Walter J. Liszewski, MD, is an associate professor of dermatology and cancer epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Diagnostic Approaches to Contact Dermatitis Overlap with Atopic Disease, With Walter Liszewski, MD

 session was presented titled ‘Contact Dermatitis Update 2026,’ with challenges related to the management of a range of contact dermatitis issues being highlighted.

Walter Liszewski, MD, associate professor of dermatology and cancer epidemiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, presented this session on contact dermatitis updates. Liszewski spoke with 

 In this new segment, Liszewski was asked how he recommends clinicians refine their diagnostic approach when contact dermatitis overlaps with atopic or other inflammatory skin diseases.

“The thing that's challenging is that, for atopic dermatitis, there is no diagnostic test,” Liszewski explained. “But for allergic contact dermatitis, there is. So if you have a patient with moderate to severe eczema and it's not improving with topicals, those patients are candidates for patch testing.”

If clinicians do patch testing and there are no allergens, Liszewski explained, then one can be more certain of irritant dermatitis or exclusively atopic dermatitis. The reason this is important, Liszewski expressed, is many of the drugs used to treat atopic dermatitis, such as lebrikizumab or dupilumab, will not be effective for most forms of allergic contact dermatitis. In other words, Liszewski stressed the importance of a precise cause, for not all treatments will be effective for all forms of eczema.

Liszewski was asked if clinicians could only take away 1 or 2 practice-changing points from his session, what he would want them to remember.

“The first thing is, we always need more people to do patch testing, and I'm someone who specializes in advanced patch testing,” Liszewski said. “I have 500 allergens in my clinic. I routinely test patients for more than 100 allergens. And technically, yes, that is the ideal way it should be done. But that's not the only way that needs to be done.”

If a clinician can only do the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) Core Allergen Series, updated to 90 allergens.

 The series, he noted, is a comprehensive patch-testing panel used to identify substances causing allergic contact dermatitis. Even the T.R.U.E. TEST panel diagnostic approach, Liszewski said, can be helpful.

“We need more dermatologists who are willing and capable of doing patch testing, because it can be transformative for many of our patients with chronic eczematous dermatitis,” Liszewski said. “The second thing that I would emphasize is that you need to read labels. One thing that I encourage all of you to do is, the next time you're at the grocery store, you're at a pharmacy, and you're looking at shampoos or lotions, look at a bunch of them. Look at the ingredients. Are there new chemicals you haven't seen before?”

For more information about this topic and related topics, view Liszewski’s full interview posted above. For more from Maui Derm, view the 

The quotes implemented in this video summary were edited for clarity.

Liszewski W. Contact Dermatitis Update 2026. Presented at: Maui Derm Hawaii 2026; January 25-29, 2026; Maui, Hawaii.

Liszewski W. Contact Dermatitis Updates for 2026, With Walter Liszewski, MD. HCPLive. February 4, 2026. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/contact-dermatitis-updates-2026-walter-liszewski-md

Schalock PC, Dunnick CA, American Contact Dermatitis Society Core Allergen Series Committee, et al. American Contact Dermatitis Society Core Allergen Series: 2020 Update. Dermatitis. 2020 Sep-Oct;31(5):279-282. doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000621. PMID: 32947457.

Videos

This segment of Liszewski’s interview at Maui Derm Hawaii 2026 highlights additional takeaways for clinicians regarding the treatment of contact dermatitis.

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.

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.

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Victoria Johnson joined the MJH Life Sciences in 2020 and has written for NeurologyLive, CGTLive, and now HCPLive. You can reach her at vjohnson@mjhlifesciences.com

Bimekizumab (UCB, Bimzelx) has demonstrated high rates of 

 (HS) lesion clearance in new 3-year data from a long-term extension studies of the BE-HEARD studies announced by UCB.

“The inflammatory lesions seen in HS, particularly draining tunnels, can be devastating for people living with this disease – not only because of the pain and profound impact on life, but also due to the long-term structural damage and scarring they often cause,” Thrasyvoulos Tzellos, MD, PhD, Head Physician, Department of Dermatology, Nordland Hospital Trust, and associate professor at Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway, said in a statement.

 “These data show that bimekizumab delivers high long-term resolution rates of these lesions, underscoring its sustained control of inflammation and potential to avoid structural damage and disease progression.”

The new data are from the 2 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 BE HEARD I and BE HEARD II studies. The primary endpoint of both studies was Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR50) at Week 16. The studies had a combined enrollment of 1,014 participants, 556 of which were randomized, and then entered the open-label study, 2:2:2:1 to bimekizumab (BKZ) 320 mg every 2 weeks for the first initial 16 and then every 4 for the maintenance 32 weeks or a combination of the 2 based on HiSCR90 response (BKZ Q2W until 16 /Q2W, until 32 BKZ Q2W until 16/Q4W until 32, BKZ Q4W until 16/Q4W until 32 or placebo until 16/BKZ Q2W until 32).

 All patients who continued in the trial after Week 48 were subsequently switched to Q4W dosing by the end of year 4.

Of the participants in the open-label extension, 367 completed a lesion count assessment at year 3 and 40.1% (n = 147) achieved International HS Severity Score System (IHS4) 100 at that time point. Furthermore, 59.1% (n = 217) achieved IHS4 90 and 77.4% (n = 284) of those achieved IHS4-75.

Importantly, the proportion of patients with severe HS fell from 87.4% (n = 486) at baseline to 14.7% (54/367) at 3 years and the proportion of people with mild or inactive HS rose from 0.0% (n = 0) at baseline to 59.4% (n = 218). The mean draining tunnel count also decreased from 3.8 (standard deviation [SD], 4.3) at baseline and to 0.9 (SD, 2.0) at year 3.

Another abstract demonstrated meaningful improvements in health-related quality-of-life sustained to 3 years. UCB is presenting these data and more in 4 abstracts at the 15th Conference of the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation (EHSF), held February 4-6, 2026, in San Giljan, Malta.

“The data at EHSF showed bimekizumab’s ability to reduce HS disease severity over an extended 3-year period. The depth and durability of efficacy reinforces its importance for both people living with HS and the clinical community,” Donatello Crocetta, Chief Medical Officer, UCB, added.

 “We are proud to begin 2026 with more robust long-term clinical evidence that reflects UCB’s commitment to delivering unique treatment options, and we look forward to sharing additional bimekizumab data at AAD later this quarter.”

Bimekizumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody, the only dual interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F targeting therapy approved for moderate-to-severe HS treatment in adults.

 The approved regimen for HS consists of BKZ Q2W to Week 16, then Q4W thereafter. In addition to HS, bimekizumab is also approved for treating axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis in adults.

UCB showcases three-year hidradenitis suppurativa data at EHSF: BIMZELX[®]▼(bimekizumab) achieved inflammatory lesion resolution and substantial disease severity improvements. News release. UCB. February 4, 2026. https://www.ucb.com/newsroom/press-releases/article/ucb-showcases-three-year-hidradenitis-suppurativa-data-at-ehsf-bimzelxrvbimekizumab-achieved-inflammatory-lesion-resolution-and-substantial-disease-severity-improvements

UCB Receives U.S. FDA Approval for BIMZELX® (bimekizumab-bkzx) as the First IL-17A and IL-17F Inhibitor for Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa. UCB. November 20. 

https://www.ucb-usa.com/stories-media/UCB-U-S-News/detail/article/ucb-receives-us-fda-approval-for-bimzelxr-bimekizumab-bkzx-as-the-first-il-17a-and-il-17f-inhibitor-for-adults-with-moderate-to-severe-hidradenitis-suppurativa

Kimball AB, Jemec GBE, Sayed CJ, et al. Efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (BE HEARD I and BE HEARD II): two 48 week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre phase 3 trials. Lancet. 2024;403(10443):2504–19. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00101-6

Articles

Three-year open-label extension data from the Phase 3 BE HEARD I/II program suggest durable, deep disease control with bimekizumab in moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Among 367 patients assessed at year 3, IHS4-100 was achieved by 40.1%, IHS4-90 by 59.1%, and IHS4-75 by 77.4%. Severe disease prevalence fell from 87.4% to 14.7%, while mild/inactive disease rose to 59.4%. Mean draining tunnel count declined from 3.8 to 0.9, with sustained quality-of-life gains.

New data presented at EHSF in Malta boasts a reduced proportion of patients with severe HS at 3 years.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis Suppurativa 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 dermatology research, treatment, and drug development.

Bimekizumab Demonstrates Long Term Efficacy in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

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.

Targeting Costimulatory Pathways With Eliezer Katz, MD

After kidney transplantation, clinicians often have to navigate long-term patient outcomes, including preventing early acute rejection, preserving graft function, and ensuring overall safety.

Over the years, calcineurin inhibitors have been effective at preventing early acute rejection, but their broad mechanism of action can contribute to nephrotoxicity, metabolic disturbances, and cardiovascular complications over time.

As a result, long-term graft survival has not improved proportionally, despite reductions in acute rejection rates since the 1990s. Overall, chronic allograft dysfunction remains a major clinical challenge, often driven by a combination of calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity, subclinical immune activation, medication nonadherence, and metabolic or cardiovascular complications.

Costimulatory pathways have emerged as a focal point in efforts to refine immunosuppression following kidney transplantation. These pathways act upstream in T- and B-cell activation, offering potential to reduce chronic, low-grade immune activation without broadly suppressing the immune system.

“The immune system can be activated through multiple pathways. One of these is the calcineurin pathway, while another is the costimulation pathway,” explained Eliezer Katz, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Eledon Pharmaceuticals. “CD40 ligand sits at the center of this costimulation pathway. By blocking CD40 ligand, tegoprubart prevents the immune system from mounting a full attack on the graft.”

Costimulatory blockade occurs earlier in the immune activation process than CNIs, which act downstream after T cells are engaged. Early intervention at this level may reduce memory T-cell formation, preserve regulatory T-cell signaling, and potentially mitigate chronic immune-mediated injury that contributes to long-term graft dysfunction.

Mechanistic Rationale for CD40 Ligand Blockade

The CD40–CD40 ligand (CD40L) pathway sits at the intersection of T-cell activation, B-cell maturation and class switching, germinal center formation, and antibody-mediated rejection biology. This makes it particularly relevant to humoral rejection, chronic antibody-mediated injury, and long-term graft fibrosis.

Early anti-CD40L antibodies were limited by thromboembolic events, likely due to CD40L expression on activated platelets and Fc-mediated crosslinking that triggered platelet aggregation. Tegoprubart, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD40L, is engineered to minimize Fc-mediated platelet activation while selectively disrupting cellular and humoral costimulatory signaling.

Early Clinical Evaluation: Phase 1b and Phase 2 BESTOW Trial

In the phase 1b trial, over 24 months, tegoprubart had an acceptable safety profile. All patients experienced ≥1 TEAE, while SAEs were reported for 3 patients, and AESIs were reported for 7 patients. No cases of biopsy-proven acute rejection, de novo DSA, delayed graft function, or graft loss were reported.

Investigators observed functional eGFR levels were restored within 1 month after transplantation and generally maintained over 24 months. At 12 and 24 months, mean (SD) eGFRs were 67.0 (19.85) mL/min/1.73 m² and 74.2 (24.91) mL/min/1.73 m², respectively.

In the ongoing 12-month, randomized, head-to-head phase 2 BESTOW trial, investigators are evaluating tegoprubart, compared with a standard tacrolimus treatment regimen in kidney transplant recipients, with a target enrollment of > 120 participants across multiple global sites.

All participants received standard induction and maintenance therapy, including rATG, mycophenolate, and steroids. The primary endpoint was the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 12 months. Secondary endpoints included biopsy-proven acute rejection, graft survival, composite efficacy failure, delayed graft function, donor-specific antibodies, and new-onset diabetes after transplant (NODAT).

Preliminary 12‑month data indicate mean eGFR values of 69 mL/min/1.73 m² in the tegoprubart group versus 66 mL/min/1.73 m² in the tacrolimus group.

Upon subgroup analyses, investigators observed increased eGFR in some donor subgroups, including living-related donors and higher Kidney Donor Profile Index cases.

In terms of safety, biopsy-proven acute rejection occurred in 20.6% compared to 14.1% of participants, and composite efficacy failure was 22% compared to 17%, respectively, indicating tegoprubart maintained immunosuppressive efficacy within the study’s predefined margin.

“Most transplant rejection occurs in the first year, making early control critical. Maintaining kidney function during this period, and beyond, is essential for long-term graft survival,” Katz said. “By targeting CD40 ligand and preserving kidney function, tegoprubart has the potential to improve long-term outcomes and allow patients to enjoy their grafts for many years.”

While the data are early and further evaluation is ongoing, mechanistic and clinical rationale suggest targeted CD40L blockade may offer a more precise approach to immunosuppression, explains Katz. By modulating immune activation without broadly suppressing T-cell function, clinicians may be able to maintain graft protection while mitigating systemic toxicities associated with calcineurin inhibitors.

Pellegrino B. Immunosuppression: Practice Essentials, History, Drugs. Medscape.com. Published October 28, 2024. 

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/432316-overview?form=fpf#a1

Wojciechowski D, Wiseman A. Long-Term Immunosuppression Management. 

Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

Eledon Presents Phase 2 BESTOW Trial Results for Tegoprubart for the Prevention of Rejection in Kidney Transplantation at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week 2025 Annual Meeting | Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Published 2025. ​

https://ir.eledon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/eledon-presents-phase-2-bestow-trial-results-tegoprubart

Long-term kidney allograft survival remains constrained by calcineurin inhibitor–associated nephrotoxicity and chronic immune-mediated injury, despite marked reductions in early acute rejection. Costimulatory pathway modulation, particularly CD40–CD40L blockade, offers an upstream strategy to attenuate T- and B-cell activation, potentially limiting memory T-cell development and humoral injury. Tegoprubart is engineered to avoid Fc-mediated platelet activation that hampered earlier anti-CD40L agents. Early trials suggest preserved renal function with acceptable safety, with ongoing randomized comparisons versus tacrolimus.

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.

Targeting Costimulatory Pathways in Kidney Transplant With Eliezer Katz, MD

Eric White, MD, global clinical development lead for rheumatology and pulmonology at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals

AI CT Tool for Early Pulmonary Fibrosis Detection Enters Phase 3, With Eric White, MD

Brainomix announced on January 20, 2026, that Boehringer Ingelheim has selected them to provide quantitative, automated high-resolution CT (HRCT) imaging biomarkers as a co-primary endpoint in the Phase 3 DROP-FPF study.

Early identification remains one of the most persistent challenges in interstitial lung disease and 

, where patients are often diagnosed after irreversible lung damage has already occurred. DROP-FPF aims to shift that paradigm by studying whether intervening earlier with nerandomilast, before symptoms and measurable lung function decline, can meaningfully alter the disease trajectory.

, Eric White, MD, global clinical development lead for rheumatology and pulmonology at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, emphasized the unmet need this trial addresses.

“That there are no approved options for these individuals, and quite honestly, we're not entirely certain what to do with them,” White said. “When we see them, we tell them, ‘you might have something there, and it might turn into a disease later on,’ but we can't give them much more than that, and so this is one of the first studies to let us start to understand what that aspect of the disease, the very, very, very early disease, how that behaves, and whether intervention with a known, effective medication will improve their outcomes.”

DROP-FPF is a phase 3b randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of nerandomilast (Jascayd) in individuals with interstitial lung abnormalities and a family history of pulmonary fibrosis. A defining feature of DROP-FPF is its use of automated, quantitative high-resolution CT (HRCT) imaging biomarkers as a co-primary endpoint, which is the first phase 3 interstitial lung disease trial to do so.

White noted that imaging changes typically precede declines in forced vital capacity (FVC), the standard physiologic endpoint used in pulmonary fibrosis trials. As therapies improve and FVC decline becomes more modest, relying on lung function alone may no longer be sufficient to detect meaningful treatment effects.

“The nice thing about using a quantitative HRCT is that the computers can see changes in the images well before the human eye can,” White said.

The trial will use Brainomix’s FDA-cleared e-Lung platform to quantify metrics, including the reticular vascular score and total disease extent, providing a granular view of early structural changes. White pointed to growing evidence that quantitative CT changes predict lung function decline, mortality, and overall outcomes, supporting their clinical relevance.

DROP-FPF will enroll approximately 80 participants using a rolling enrollment design, with each individual followed for ≥ 2 years. Beyond imaging progression, investigators will track symptom development, including cough, dyspnea, and fatigue, to better define when early interstitial lung disease becomes clinically apparent. Although the study is not expected to change practice immediately, White said it could provide critical evidence supporting earlier identification, closer monitoring, and earlier intervention, laying the groundwork for a more proactive approach to pulmonary fibrosis care.

“We also think [using a quantitative HRCT is] important because, as more and more drugs come to market for treating patients with pulmonary fibrosis, our ability to [detect] the change over time in breathing tests and forced vital capacity is diminishing, so it's going to be harder to determine whether a drug is doing something for a patient purely based on the forced vital capacity,” White said. “The imaging study will show us what parts of the lungs are being destroyed before it impacts the amount of volume that comes out. Because of that, the imaging should give us quite a bit of information before we even get to the point where people are starting to lose lung volumes.”

Brainomix e-Lung AI Imaging Technology Selected as Co-Primary Endpoint in Boehringer Ingelheim Phase 3 Clinical Trial in Pulmonary Fibrosis. PR Newswire. Published on January 20, 2026. Accessed on February 5, 2026. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brainomix-e-lung-ai-imaging-technology-selected-as-co-primary-endpoint-in-boehringer-ingelheim-phase-3-clinical-trial-in-pulmonary-fibrosis-302664595.html

The DROP-FPF Phase 3b trial will use automated HRCT biomarkers to assess whether early treatment with nerandomilast can slow disease progression before lung function declines.


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

Andrew Russman, DO, is a neurologist and the section head of stroke and vascular neurology at the Cleveland Clinic.

Asundexian Cuts Risk of Second Stroke - Results from OCEANIC-STROKE

Asundexian, an investigational oral Factor XIa (FXIa) inhibitor in development by Bayer, has shown its superiority to placebo in preventing 

 in patients after a non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA), based on results from the pivotal phase 3 OCEANIC-STROKE trial.

Despite a variety of treatment options, the risk of secondary stroke remains substantial – roughly 1 in 10 ischemic stroke survivors will experience another within 1 year, and 1 in 5 will have another stroke within 5 years. Secondary strokes are commonly more disabling and are associated with higher mortality and a greater risk of 

. Combining current strategies can reduce the risk of secondary stroke but has been associated with an increased bleeding risk.

“I think it’s really important to recognize that we’re always concerned that we’re adding bleeding risk,” Andrew Russman, DO, neurologist and section head of stroke and vascular neurology at the Cleveland Clinic, told 

 in an exclusive interview. “But that was not the case with asundexian in this study. Essentially, patients benefited from a reduction in their ischemic stroke risk without a concomitant increase in bleeding risk. And this is critically important.”

OCEANIC-STROKE was a multicenter, international, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group, event-driven phase 3 study, conducted at 741 locations worldwide. Investigators enrolled patients who were ≥18 years old with acute non-cardioembolic stroke or high-risk TIA and systemic or cerebrovascular 

 or acute non-lacunar infarct. Patients were excluded if they had ischemic stroke ≤7 days before the index event, a history of atrial fibrillation or flutter, left ventricular thrombus, mechanic valve, or other cardioembolic source of stroke, among other criteria.

The study’s primary endpoints were time to first occurrence of ischemic stroke and time to first occurrence of International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) major bleeding, both up to 31 months. Secondary outcomes included time to first occurrence of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, time to first occurrence of a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, and time to first occurrence of all-cause mortality, among others.

A total of 12,327 patients were enrolled in the trial; of these, 43% had large-artery atherosclerosis, 23% had small-vessel occlusion, 30% had stroke of undetermined etiology, 3% had other etiology, and 2% had cardioembolic stroke. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either oral asundexian once daily or matching placebo.

Russman and colleagues found that asundexian reduced ischemic stroke by 26% (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65-0.84; 

 <.0001) with no increase in risk of ISTH major bleeding. This was consistent across all subgroups, including age, sex, index event, stroke subtype, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and acute stroke therapy.

Secondary endpoints also showed that asundexian reduced ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke risk by 26% (6.6% vs 8.8%; HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65-0.84; 

 <.0001) compared to placebo. Additionally, investigators saw no increase in the rate of ISTH major bleeding between asundexian and placebo (1.9% vs 1.7%; HR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.85-1.44). The risk of bleeding was also similar compared to rates in the placebo arm.

“The benefit of the Factor XIa inhibitors is that they’re relatively selective; they act against the bad clot without harming the good clotting that’s part of healing,” Russman told 

. “Anticoagulants in general act against a variety of clotting, whether it’s the kind we need for healing or the bad kind of clotting that’s part of a pathologic process of a clot that could form and travel to the brain and cause a stroke.”

Asundexian has been granted Fast Track Designation by the 

Editor’s Note: Russman reports disclosures with Genentech, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific Corporation.

Bayer. Bayer’s asundexian demonstrated a substantial 26% reduction in stroke after a non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack, with no increase in ISTH major bleeding versus placebo. 

. February 5, 2026. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260205888712/en/Bayers-Asundexian-Demonstrated-a-Substantial-26-Reduction-in-Stroke-After-a-Non-Cardioembolic-Ischemic-Stroke-or-High-Risk-Transient-Ischemic-Attack-With-No-Increase-in-ISTH-Major-Bleeding-Versus-Placebo

Sharma M. Factor XIa Inhibition With Asundexian in Acute Non-Cardioembolic Stroke or High-Risk Transient Ischemic Attack: Primary Results of the OCEANIC-STROKE Trial. Abstract presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. New Orleans, LA. February 4-6, 2026.

Bayer. A Study to Test Asundexian for Preventing a Stroke Caused by a Clot in Participants After an Acute Ischemic Stroke or After a High-risk Transient Ischemic Attack, a So-called Mini Stroke (OCEANIC-STROKE). ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05686070. Updated November 11, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2026. 

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05686070

Russman highlights asundexian’s efficacy in patients following a non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack.

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.

Strategic Alliance Partnership

OCEANIC-STROKE: Asundexian Reduces Stroke Risk Without Increasing Bleeding, With Andrew Russman, DO

Viet Le, DMSc, PA-C, is a preventive cardiology PA at Intermountain Health and the former president of the Academy of Physician Associates in Cardiology.

In the opening segment of this special report, a trio of experts discuss what's new in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines.

Special Reports

Reframing the Dietary Guidelines: Whole Foods, the Microbiome, and a Shift Toward the Consumer

Ryan Livingston joined the MJH Life Sciences team in March of 2025, shortly after graduating from TCNJ with a bachelor’s degree in English. He enjoys creative writing, reading, and scuba diving. He can be reached at rlivingston@mjhlifesciences.com.

This secondary analysis of the phase 3b SOUL cardiovascular outcomes trial indicates oral semaglutide’s potential capacity to reduce HF events.

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.

Endocrinology

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Type 2 Diabetes

Oral Semaglutide May Reduce Heart Failure Risk in Patients With T2D

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

Reau and Brown are joined by Amanda Van Jacobs, MS, RDN, and Jessica Mellinger, MD, to discuss the new dietary guidelines through the lens of liver health.

Hepatology

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. Created by Nancy Reau, MD, and Kimberly Brown, MD, and hosted by HCPLive, this series dives into the cutting edge of liver disease research, clinical care, and real-world practice.

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.

Liver Lineup: Nutrition, Alcohol, and Liver Health in the New Dietary Guidelines

Giles W. Story, PhD, from the University College London

Delay discounting links to residual depression symptoms but does not predict relapse after stopping antidepressant treatment in patients with remitted MDD.

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.

Delay Discounting Offers No Predictive Value for MDD Relapse, With Giles Story, PhD

In this Maui Derm Hawaii 2026 interview, key takeaways on contact dermatitis treatment strategies are highlighted by Liszewski.

Contact Dermatitis Updates for 2026, With Walter Liszewski, MD

Abigail Brooks is an assistant managing editor for 

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

Catch up on hepatic FDA news, expert insights on PBC and MASH developments, & more.

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.

5 Hepatology Headlines You Missed in January 2026

Susanne Brix Pedersen, professor at DTU Bioengineering

Longitudinal data identify aromatic lactate–producing bifidobacteria and the metabolite 4-hydroxy-phenyllactate as key factors in early immune tolerance.

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

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

January 2026 Hematology Month in Review highlights new ASH and KDIGO guidelines, FDA approvals, and pipeline progress in rare blood disorders.


Hematology

6 Hematology Headlines You Missed in January 2026 

Chelsie Derman is an associate editor for 

who covers psychiatry, sleep medicine, geriatrics, migraine, and allergy. 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.

FDA approvals, priority review decisions, and new data on treatment response and mechanisms highlight a month of progress in MDD and ADHD.

6 Psychiatry Headlines You Missed in January 2026

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

This interview at Maui Derm 2026 highlights notable takeaways regarding psoriasis treatment strategies and emerging therapies.

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.

Latest News

Diagnostic Approaches to Contact Dermatitis Overlap with Atopic Disease, With Walter Liszewski, MD

Bimekizumab Demonstrates Long Term Efficacy in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Targeting Costimulatory Pathways in Kidney Transplant With Eliezer Katz, MD

AI CT Tool for Early Pulmonary Fibrosis Detection Enters Phase 3, With Eric White, MD

OCEANIC-STROKE: Asundexian Reduces Stroke Risk Without Increasing Bleeding, With Andrew Russman, DO