Brett King, MD, PhD

Expert Perspectives: Top News in Dermatology from EADV Congress 2025

2025 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress

 in Paris, France, involving over 20,000 delegates and more than 180 scientific sessions, clinicians in dermatology were afforded the opportunity to connect and learn about late-breaking data and new research into a variety of disease states.

In this set of interviews, similar to previous ones highlighting expert perspectives, 6 leaders in the field of dermatology were asked to reflect on EADV and the most significant developments this year. Among the various pieces of new data spotlighted in responses are study readouts for icotrokinra, upadacitinib, galvokimig, and amletilimab.

 The speakers included in this summary were:

Brett King, MD, PhD, associate professor of Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine

Linda Stein Gold, MD, director of Dermatology Clinical Research at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan

Martina Porter, MD, assistant professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School

Stephan Weidinger, MD, PhD, professor and chair for Dermatology at the Christian-Albrechts-University

Alexandra K. Golant, MD, medical director of the Dermatology Faculty Practice and the program director of the Dermatology Residency Program at Mount Sinai

Christopher Bunick, MD, PhD, associate professor of Dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine

 I don't want to sound like everybody else or give too general a comment, but it's really astonishing that we have the AAD early in the year, and then 6 months later we have this. Literally, at each meeting, there's brand new data. You go to the late breakers, and we are seeing brand new data at the EADV across disease states...and [with] the pace of innovation, I think this is truly the golden age of dermatology. The golden age of immunology, in dermatology. We're able to do sort of spectacular things that, every time you think, 'Maybe we're done in this disease state,' all of a sudden, there's another surprise.

I had an interesting lunch today at the EADV, and I was sitting with a colleague. I haven't been able to go to all the sessions, but my colleague said there was some really important data that was presented. I say, 'Can you tell me what it was?' And he said, 'Yeah, I took a picture.' There's this new oral IL-23 drug that it sounds absolutely wonderful. It was so interesting to me, because I think icotrokinra is a drug that the dermatology community has really been waiting for. I think the excitement is palpable, so I was thrilled to see all the additional data that came out. I think this is really going to be impactful.

I've become an HS specialist, so that's what I'm following most closely. But it is very nice, I think, for me to attend some of these late breaking sessions, because I'm seeing different mechanisms of drugs in different disease states. Some of them, I actually think, will start to cross over between some of the disease states, and we might start considering using combination therapy...Sanofi, for example, has a combination TNF-alpha and OX40 that they're actually showing the data from for this meeting.

I think as we look to the future, there will be more companies designing drugs that have different targets within a same the same molecule. So it'll be really fascinating to see if by employing these in a single medication, will we be able to achieve even greater efficacy endpoints for multiple disease states.

Also at this year's EADV meeting, we saw that this huge development, this almost paradigm shift in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, is ongoing. Companies continue to invest and develop new treatments. We are discussing, discussing about more ambitious outcomes. So I would say, when I go back home from this meeting, I probably say to myself, the future is bright for the field I'm working in. And that's just great.

 When I look back at EADV 2025, which was an incredible meeting for inflammatory skin disease, atopic dermatitis was in that group. We saw so much late breaking data, new mechanisms extending dosing intervals for drugs in the pipeline. For me, I think one of the most interesting topics was the focus on disease modification that is supported by some of these newer mechanisms that we are studying. But the potential to fundamentally change the nature of disease, either with earlier therapeutic intervention or just different targets in this space, was super exciting to me. I can't wait to see where this goes.

Let me start with first I had the privilege to present a study looking at the upadicitnib safety in terms of MACE, VTE and malignancy, stratified by cardiovascular risk factors and the sum of the story was that regardless of dose upadacitinib, 15 or 30 milligrams, that ultimately for MACE, VTE and malignancy, the rates on upadacitinib, if you had moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, each of those was lower than the background reference population. [This] is a real world population, taken from a claims database and age and gender-matched to the upatacitnib trial data. I think that's important very safe and lower cardiovascular outcomes in patients stratified by cardiovascular risk.

Number 2, I was really excited to finally see galvokimig data. So what is galvokimig? We just talked about IL-13 biologics, and it turns out that galvokimig is a combination between IL-13 and IL-17. Where have we heard of IL-17A and F? That molecule called bimekizumab. So galvokimig combines those and what did we learn? We learned that this drug in a phase one, and again, it was an IV administration at Week 12. It had about 47% EASI-90 response, suggesting the molecular heterogeneity in atopic dermatitis is real. Targeting TH-17 cytokines is important in treating AD.

Third, I want to highlight a particularly interesting way of attacking atopic dermatitis, as well as potentially other diseases, by targeting kallikreins. There's a particular drug called TRIV-509, shown with early data to be able to target kallikreins-5 and 7 and really impact the destruction of the skin barrier that can occur in atopic dermatitis. I think this is a fascinating new approach that others have not taken.

Lastly, I wanted to address some of the data that I think shocked a lot of people, and that was the amlitelimab phase 3 data, which didn't quite at the Week 24 mark, didn't quite hit what we were expecting in terms of the efficacy. What does this mean? Well, there's still a lot to learn about the OX40 ligand pathway, but it does seem that this pathway, whether you're targeting OX40 with rocatinlimab, or you're targeting OX40 ligand with amlitelimab, so far, the data shows it takes a little while to kick in, around the six month mark.

I do think that what this suggests is that to effectively use OX40-OX40-ligand, we may need to partner with something that works in that first six months. Why not choose an IL-13 biologic, right? There seems to be a really effective mechanism, and actually, there's already certain products out there looking at a cocktail between IL-13 and an OX40-ligand targeting drug. So I'm really excited to see where this all leads.

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

https://eadv.org/congress/about/#:~:text=Onsite%20information-,Letter%20from%20the%20President,science%20meets%20a%20fun%20rivalry

Johnson & Johnson. Icotrokinra shows superiority to deucravacitinib in first reported head-to-head trials reinforcing promise of novel targeted oral peptide for treatment of plaque psoriasis. JNJ.com. Published September 17, 2025. Accessed September 17, 2025. 

https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/icotrokinra-shows-superiority-to-deucravacitinib-in-first-reported-head-to-head-trials-reinforcing-promise-of-novel-targeted-oral-peptide-for-treatment-of-plaque-psoriasis

UCB announces successful first-in-patient trial for galvokimig in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis at EADV. News release. UCB. September 18, 2025. Accessed September 30, 2025. 

https://www.ucb.com/newsroom/press-releases/article/ucb-announces-successful-first-in-patient-trial-for-galvokimig-in-moderate-to-severe-atopic-dermatitis-at-eadv

Bunick C, Stein Gold L, Silverberg J, et al. Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Atopic Dermatitis: Long-Term Safety of Upadacitinib for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events, Venous Thromboembolism, or Malignancy (Excluding Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer). Presented at the 2025 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, Sept 17-20, 2025.

Blauvelt A, Strober B, Rahawi K, et al. Durable Maintenance of EASI-90 with Amlitelimab in Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: 52-Week Results From the STREAM-AD Phase 2b Trial. Presented at the 2025 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, Sept 17-20, 2025.

Videos

In this set of interviews, 6 leaders in the field of dermatology highlight their experiences at the 2025 EADV Congress.

New 3-year data from the ALLEGRO clinical trial program, presented at the 

European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2025 Congress

, highlight the sustained efficacy and safety of ritlecitinib (Litfulo) for 

“We see retention of clinical benefit achieved at month 12 maintained at month 36 in approximately 90% of patients, but, again, we see achievement of SALT score zero, so 0% terminal scalp hair loss in about 30% of patients out at month 36,” said study presenter Brett King, MD, PhD, associate professor of Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, in an interview with HCPLive. “So really, really important data and tells us a lot about what we can do or what we can expect with treatment with ritlecitinib, for our patients with severe alopecia areata.”

Ritlecitinib is part of a wave of JAK inhibitors transforming the treatment landscape for alopecia areata, a disease that had no US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies until 2022. Since then, baricitinib (Olumiant), ritlecitinib, and deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi) have all gained regulatory approval, marking a rapid revolution in therapeutic options.

The analysis at EADV 2025 demonstrated that 65.1% of patients (observed) and 47.1% (LOCF) maintained a SALT score ≤20 at 36–38 months. Among those achieving this threshold at 12 months, nearly 90% maintained response through three years, underscoring the durability of treatment. Importantly, 29.8% of patients achieved complete scalp hair regrowth (SALT = 0), with more than 60% of this group maintaining regrowth without relapse at later visits.

Additional endpoints presented at EADV Congress 2025 reinforced the findings. Among patients who achieved complete regrowth at least once during the study, 84.2% sustained a SALT score ≤5 at later time points. Improvements were also observed in eyebrow and eyelash regrowth, with approximately 60% of patients demonstrating response at 36–38 months.

The long-term safety profile of ritlecitinib was consistent with earlier reports, with no new safety signals emerging during the follow-up period.

For more on the significance of these findings, check out our interview with King from the floor at EADV Congress 2025.

Long-Term Treatment with Ritlecitinib for Alopecia Areata, With Brett King, MD, PhD

Relevant disclosures for King include AbbVie, AltruBio Inc, Almirall, Amgen, AnaptysBio, Apogee Therapeutics, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Aslan Pharmaceuticals, BiologicsMD, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Equillium, Horizon Therapeutics, Eli Lilly and Company, Incyte, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, LEO Pharma, Merck, Otsuka/Visterra, Pfizer, Q32 Bio, Regeneron, Sanofi Genzyme, Sun Pharma, Takeda, TWi Biotechnology, and Ventyx Biosciences.

 Long-term efficacy and complete scalp hair regrowth in patients with alopecia areata receiving ritlecitinib 50 mg QD up to 3 years in the ALLEGRO clinical trial program

. Presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2025 Congress. Paris, France. September 17-20, 2025.

Pfizer Inc. FDA Approves Pfizer’s LITFULO

 (Ritlecitinib) for Adults and Adolescents With Severe Alopecia Areata | Pfizer. www.pfizer.com. Published June 23, 2023. Accessed September 19, 2025. 

https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/fda-approves-pfizers-litfulotm-ritlecitinib-adults-and

Eli Lilly and Company. FDA Approves Lilly and Incyte’s OLUMIANT® (baricitinib) As First and Only Systemic Medicine for Adults with Severe Alopecia Areata | Eli Lilly and Company. Eli Lilly and Company. Published June 13, 2022. Accessed September 19, 2025. 

https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-lilly-and-incytes-olumiantr-baricitinib-first-and

National Alopecia Areata Foundation. FDA Approves LEQSELVI

 for Adults with Severe Alopecia Areata - National Alopecia Areata Foundation | NAAF. National Alopecia Areata Foundation | NAAF. Published July 26, 2024. Accessed September 19, 2025. 

https://www.naaf.org/news/fda-approves-leqselvi-deuruxolitinib-for-adults-with-severe-alopecia-areata/

New data reveals ritlecitinib's long-term efficacy for alopecia areata, showing sustained hair regrowth in 30% of patients after 3 years.

New findings from the BRAVE-AA clinical trial program presented at the 

 highlight the potential of baricitinib (Olumiant) to deliver not only significant scalp regrowth but also complete scalp hair restoration in both adults and adolescents with severe 

“It just gives us so much hope of truly changing the lives forever of these very young people who are suffering a really devastating disease,” explained study presenter Brett King, MD, PhD, associate professor of Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, in an interview with HCPLive.

Baricitinib, a selective JAK inhibitor and the first FDA-approved systemic therapy for severe alopecia areata in adults, was studied in adolescents aged 12 to <18 years through the BRAVE-AA-PEDS trial.

This analysis focused on patients who achieved a Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score ≤20 and evaluated deeper response thresholds of SALT ≤10 and SALT ≤5 over time.

Among adults treated with baricitinib 4 mg, 74.6% of responders achieved SALT ≤10 by week 36, with rates remaining stable at 75.0% at week 52. Similarly, 55.2% achieved SALT ≤5 at Week 36, increasing to 62.7% by week 52.

In adolescents, outcomes were even more robust. At week 36, 86.1% achieved SALT ≤10 and 61.1% achieved SALT ≤5. Of note, some patients in both groups reached these thresholds as early as week 8, which King suggests underscores the drug’s potential for rapid regrowth.

The findings reinforce the growing recognition that treatment goals in alopecia areata are shifting beyond partial regrowth toward full scalp restoration. For many patients, a SALT score of 10, 5, or even 0 represents the ultimate target, and baricitinib demonstrated the ability to deliver these outcomes across both adult and adolescent populations.

For more information on this study and its potential to inform the treatment of alopecia areata in adults and adolescents, check out our interview with King from the conference floor at EADV 2025.

Baricitinib Response Deepens Overtime in Alopecia Areata, With Brett King, MD, PhD

 Most Baricitinib Responders Achieved Full Scalp Hair Regrowth: Findings from Adult and Paediatric BRAVE-AA Trials

Adolescents with alopecia areata show promising treatment responses, highlighting the need for diverse therapeutic options to improve outcomes.

Baricitinib Response Deepens Over Time in Alopecia Areata, With Brett King, MD, PhD

Addressing the Psychosocial Aspect of Alopecia Areata Treatment

How do you address the psychosocial aspects of alopecia areata when treating your patients?

A panelist discusses how they address the psychosocial aspects of alopecia areata by establishing a supportive doctor-patient relationship, validating emotional distress, providing counseling resources or support group referrals, involving mental health professionals when needed, educating about coping strategies, and acknowledging the significant impact hair loss can have on a patient's self-image, relationships, and quality of life.

Brett King, MD, PhD

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