Dermatology

Deuruxolitinib achieves high 24-week SALT responses in severe alopecia areata

Adults with severe chronic alopecia areata (SALT ≥50) were randomized 1:2:1 to deuruxolitinib 8 mg BID, 12 mg BID, or placebo. At week 24, SALT ≤20 occurred in 33.0% on 8 mg, 38.3% on 12 mg, versus 0.8% on placebo (P < .0001 for both). Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate, and deuruxolitinib was generally well tolerated over 24 weeks. Long-term durability and safety beyond 24 weeks were not assessed, so optimal treatment duration remains uncertain. 1

Deucravacitinib effective after inadequate apremilast response in plaque psoriasis

This post hoc POETYK PSO-1/PSO-2 analysis evaluated patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis not meeting PASI targets on apremilast at week 24. Nonresponders were switched to deucravacitinib 6 mg once daily and followed through week 52. PASI 75 responses increased from 0% at switch to 46.3% and 42.3% at week 52 in PSO-1 and PSO-2, respectively. PASI 90, sPGA 0/1, DLQI 0/1, BSA involvement, and symptom scores also improved after switching, supporting deucravacitinib post-apremilast failure. 2

Baseline KLRB1 and IL12RB1 expression predicts relapse risk after ixekizumab withdrawal

Investigators analyzed longitudinal skin transcriptomes in 23 psoriasis patients treated with ixekizumab to identify predictors of relapse after IL-17 blockade cessation. Machine learning highlighted KLRB1 and IL12RB1 as key predictive genes, confirmed by immunofluorescence on baseline biopsies. A Cox model using KLRB1 and IL12RB1 stratified patients by relapse risk (log-rank P = .0013). Higher baseline expression correlated with reactivation of CD4+ memory T cells, dendritic cells, and mast cells at relapse. 3

Cemiplimab provides durable 5-year benefit in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

This retrospective multicenter cohort followed 54 Australian EMPOWER-CSCC-1 patients for a median of 77 months. Among 39 responders, 5-year duration of response was 65% (95% CI, 47-78), demonstrating substantial long-term disease control. Median progression-free survival was 56.4 months, and median overall survival was not reached; 5-year OS was 60% (95% CI, 45-72). Four patients received cemiplimab retreatment after progression, with three progression-free at data cutoff. 4