Martina J. Porter, MD, is a dermatologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

"HS Treatment Access Gaps and the Emerging Therapeutic Pipeline" takes up the question of how to keep patients protected when access falters and where the field is heading.

HS Treatment Access Gaps and the Emerging Therapeutic Pipeline

The discussion raises a common problem: patients lose insurance, change plans, or face formulary changes. The panel considers whether treatment interruptions require discontinuing a drug or whether patients can restart. One panelist describes practicing in a free clinic, a Veterans Affairs hospital, and an academic health sciences center, as well as the only practice in about 300 miles accepting Medicaid, so interruptions occur often. Many manufacturers offer patient assistance programs that help patients stay on therapy. If a patient falls out of the available safety net and cannot access an advanced therapeutic, clinicians must pivot to older agents to bridge the gap until a more effective and safer option is available. These drugs are less safe and less effective, but described as better than nothing. Commercial payer interruptions, such as job loss or layoffs, create similar problems. Older DMARDs can help temporize. They are not safe for long-term use, but they are acceptable for short-term transitions until patient assistance, bridge programs, or a newer biologic takes over.

The panel then looks ahead to emerging therapies, including JAK inhibitors, BTK inhibitors, IL-1 beta inhibitors, and others in the pipeline. The panel expresses broad enthusiasm for the increasingly granular science. Patients have waited far too long, and knowing that other options exist if one fails helps them feel empowered. The panel anticipates that clinicians will eventually separate patients into groups such as tunnel formation, nodular flare, and pro-inflammatory versus structural disease, then choose the best agent for each. Examples include considering an IL-36 inhibitor for tunnels and BTK inhibitors for the neutrophil microenvironment. The panel notes there are several theories about phenotypes, including follicular-centric disease and acne conglobata types, and expects to learn more as these agents reach clinical use.

The next episode in this series, "HS Care Priorities: Patient-Reported Outcomes, Trust, and Stigma," features the panel closing with the single change they would ask clinicians to make.

Videos

Insurance and formulary disruptions force difficult interim choices for patients with HS. The panel also shares enthusiasm for emerging mechanisms and the prospect of matching therapies to disease phenotypes.

Video Series

Clinical

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

This episode, "HS Long-Term Outcomes: Durable Response, Tunnel Regression, and Monitoring," features the panel reviewing long-term draining tunnel data and day-to-day monitoring decisions.

HS Long-Term Outcomes: Durable Response, Tunnel Regression, and Monitoring

The discussion moves to long-term tunnel data for secukinumab, with the caution that cross-trial comparison is difficult because baseline severity and tunnel counts differ. In the secukinumab trial, baseline draining tunnel count was about 2.4 in both the every-two-week and every-four-week groups. Counts fell by roughly 1.3 to 1.6 by week 52 and then remained stable through week 104. The panel is asked whether clinicians see this durability in practice. The panel says the trial results are mirrored in the real world. The inflammatory milieu in the draining tunnel microenvironment is heavily IL-17 driven, so correct blockade early on stabilizes progression. At annual or six-month visits, patients often need neither escalation nor a change of therapy.

The panel also reports emerging data on regression of draining tunnels, something considered impossible five years ago. One clinician with long trial experience has patients treated for more than five years. Some early Hurley stage 2 patients who started IL-17 inhibitors now look almost as if they do not have HS. The panel suggests earlier, more hesitant patients may benefit more than later-stage ones.

The panel is then asked when clinicians monitor, optimize, or change therapy, and whether they leave patients on a drug for a long time. The panel defines success through the patient's eyes. If patient-reported outcomes show success, therapy continues, and escalation happens only when the clinician believes better is achievable and the patient wants it. Frequent early visits build trust and teach patients to call when they flare. After roughly six months of stability, follow-up intervals can widen. Visits address symptoms and existing structural damage, and one clinician asks patients to point a metaphorical magic finger at what bothers them most, which may identify a spot for surgery.

Up next, in "HS Treatment Access Gaps and the Emerging Therapeutic Pipeline," the experts address insurance-related interruptions and the therapies on the horizon.

Long-term trial and real-world experience suggest tunnel responses can be durable, and even regress in some patients. The panel describes how patient-defined success and follow-up cadence guide decisions to continue or escalate therapy.

Tatyana Kushner, MD, is an associate professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Brelovitug, an investigational monoclonal antibody targeting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), met the primary end point in adults with chronic hepatitis D, according to late-breaking phase 3 AZURE-1 data presented by Tatyana Kushner, MD, MSCE, at 

“It was actually quite safe and very well tolerated,” Kushner, associate professor of medicine in the Department of Gastroenterology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, New York, told HCPLive.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) relies on HBsAg to infect liver cells and causes the most aggressive form of viral hepatitis.

 Bulevirtide (Hepcludex) received FDA accelerated approval in May 2026 as the first US treatment, ending reliance on off-label pegylated interferon.

Brelovitug for Hepatitis D: Phase 3 AZURE-1 Results

Brelovitug Meets Primary End Point in Phase 3 AZURE-1 for Hepatitis D

AZURE-1 randomized 153 participants to brelovitug 300 mg weekly self-administered at home, 900 mg every 4 weeks in clinic, or delayed treatment. At week 24, the combined virologic and ALT response end point was achieved by 56% of participants in the weekly group and 45% in the monthly group, compared with 0% with delayed treatment (both 

 < .0001). HDV RNA fell by a mean 3.4 log

There were no treatment-related serious adverse events, grade 3 or higher adverse events, or discontinuations due to adverse events. Injection site reactions and flu-like illness were the most common events.

Notably, 41% of participants had cirrhosis, 20% had at least probable clinically significant portal hypertension, and HIV coinfection was permitted.

“Having this type of patient population really helps us have comfort in being able to prescribe this regimen to a patient population that we see in our practice,” Kushner said.

Watch the full interview to hear Kushner discuss how weekly vs monthly dosing may fit patient preferences, what week 96 follow-up must answer, and the outcomes that matter most beyond viral load.

Kushner T, Yardeni D, Dobryanska M, et al. Efficacy and safety of brelovitug monotherapy for chronic hepatitis D: primary 24-week results from the phase 3 AZURE-1 study. Late-breaking abstract presented at: The Liver Meeting 2026; November 5-9, 2026; Denver, CO.

Campbell P. Bulevirtide receives historic first FDA approval for chronic hepatitis delta. HCPLive. May 22, 2026. Accessed November 11, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/bulevirtide-historic-first-fda-approval-chronic-hepatitis-delta

Late-breaking data presented at AASLD 2026 showed brelovitug met the phase 3 primary endpoint in chronic hepatitis D, with no treatment-related serious adverse events.

News

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

Hepatology

Brelovitug for Chronic Hepatitis D: Phase 3 AZURE-1 Results

Joseph Rossano, MD, MS, is the co-director of the Cardiac Center and chief of the division of cardiology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, as well as the Jennifer Terker Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiology.

Mavacamten sustainably reduced left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in pediatric patients with 

obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM)

 with a favorable safety profile, according to long-term data from SCOUT-HCM.

Mavacamten Sustainably Reduces LVOT Gradient in Pediatric oHCM Over 56 Weeks

American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2026

 in Chicago, Illinois, by Joseph Rossano, MD, MS, co-director of the cardiac center, chief of the division of cardiology, and associate chair for external affairs at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In an exclusive interview with 

, Rossano explained his thoughts on mavacamten’s regulatory approval and the next steps for investigators to take.

“I think that what mavacamten has done for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children is really foundational and paradigm-changing,” Rossano told 

. “For the first time, we have a medication that’s really targeted for the underlying pathophysiology, and we have very good data from children with the disorder.”

SCOUT-HCM was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating mavacamten in patients aged 12 to <18 years with symptomatic oHCM. The only eligibility criteria for the trial were a diagnosis of HCM and presence of LVOT obstruction and symptoms. Patients with phenocopy diseases resulting in myocardial hypertrophy unrelated to sarcomere dysfunction, as well as left ventricular ejection fraction <50% in the 6 months prior to enrollment, were excluded.

Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either mavacamten or placebo, both at a range of 1 to 15 mg. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in Valsalva LVOT gradient at week 28, while secondary outcomes included change from baseline in resting LVOT gradient, maximal wall thickness, post-exercise peak LVOT gradient, and early mitral inflow velocity and mitral annular early diastolic velocity, among others.

A total of 44 patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 23 were assigned to mavacamten and 21 to placebo. The mean age was 14.7 (+/- standard deviation [SD], 1.7) years in the mavacamten arm and 14.6 +/- 1.7 years in the placebo arm. By week 28, the least-squares mean change in Valsalva LVOT gradient was -48.5 mmHg in the mavacamten arm and -0.5 mmHg in the placebo arm (difference, -48 mmHg; 95% CI, -67.7 to -28.3; 

 <.001). The incidence of adverse events was similar between both groups.

Rossano and colleagues then began the present active-treatment phase out to 56 weeks. Patients assigned to mavacamten initially continued treatment, while those assigned to placebo crossed over to 2.5 mg or 5 mg mavacamten daily, depending on body weight. The exploratory efficacy endpoints for this portion of the trial included changes from baseline or week 28 to week 56 in Valsalva and resting LVOT gradients and maximal wall thickness, among others.

Of the 44 patients initially included, 43 completed the initial 28-week double-blind, placebo-controlled period and entered the active-treatment phase. Mean change from baseline to week 56 in Valsalva LVOT gradient was -48.1 mmHg in the treatment arm, while change from week 28 to 56 was -35.1 mmHg in the placebo-mavacamten arm. The team also recorded improvements in other efficacy endpoints, which were carried over from the placebo-controlled phase.

Ultimately, Rossano and colleagues determined that mavacamten successfully and safely reduced LVOT gradient over a long period of time, with a favorable safety profile. Rossano went on to discuss the next steps for investigating mavacamten in a real-world setting following its earlier regulatory approval for this population.

“We need to understand how the medication does in a larger group of patients, and I think that will be a very important part of the studies to come,” Rossano said. “We should get a very good sense of what the safety of the medication is, and somewhat of the efficacy of the medication, through the REMS program, but I think we really need other mechanisms to get more granular data to really understand the potential benefit and risks of the medication.”

Editors’ Note: Rossano reports disclosures with AskBio, Astellas, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, CRI Biotech, and Merk.

Aronson R, Canter C, Desai M, et al. Outcomes of mavacamten treatment in pediatric patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at 56 weeks: the SCOUT-HCM trial. Presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2026, Chicago, IL. November 6-9, 2026.

Bristol-Myers Squibb. A Study to Evaluate Mavacamten in Adolescents With Symptomatic Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06253221. Updated December 19, 2025. Accessed November 11, 2026. 

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06253221

Rossano JW, Canter C, Wolf CM, et al. Mavacamten in Adolescents with Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. N Engl J Med. 2026 Jul 23;395(4):362-373. 

Joseph Rossano, MD, MPH, discusses the 56-week active-treatment period of the SCOUT-HCM trial, which demonstrated the sustainability of mavacamten’s effects.

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...

Stroke

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

Cardiomyopathy

Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, is the President of the Hepatitis B Foundation.

Most people living with hepatitis B who were taking antiviral therapy reported high adherence, while nearly two-thirds of those not on treatment were receiving no hepatitis B care at all, according to multinational survey data presented by Chari Cohen at 

“It is not silent for the people who have it,” Cohen, president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, told 

, describing the physical and emotional toll the disease takes even in the absence of liver damage.

Quality of Life in Hepatitis B: Global Survey Insights

Is HBV Really a Silent Disease? New Patient-Reported Data Suggests Otherwise

The ongoing longitudinal study surveyed 486 adults living with hepatitis B in 42 countries. Among the 50.9% taking antivirals, 86.2% reported taking medication daily as directed, and 84.4% were confident treatment was helping. Fatigue or weakness was the most commonly reported symptom (44.0%), and more than half of participants were highly concerned about liver-related illness and death. About 1 in 4 participants rated their relationship with their physician as fair or poor.

Among participants not taking antivirals, 63.7% were not engaged in any hepatitis B care, most often citing cost, limited access to clinicians or medication, or feeling healthy. Yet 73.5% said they would be very willing to start therapy if recommended.

Of the estimated 254 million people living with chronic hepatitis B worldwide in 2022, only 13% had been diagnosed and about 3% had received antiviral therapy.

 Cohen says closing that gap will require governments to prioritize hepatitis B elimination, as many did for hepatitis C. She also hopes follow-up data will help turn adherence from a reason to delay treatment into something clinicians can actively support.

Watch the full interview to hear Cohen discuss why patient-reported outcomes have long been missing from hepatitis B care, what later time points may show, and how shared decision-making can be put into practice.

Ibrahim Y, Freeland C, Cohen C. Hepatitis B patient-reported outcomes: multinational insights on quality of life and antiviral adherence. Presented at: The Liver Meeting 2026; November 5-9, 2026; Denver, CO.

Global Hepatitis Report 2024: Action for Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

. World Health Organization; 2024. Accessed November 11, 2026. 

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240091672

New survey data from 42 countries show high antiviral adherence among people with hepatitis B, but 64% of those untreated receive no hepatitis B care.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into HCV can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on hepatitis B virus research, treatment, and drug development.

Pharmacovigilance data on 328 pregnancies exposed to glecaprevir/pibrentasvir presented at AASLD 2026 showed no vertical transmission and no pattern of congenital anomalies.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into HCV can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on hepatitis C virus research, treatment, and drug development.

Women's Health

On the HCPLive women's health page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into obstetrics, gynecology, and women's related health can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on women's health, and more.

HCV Treatment in Pregnancy, With Tatyana Kushner, MD

Christie Ballantyne, MD, discusses his analysis of the CORALreef Lipids trial, highlighting enlicitide’s effects on LDL-C, ApoB, Lp(a), and non-HDL-C.

Dyslipidemia

Enlicitide Lowers LDL-C Consistently Across PREVENT CVD Risk Categories

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

Podcasts

Jasmohan Bajaj, MD, MS, joins Nancy Reau, MD, and Kimberly Brown, MD, on who to screen for HE in clinic and how to prepare patients and families.

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

Liver Lineup: Updates & Unfiltered Insights

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

Liver Lineup: Early Detection of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Gerard Criner, MD, is chair and professor of thoracic medicine and surgery at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and director of the Temple Lung Center.

Articles

Gerard Criner, MD, reviews GOLD 2026 sessions on mucus plugs and inhaler technique, plus multimorbidity, exacerbation risk, and the 2027 GOLD Report.

COPD

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

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.

Q&A: Mucus Plugging, Multimorbidity, and GOLD 2027, With Gerard Criner, MD

Binu John, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Miami

ALTUS data show the multi-target HCC blood test score tracks tumor size, Milan status, and LI-RADS category rather than liver disease severity.

HCC Blood Test Score Tracks Tumor Size, Not Liver Disease Severity

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.

Dupilumab cut new or worsening allergies by 34% vs placebo in a 12-trial atopic dermatitis meta-analysis, suggesting it may slow the atopic march.

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.

Dupilumab May Slow Atopic March in Atopic Dermatitis: Meta-Analysis

Evan Dellon, MD, MPH, is a professor in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology and director of the Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing at UNC School of Medicine.

The most effective EoE therapy is one that controls disease and fits the patient's life. Age, caregiver involvement, treatment feasibility, efficacy, and safety all shape individualized treatment decisions.

Individualizing EoE Treatment Across the Age Spectrum

Long-term EoE control depends on both sustained response and a treatment patients can realistically maintain. Extended BOS data provide insight into histologic remission, endoscopic improvement, and tolerability over several years.

Long-Term Budesonide Oral Suspension Therapy in EoE

Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, is a cardiologist specializing in cardiorenal metabolism at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. Vaduganathan is a member of Practical Cardiology's advisory board and co-host of Don't Miss a Beat, a podcast presented by Inside Cardiology.

Lp(a)HORIZON and ZEUS hit their biomarker targets but not MACE. Stephen Greene, MD, and Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, unpack both at AHA 2026.

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.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Don't Miss a Beat: What Lp(a)HORIZON and ZEUS Teach About Clinical Trial Science

Luke Laffin, MD, is the co-director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders, medical director of cardiac rehabilitation, and associate professor of medicine at Cleveland Clinic.

Luke Laffin, MD, discusses the open-label extension from Launch-HTN, which further investigated the efficacy of lorundrostat in uncontrolled hypertension.

Hypertension

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

Latest News

HS Treatment Access Gaps and the Emerging Therapeutic Pipeline

HS Long-Term Outcomes: Durable Response, Tunnel Regression, and Monitoring

Brelovitug for Chronic Hepatitis D: Phase 3 AZURE-1 Results

Mavacamten Sustainably Reduces LVOT Gradient in Pediatric oHCM Over 56 Weeks

Is HBV Really a Silent Disease? New Patient-Reported Data Suggests Otherwise