroids.

Banty called attention to the importance of considering treatment positioning based on exposure to biologics, also pointing out the need to assess potential safety risks in each patient.

“A number of things go into the conversation, which makes the conversation really, really important to make sure the patient goals are aligned with what the provider is sharing with the patient,” Banty said.

Brooks, A. FDA Approves Guselkumab (Tremfya) for Ulcerative Colitis. HCPLive. September 11, 2024. Accessed September 13, 2024. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-approves-guselkumab-tremfya-for-ulcerative-colitis

Videos

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.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis condition center page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into colitis can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on UC research, treatment, and drug development.

Abigail Brooks is an assistant 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.

Janovsky explains the importance of nutrition and dietary interventions in MASH and cirrhosis management, reviewing how providers can discuss both with patients.

Hepatology

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.

Nutrition’s Role in MASH, Cirrhosis Management, with Tessa Janovsky, PA-C

Nanoscope Therapeutics announced the meeting with the FDA supported the advancement of MCO-010 into Phase 3 for Stargardt disease.

FDA News

Ophthalmology

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

Rare Disease Report®

The Rare Disease Report page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on rare diseases. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma, and more.

Nanoscope Reports Positive End-of-Phase 2 Meeting for MCO-010 Gene Therapy

Eli Lilly’s announcement of the lebrikizumab-lbkz approval for patients 12 years of age and older follows positive findings from the ADvocate 1, ADvocate 2, and ADhere studies.

FDA Approves Lebrikizumab Treatment of Eczema Among Patients Aged 12 and Older

Chelsie Derman is an assistant editor for 

who covers psychiatry, sleep medicine, and geriatrics. She joined MJH Life Sciences in September 2023 after graduating from The College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and professional writing. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing and reading.

A recent study saw prescription fills for stimulants, and antidepressants increased from 2019 to 2022 but decreased for opioids.

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.

Prescription Trends Between 2019 and 2022 Show the Rise of Telehealth

There were no differences in risk between patients with RA or PsA using or not using methotrexate. 

Psoriatic Arthritis

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

Higher Risk of Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients With RA, PsA Initiating bDMARDs 

This approval expands the drug’s age range and follows recent positive phase 3 findings on dupilumab treatment for patients aged 12 to 17 with CRSwNP.

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.

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.

FDA Approves Dupilumab for Adolescents with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Richards describes the utility of different NITs in primary and specialty care for risk-stratifying patients with MASH and fibrosis.

Lisa Richards, MSN, FNP-BC: Using Noninvasive Tests to Identify Fibrosis in MASH

Multiple biomarkers and clinical background factors were linked to improved clinical outcomes after dupilumab therapy for AD.

Baseline Serum LDH Levels Predict Dupilumab Efficacy in Atopic Dermatitis 

In this analysis, an increased risk of allergy and eczema was associated with bread and thiamine intake increases during pregnancy.

Food Allergy

Study Identifies Link Between Maternal Bread Consumption, Risk of Infant Allergies

A new study found cannabis-containing cream may be effective at alleviating itch in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated pruritus with no adverse events.

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.

IgA Nephropathy

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

Latest News

LIBERTY-CUPID Study C Confirms Benefit of Dupilumab in Biologic-Naive CSU

Clinical Quiz: Lifestyle and Comorbidities from 2020 ACR Gout Guidelines

Internet Source Quality Influences Psoriasis Management

Maui Derm NP + PA 2024 | Fall Conference Preview

Andrea Banty, NP, DNP: Navigating New Developments in IBD Therapeutics