Stephan Weidinger, MD, PhD, professor and chair for Dermatology at the Christian-Albrechts-University and director of the Department of Dermatology and Allergy at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein.

2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting

 highlight the sustained efficacy findings observed with lebrikizumab therapy among those with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, providing clinicians further information into disease control over extended treatment periods.

These results from the phase 3b ADlong analysis indicate nearly all of those treated with the medication maintained meaningful improvements in their level of skin clearance, with 94% attaining EASI-75 responses over as long as 4 years of continuous therapy. These results and others were discussed in an interview with Stephan Weidinger, MD, MPH, professor and chair of Dermatology at the Christian-Albrechts-University and director of the Department of Dermatology and Allergy at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein.

Weidinger’s responses to questions in this new interview with the 

Can you walk us through the design of the Phase 3b ADlong study and how it builds on earlier lebrikizumab trials in atopic dermatitis?

The ADlong study is an open-label extension study designed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of lebrikizumab 250 mg every four weeks in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis over a total treatment period of up to 108 weeks. It includes adult and adolescent patients from Germany and Poland who had previously participated in the ADjoin extension study after completing one of the earlier lebrikizumab trials, including ADvocate 1 and 2, ADore, or ADhere. In this interim analysis, all included patients received lebrikizumab 250 mg every four weeks, irrespective of the dosing schedule they had previously received in ADjoin.

What makes ADlong particularly relevant is that it extends the observation period beyond the already substantial long-term dataset from the earlier development program. Since atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing disease, long-term data are essential, not only to assess maintained efficacy but also to understand whether disease control can be sustained with continued treatment under a practical maintenance regimen.

What would you highlight as the most important findings from this interim analysis, particularly with regard to sustained efficacy over four years?

What stands out to me most is that lebrikizumab seems to provide durable disease control over a very long period of time, with sustained improvements in both skin signs and itch. In atopic dermatitis, that is really what matters in the long-run: not just whether a treatment works well at the beginning, but whether patients can maintain that benefit over time.

At the same time, studies like this are especially important because they also provide longer-term information on safety and tolerability, which is critical in a chronic disease that often requires ongoing treatment. Of course, as with any open-label extension study, the results need to be interpreted in the context of a selected patient population, but overall, the findings are reassuring and clinically encouraging.

The data show high rates of EASI-75, EASI-90, and meaningful itch reduction. How should clinicians interpret these outcomes in terms of long-term disease control?

Clinicians should interpret these findings as encouraging evidence that long-term treatment with lebrikizumab may allow many patients to maintain good disease control over time. This includes not only improvement in objective skin signs, but also sustained reduction of itch, which is one of the most burdensome symptoms for patients.

In daily practice, long-term disease control means more than achieving a response at a single time point. It means maintaining symptom relief, reducing fluctuations in disease activity, and ideally enabling patients to live with less treatment burden and less need for rescue therapy. From that perspective, these data are clinically relevant.

From a safety standpoint, what does the absence of new safety signals over this extended period tell us about the long-term use of lebrikizumab?

 From a safety perspective, the absence of new safety signals over this extended period is reassuring and supports what we have seen in the earlier lebrikizumab studies. That is particularly important in atopic dermatitis, because we are dealing with a chronic disease in which treatment often needs to be continued over a long time.

Of course, long-term open-label data always needs to be interpreted in the appropriate context, but overall, these results support the impression of a consistent and favorable tolerability profile. For clinicians, that kind of longer-term safety experience is highly relevant when considering a treatment for routine practice.

Looking ahead, how do these long-term data influence where lebrikizumab may fit into the treatment landscape, and what additional research or regulatory steps should clinicians be watching for?

 These long-term data further support lebrikizumab as a targeted treatment option for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who need sustained disease control over extended periods of time. Longer-term efficacy and safety data like these are especially valuable, because they help clinicians understand not only how well a treatment works initially, but also how durable and practical it may be over time.

Looking ahead, it will be important to see more data from registries and routine clinical practice, including evidence in broader patient populations and younger age groups. Clinicians will also be watching closely how lebrikizumab continues to be positioned within treatment sequencing and whether future regulatory developments expand its role in everyday care.

For additional information on topics like these, view the latest data covered by HCPLive from AAD 2026.

Lilly's EBGLYSS (lebrikizumab-lbkz) delivered up to four years of durable disease control for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Eli Lilly. March 27, 2026. Accessed April 13, 2026. 

https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-ebglyss-lebrikizumab-lbkz-delivered-four-years-durable

Smith T. Lebrikizumab for Atopic Dermatitis Leads to 4 Years of Clearance, Itch Reduction. HCPLive. April 2, 2026. Accessed April 13, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/lebrikizumab-atopic-dermatitis-leads-4-years-clearance-itch-reduction

Articles

Long-term open-label extension data for lebrikizumab in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis suggest durable control of both objective disease activity and pruritus with maintenance dosing of 250 mg every four weeks. In an interim phase 3b analysis extending follow-up out to approximately four years of continuous treatment, 94% of treated patients achieved EASI-75, with similarly high rates of deeper skin clearance and sustained itch reduction. No new safety signals emerged, reinforcing a consistent tolerability profile important for chronic, relapsing disease management and long-horizon treatment planning.

This interview with Stephan Weidinger, MD, PhD, at AAD 2026 highlights new data on lebrikizumab 

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.

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ADlong: Phase 3b Findings on Lebrikizumab in Atopic Dermatitis, With Stephan Weidinger, MD, PhD

Alex Hillenbrand is an assistant editor for 

. She earned her BA in English from Lafayette College in 2023 and went on to write for pop culture, entertainment, and sports media outlets before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2025. In her free time, Alex enjoys cooking, going on walks, and meeting new people. Contact her at mjhlifesciences.com.

 has granted full approval to sparsentan (Filspari) for the treatment of 

focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

, according to a release from Travere Therapeutics.

Announced on April 13, 2026, the approval is supported by data from 2 of the largest head-to-head interventional studies in adult and pediatric patients with FSGS, the phase 3 

“The approval of FILSPARI as the first medication for people with FSGS is a life-changing moment for patients and families who have waited far too long,” said Josh Tarnoff, chief executive officer of NephCure.

“This milestone reflects the strength and perseverance of an extraordinary collective and broad stakeholder community who participated in research, raised awareness and never gave up hope. The pioneering work of the PARASOL project and the countless patients and caregivers who have shared their journeys along the way have helped make this progress possible.”

Check out this Kidney Compass episode on the landmark PARASOL program, with Laura Mariani, MD, MS, and Daniel Gale, PhD, MB BChir.

Sparsentan is the only non-immunosuppressive, oral medication designed to directly target podocyte injury by optimally blocking the endothelin A receptor and the angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor. In 

, Travere Therapeutics’ supplemental New Drug Application was accepted by the FDA for FSGS. 

Prior to this submission, the agency previously approved sparsentan for slowing kidney function decline in adults with 

, based on 2-year confirmatory results from the phase 3 PROTECT study.

extended the review timeline for sparsentan’s sNDA 

after requesting further characterization of the clinical benefit of sparsentan and subsequently determined the response constituted a Major Amendment to the sNDA.

The sNDA for the use of sparsentan in FSGS was supported by findings from the phase 3 DUPLEX Study and the phase 2 DUET Study.

The phase 3 DUPEX study was the largest interventional study in FSGS, as well as the only one against a maximally dosed active comparator. At 36 weeks, study investigators reported achievement of the prespecified interim FSGS partial remission of proteinuria endpoint and statistical significance at 36 weeks. However, it did not achieve the primary efficacy estimated glomerular filtration rate slope endpoint in 108 weeks of treatment.

In concurrence, the phase 2 DUET study met the primary efficacy endpoint for the combined treatment group, demonstrating a > two-fold reduction in proteinuria compared to irbesartan. Its safety profile was consistent across all clinical trials and comparable to the maximally dosed active control. Both DUPLEX and DUET participants were eligible to continue into the open-label extension of the trials.

“Today marks a historic milestone for people living with FSGS, who for the first time have an FDA-approved medicine for this rare and devastating condition,” said Eric Dube, PhD, president and chief executive officer of Travere Therapeutics.

“This approval reflects years of perseverance and our belief that those living with FSGS deserve better. It also builds on our leadership and progress in rare kidney diseases, expanding FILSPARI’s potential reach to more than 100,000 people in the U.S. with FSGS and IgAN who need better treatment options. FILSPARI will be available for nephrologists to immediately prescribe to individuals with FSGS. We are profoundly grateful to the patients, caregivers, investigators, healthcare providers, regulators and advocates who made this moment possible.”

Travere Therapeutics. Travere Therapeutics Announces Full FDA Approval of FILSPARI® (sparsentan), the First and Only Approved Medicine for FSGS. Travere.com. Published April 13, 2026. Accessed April 13, 2026. 

https://ir.travere.com/press-releases/news-details/2026/Travere-Therapeutics-Announces-Full-FDA-Approval-of-FILSPARI-sparsentan-the-First-and-Only-Approved-Medicine-for-FSGS/default.aspx

Travere Therapeutics Announces FDA Acceptance of sNDA for FILSPARI® (sparsentan) in FSGS. Travere.com. Published 2025. Accessed January 5, 2026. 

https://ir.travere.com/press-releases/news-details/2025/Travere-Therapeutics-Announces-FDA-Acceptance-of-sNDA-for-FILSPARI-sparsentan-in-FSGS/default.aspx

Hillenbrand A. FDA Extends Sparsentan (Filspari) sNDA Review for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. HCPLive. Published January 13, 2026. Accessed April 13, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-extends-sparsentan-filspari-focal-segmental-glomerulosclerosis-snda-review

The FDA has fully approved sparsentan (Filspari) for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, establishing the first approved pharmacotherapy for this rare podocytopathy. The decision is underpinned by head-to-head interventional evidence from the phase 3 DUPLEX and phase 2 DUET programs in adult and pediatric populations. Sparsentan, an oral non-immunosuppressive dual endothelin A receptor and angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, is positioned to directly mitigate podocyte injury and proteinuria. Prior regulatory experience includes approval in IgA nephropathy based on PROTECT confirmatory data.

FDA fully approves Filspari for FSGS, offering first oral non-immunosuppressive option that targets podocyte injury and cuts proteinuria.

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.

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

The HCPLive focal segmental glomerulosclerosis page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on FSGS. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in FSGS, and more. 

FDA News

FDA Approves Sparsentan for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

Suyog Mokashi, MD, is the director of strategy at the Temple Heart and Vascular Institute and the director of aortic and endovascular surgery in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery at Temple University.

Socioeconomic Pressures and Clinical Gains in Heart Disease, With Suyog Mokashi, MD

A pair of economic analyses has recently revealed that, although the healthcare sector has grown substantially since 2000, the steady rise in 

 is also driven by a variety of socioeconomic pressures.

American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions 2026

 in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Suyog Mokashi, MD, director of strategy at the Temple Heart and Vascular Institute, director of aortic and endovascular surgery in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery at Temple University, and co-author on both studies.

The first study examined variations in heart disease mortality rates between the South and West of the US – particularly, the role of socioeconomic factors in driving these differences. Mokashi and colleagues selected Alabama, with persistently high mortality, poverty, and limited insurance expansion, and California, with lower mortality and stronger economic and coverage indicators.

“What our data shows is that, for the state as a whole, California has less heart disease mortality than Alabama,” Mokashi told 

 in an exclusive interview. “That’s not completely surprising, but if we look at per income, down to the county level, we actually found that the mortality is higher in Alabama than it is in California.”

Mokashi and colleagues connected country-level, age-adjusted heart disease mortality rates from 2022 – sourced from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) – with socioeconomic data collected from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey from 2018-2022. The team included variables of race, sex, poverty, insurance coverage, and household income distribution. Additionally, multivariable linear mixed-effects models with county random intercepts were utilized to assess associations between mortality and socioeconomic variables such as interactions between poverty, income, and state.

Ultimately, counties in Alabama reflected significantly higher cardiovascular mortality rates than those in California (

 <.001). Mokashi and colleagues found substantial race and gender effects differing between states, based on multivariable regression (all 

 <.0001). Socioeconomic effects were also state-dependent, with $50-100k income reducing mortality in Alabama while poverty increased it. Mortality was also higher in males vs females and Blacks vs Whites. County-wide variance was greater in Alabama.

The second study, examining long-term spending patterns for coronary atherosclerosis through the lens of US economic and healthcare sector expansion, analyzed data from 2000-2021 via National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) estimates. Mokashi and colleagues benchmarked spending against gross output for all US industries as a proxy for gross domestic product (GDP) and the Healthcare & Social Assistance sector via Bureau of Economic Analysis data from 1997-2024. Outcomes included per capita spending, NIPA expenditures, uncontrolled expenditures, number of episodes, and cost per case.

Mokashi and colleagues determined that, from 2000-2021, all major economic indicators declined substantially. Per capita spending on coronary atherosclerosis declined by 41 (slope -$1.86/year; 

 <.0001). Annually coronary atherosclerosis episodes also decreased by 136,874 (

 <.0001), while NIPA expenditures and uncontrolled expenditures decreased by $381.6 million and $288.4 million per year, respectively. Additionally, coronary atherosclerosis spending lowered from 0.17% of GDP in 2000 to 0.06% in 2021.

“So, what we’re seeing overall is that our cardiologists have done such a good job of prevention that we’re seeing less and less patients who end up being admitted with coronary artery disease and are treated for that in an inpatient setting,” Mokashi said.

Editors’ Note: Mokashi reports no relevant disclosures.

Alcudia A, Whitman I, Lu X, et al. Poverty and Income Effects Translate to Mortality in Heart Disease: Divergent Socioeconomic Gradients in the South and West. Abstract presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions 2026, New Orleans, LA. March 28-30, 2026.

Gupta A, Joshi P, Zhao H, et al. Declining Burden of Coronary Atherosclerosis Reflects Clinical Gains and Healthcare Sector Growth. Abstract presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions 2026, New Orleans, LA. March 28-30, 2026.

Videos

Mokashi discusses 2 recent studies which he co-authored, investigating the socioeconomic impacts on health across America and the healthcare sector’s growth.

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...

Strategic Alliance Partnership

Jose Clemente, PhD, associate professor of Genetics and Genomics and Immunology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Susanne Brix Pedersen, professor at DTU Bioengineering

Nicole Chase, MD, is a board-certified allergist/immunologist at St. Paul Allergy Asthma, Minneapolis VA Health Care System (part-time), and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

The Early-Life Window: Can Food Allergy Be Prevented Before It Begins?

 in early life was the standard advice. However, new research shows this is not always the case.

A growing body of research now suggests that early exposure, rather than avoidance, may reduce the risk of food allergy and promote immune tolerance during a critical developmental period.

The change began with the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial, which showed that by 5 years old, 3.2% of the consumption group and 17.2% of the avoidance group had developed a peanut allergy.

 This represented an approximately 80% relative risk reduction in peanut-exposed children.

Follow-up studies demonstrated that this protection persisted even after a period of peanut avoidance, suggesting durable immune tolerance. A study published in October 2025 analyzed data from > 85,000 children across nearly 50 pediatric practices and found a 27% drop in peanut allergies following the 2015 early introduction guidelines (

 <.001) and a 43% drop after the 2017 addendum (

Building on this dietary prevention model, newer research is expanding attention to early-life immune programming. One area of focus is the infant microbiome, which begins forming at birth and may influence downstream immune responses.

Investigators studying cesarean-delivered infants have examined vaginal microbial transfer as a strategy to partially restore maternal microbial exposure.

 In the ACTIVATE trial, vaginal seeding altered early microbiome composition, shifting bacterial profiles toward those seen after vaginal delivery. Infants who received the intervention also showed differences in food sensitization during infancy, suggesting early microbial exposure may influence allergic risk, although long-term outcomes remain under study.

Mechanistic work has linked microbial activity to immune regulation. Certain bifidobacteria produce aromatic lactate metabolites associated with reduced development of food allergen–specific immunoglobulin E, providing a potential biological pathway connecting microbiome composition to tolerance.

Moreover, translational research examining dietary antigens has identified discrete food-derived proteins recognized by intestinal regulatory T cells; these proteins were found in corn, wheat, and soybean.

 These antigen-specific populations emerge around the time of weaning, when infants first encounter solid foods, and early consumption has been associated with tolerance responses.

These data suggest multiple early-life pathways may influence allergy risk. Microbial colonization, bacteria-derived metabolites, and exposure to dietary antigens each appear to contribute to immune training. This suggests that prevention strategies may extend beyond feeding practices alone to broader early immune development.

: Associate professor of Genetics and Genomics and Immunology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

An allergist/immunologist at St. Paul Allergy & Asthma and associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School

Clemente J. Vaginal Seeding Partially Modifies Infant Microbiome in ACTIVATE, With Jose Clemente, PhD. HCPLive. Published on March 1, 2026. Accessed on April 13, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/vaginal-seeding-partially-modifies-infant-microbiome-activate-jose-clemente-phd

Brix-Pedersen S. Early-Life Bifidobacteria Linked to Lower Food Allergy Risk, With Susanne Brix Pedersen. 

Published on February 4, 2026. Accessed on April 13, 2026. 

https://join.hcplive.com/view/early-life-bifidobacteria-linked-lower-food-allergy-risk-susanne-brix-pedersen

Blum, J. Dietary Epitopes Drive Oral Tolerance, With Jamie Blum, PhD. HCPLive. Published on March 26, 2026. Accessed on April 13, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/dietary-epitopes-drive-oral-tolerance-jamie-blum-phd

Gabryszewski S, Gupta R, and Hernandez-Trujillo V. Peanut Allergy Rates Plummet 10 Years After AAP Early Introduction Guidelines. 

 Published October 30, 2025. Accessed on April 13, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/peanut-allergy-rates-plummet-10-years-aap-early-introduction-guidelines

Early allergen introduction, microbiome research, and immune programming studies suggest food allergy prevention may begin during infancy.

Dynamic Video

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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

 The Early-Life Window: Can Food Allergy Be Prevented Before It Begins?

Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology and Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Rheumatic Diseases and in the Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas

Joints, Weight, and Mental Health: Ixekizumab + Tirzepatide for PsA, With Joseph Merola, MD

Combination treatment with ixekizumab (Taltz) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) produced superior joint outcomes compared with ixekizumab alone in a population of patients with difficult-to-treat 

Joseph F. Merola, MD, MMSc, FAAD, professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology and professor of internal medicine in the Division of Rheumatic Diseases and in the Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, presented these findings, from the TOGETHER-PsA trial, as a late-breaking oral at the 

 held in Denver, Colorado, from March 27-31. The results were simultaneously published in 

TOGETHER-PsA (NCT06588296) was a 52-week, randomized, open-label, assessor-blinded phase 3b trial enrolling 271 adults with active PsA and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) or overweight (BMI 27–29.9 kg/m²) with at least 1 weight-related comorbidity. The trial population reflected the clinical reality that an estimated 65–82% of patients with PsA in the United States meet overweight or obese criteria. Participants had a mean age of 55.0 years (SD, 11.9), mean baseline weight of 106.1 kg (SD, 24.8), and mean BMI of 37.6 kg/m² (SD, 7.6). Both arms received diet and exercise counseling; patients were randomized 1:1 to ixekizumab plus tirzepatide or ixekizumab alone.

Merola emphasized several features of the enrollment that distinguished TOGETHER-PsA from earlier PsA trials. Approximately 70% of participants were women — a group he noted is historically harder to treat in PsA — and more than 60% had prior exposure to at least 1 advanced therapy, with at least 20% having received 2 or more prior treatments. A substantial proportion carried BMI levels in the class III obesity range. Despite this treatment-experienced, high-burden population, the combination arm still demonstrated meaningful separation from monotherapy across multiple endpoints.

The composite primary endpoint — simultaneous achievement of ACR50 and ≥10% weight reduction at week 36 — was met by 31.7% of patients on combination therapy versus 0.8% on ixekizumab alone (

 <.001). On ACR50 alone, combination therapy achieved 33.5% versus 20.4% (

 = .02). Merola highlighted the early onset of separation between arms — detectable by week 4, before clinically meaningful weight loss had accrued — as mechanistically provocative, suggesting tirzepatide may act through direct modulation of the adipokine and cytokine milieu that drives psoriatic inflammation rather than exclusively through weight reduction. Consistent improvements were observed across joint inflammation, pain, physical function, and health-related quality of life.

Among the secondary findings Merola called out specifically, the improvement in the SF-36 mental component score (MCS) stood out as clinically meaningful. Mental health measures frequently remain static across PsA clinical trial programs — either because they are not collected, or because the data are not highlighted on the assumption they will not change. In TOGETHER-PsA, the MCS did improve, a finding Merola attributed to the multidomain nature of the intervention: simultaneous improvement in skin, joints, and body weight appears to carry a psychological benefit that single-domain therapy may not replicate. He raised the additional possibility, acknowledged as speculative, that reduced systemic inflammation may itself carry direct central nervous system effects. On safety, the combination regimen was well tolerated. GI adverse events led to discontinuation in 2.9% of patients in the combination arm versus 1.0% on ixekizumab monotherapy — a rate Merola cited as reassuring, noting that the great majority of patients remained on treatment and derived benefit across multiple domains.

“This is not something where patients are running for the hills because of GI side effects, just the opposite. The vast majority of patients stayed in this study and saw multiple benefits. I think that's important to highlight,” Merola emphasized.

Merola also addressed the question of who should prescribe GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists in this setting. He framed the minimum expectation as ensuring dermatologists and rheumatologists initiate the conversation with patients about concurrent use, leaving the prescribing decision to individual clinician comfort — whether that means owning the prescription directly or co-managing with endocrinology or primary care. Week 52 data from TOGETHER-PsA and the companion TOGETHER-PsO skin trial are forthcoming.

Merola’s disclosures include Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbvie, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Moonlake, Novartis, Janssen, Oruka, UCB, Sanofi, Regeneron, Sun Pharma, Galderma, Biogen and Pfizer.

Merola JF, et al. Ixekizumab with tirzepatide achieved greater disease control than ixekizumab alone in adults with psoriatic arthritis and overweight or obesity: results from a randomized clinical trial. 

Eli Lilly and Company. Phase 3b data presented at AAD Annual Meeting show Lilly's Taltz (ixekizumab) plus Zepbound (tirzepatide) delivered superior efficacy for adults with psoriatic arthritis and obesity. Press release. March 28, 2026. 

https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/phase-3b-data-presented-aad-annual-meeting-show-lillys-taltz

The combination showed efficacy in a predominantly female, treatment-experienced, high-BMI population.


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.

Chelsea Christensen, PA-C, is a cardiology physician assistant at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.

Christensen discusses the mechanics and practical applications of the HFMS, emphasizing its success in predicting HF events based on pulmonary fluid levels.

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.

ZOLL Heart Failure Management System Predicts Events Before Hospitalization, With Chelsea Christensen, PA-C

Nissen discusses his post-hoc analysis of the SURPASS-CVOT trial, comparing the 2 drugs for a 6-component composite endpoint of cardiorenal outcomes.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

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Type 2 Diabetes

Tirzepatide Outperforms Dulaglutide in Cardiorenal Outcomes, With Steven Nissen, MD

Michael H. Gold, MD, is the founder and medical director of Gold Skin Care Center, Advanced Aesthetics Medical Spa, The Laser & Rejuvenation Center.

During this video interview at AAD 2026, Gold touches on key points made in his session titled ‘Complications of Cosmetic Procedures.’

How to Deal With Cosmetic Complications in Dermatology, With Michael H. Gold, MD

Treprostinil significantly slowed FVC decline and reduced clinical worsening events over 52 weeks in patients with IPF.


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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

TETON-2 Supports Antifibrotic Benefit of Inhaled Treprostinil in IPF, With Steven Nathan, MD

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

In this episode, ‘Redefining Treatment Success in Psoriasis,’ the expert dermatologists explore the remarkable evolution of treatment expectations in psoriasis, moving from modest improvements to ambitious goals of complete skin clearance and sustained remission. The faculty reflect that in earlier treatment paradigms even a 50% improvement in disease severity was considered a meaningful success. 

Video Series

Defining On-Treatment Remission in Psoriasis

Welcome back to another HCP Live Peer Exchange series. In this episode titled, ‘Evolving Treatment Expectations in Psoriasis,’ the panelists discussed how treatment goals in psoriasis have evolved alongside advances in therapeutic innovation and disease understanding. The expert faculty began by reflecting on the historical limitations of traditional therapies, including topicals, phototherapy, and early systemic agents, which were often insufficient for achieving sustained disease control. In earlier eras, treatment success was defined and accepted by improvement rather than complete clearance of the skin. 

Evolving Treatment Expectations in Psoriasis

Clara Bohm, MD, is a nephrologist and associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Manitoba. 

A multicenter RCT of intradialytic cycling showed a modest, nonsignificant reduction in myocardial stunning in hemodialysis patients.

Intradialytic Cycling Does Not Significantly Reduce Myocardial Stunning in Hemodialysis Patients

Mercedes Martinez, MD, is a professor of pediatrics and medicine, medical director of the intestinal transplant program at the Center for Liver Disease and Abdominal Organ Transplantation, and medical director of the pediatric abdominal organ transplantation program at NewYork-Presbyterian.

Martinez describes how IBAT inhibitors are reshaping cholestatic pruritus care, with impacts on symptoms, growth, and long-term liver outcomes.

Hepatology

Cholangitis

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Optimizing Cholestatic Disease Care With IBAT Inhibitors, With Mercedes Martinez, MD

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team in 2022 and is currently an associate editor for HCPLive. He is also the executive producer of two podcasts: Skin of Color Savvy and The Medical Sisterhood. Previously, he was the producer of the Lungcast podcast. He graduated from UC Berkeley and worked in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. You can contact him at tsmith@mjhlifesciences.com.

These new dermatology guidelines represent the first-ever atopic dermatitis-centered guidelines for pediatric patients issued by the AAD.

First-Ever Pediatric Eczema Guidelines Issued by American Academy of Dermatology

This review of dermatology news from the first quarter of 2026 highlights key headlines, FDA news, and more.

Latest News

ADlong: Phase 3b Findings on Lebrikizumab in Atopic Dermatitis, With Stephan Weidinger, MD, PhD

FDA Approves Sparsentan for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

Socioeconomic Pressures and Clinical Gains in Heart Disease, With Suyog Mokashi, MD

The Early-Life Window: Can Food Allergy Be Prevented Before It Begins?

Joints, Weight, and Mental Health: Ixekizumab + Tirzepatide for PsA, With Joseph Merola, MD