Q2 2025 Recap: Dermatology News and Updates

Within the second quarter of 2025, the HCPLive editorial team has continued its in-depth reporting on key advancements in the dermatology space, spotlighting a broad range of clinical developments and trial updates that have shaped the mid-year landscape of the field.

Q2 coverage of dermatology has included new findings related to atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata, in addition to exclusive interviews with leading dermatology experts on emerging therapies and clinical insights. The team also published multiple recaps of recent conferences, capturing the most relevant data and discussions.

The following list is a comprehensive overview of some of Q2’s most impactful stories in dermatology, reflecting the wide scope of progress made thus far in skin disease research and treatments during this period:

Psoriasis News in Q2:

Notable Attributes of Icotrokinra for Adolescents with Psoriasis, with Lawrence Eichenfield, MD

In this interview from Q2, Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, discussed data released by Johnson & Johnson from a subgroup analysis of the ICONIC-LEAD study that had been presented at the 2025 World Congress of Pediatric Dermatology (WCPD) Annual Meeting. Eichenfield described the data that demonstrated that adolescents with moderate-to-severe psoriasis given once-daily icotrokinra (JNJ-2113) attained higher rates of clear or almost clear skin at the 16-week mark compared to placebo.

Roflumilast Foam 0.3% for Scalp, Body Psoriasis Effective, Safe for Patients

Another notable study from Q2 showed positive phase 3 results on the safety and efficacy of roflumilast foam 0.3% (Zoryve) as a monotherapy for patients with psoriasis of the scalp and body. These results, demonstrating rapid and significant relief following treatment, were the conclusion of the phase 3 ARRECTOR study, authored by such investigators as Melinda Gooderham, MD, MSc, medical director at the SKiN Centre for Dermatology. Gooderham and the coauthors expressed, following the analysis, that before their work, topical therapeutic options for scalp psoriasis had been limited by efficacy, by formulation, and/or by safety.

Alopecia News in Q2:

Baricitinib Confirmed Safe and Efficacious for Treating Alopecia Areata

Long-term findings from the integrated safety analysis of patients with severe alopecia areata in the BRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2 clinical trial program, spanning up to 4 years, were released and reinforced the established efficacy and safety profile of baricitinib over an extended period. Baricitinib, an oral selective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, has been approved by the regulatory bodies of many different countries for several rheumatologic and dermatologic disorders, as well as for COVID-19.

Azathioprine Effective for Patients with Recalcitrant, Severe Alopecia Areata

Another study highlighted by HCPLive in Q2 demonstrated that azathioprine is an efficacious systemic treatment for individuals living with recalcitrant and severe alopecia areata, according to research authored by Susan Farshi and Parvin Mansouri, from the Skin and Stem Cell Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Farshi and Mansouri’s study participants came from the dermatology clinic at Imam Hospital and the Skin and Stem Cell Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The team's prospective study involved the tracking of patients living with alopecia areata over a 10-year timeframe.

Atopic Dermatitis News in Q2:

Lebrikizumab Leads to Atopic Dermatitis Improvements in Patients with Skin of Color

New phase 3b findings on lebrikizumab (Ebglyss) released in Q2 highlighted the drug’s efficacy for atopic dermatitis in adult and adolescent patients with skin of color, as well as results in itch and disease severity improvements over 24 weeks. This late-breaking data resulted from the open-label ADmirable study and was presented at the 2025 Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Annual Meeting in Nashville. It was led by such authors as Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, professor of clinical dermatology and vice-chair for diversity and inclusion at Weill Cornell Medicine. Alexis and colleagues had noted the lack of robust data prior to the ADmirable study informing the diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis in patients with skin of color.

Upadacitinib Effective for Disease Clearance, Itch in Older Adults with Atopic Dermatitis

In new data presented at RAD 2025, older adults with atopic dermatitis aged ≥ 65 years treated with oral upadacitinib 15 mg as a once-daily monotherapy were shown to attain optimal skin clearance and relief from itch, along with notable quality of life and sleep improvements. These data on older adults ≥65 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis were the result of 140 weeks of evaluation in the phase 3 Measure Up 1 and 2 analyses.

Additional News in Q2:

DermaSensor Aids PCPs in Spotting Skin Cancer

Recent findings from Q2 in the pivotal DERM-SUCCESS study, along with a companion utility study, provided strong clinical support for DermaSensor, a handheld skin cancer assessment device that was cleared for primary care by the FDA in 2024. The DERM-SUCCESS analysis had assessed the diagnostic performance of DermaSensor, a noninvasive, elastic scattering spectroscopy device, for melanoma and keratinocyte carcinoma detection within primary care settings. This evaluation was carried out in 22 clinics within the US and Australia, with adult patients with skin lesions suspected of malignancy by primary care physicians (PCPs) being involved between August 2020 - December 2021.

Investigators Develop AI Model That Can Predict Nail Psoriasis

Investigators from the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nurnberg in Germany have developed a convolutional neural network, designed to automatically and objectively score the severity of patients’ nail psoriasis with high reliability and no need for image standardization. Psoriasis is known to often impact nails, given their categorization as dermal appendages. Additionally, there is an estimated total of 80-90% of individuals who eventually present with nail involvement who already have psoriasis.