Top 5 Articles of the Month: February 2026

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1. Clascoterone 5% Delivers Strong Phase 3 Hair Growth Results

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals reported promising top-line results from 2 large phase 3 trials evaluating clascoterone 5% topical solution for male androgenetic alopecia (AGA), potentially representing the first new treatment mechanism for the condition in more than 30 years. The trials, SCALP1 (NCT05910450) and SCALP2 (NCT05914805), enrolled 1465 men and assessed target area hair count and patient-reported outcomes, showing statistically significant hair growth improvements vs vehicle, with alignment between objective measures and patient perception. Clascoterone works via local androgen receptor inhibition at the follicle, minimizing systemic exposure and avoiding the hormonal adverse effects of oral treatments. Safety was favorable, with treatment-emergent adverse events similar to vehicle. If approved, the therapy could expand options for men seeking a mechanistically distinct, topical solution for AGA, with regulatory submissions planned following completion of 12-month safety follow-up in spring 2026.

2. Practical Approaches to Managing Atopic Dermatitis With Topical Therapies

At the recent Horizons in Advanced Practice meeting in Tampa, Florida, Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, MHS, PA-C, presented novel topical therapies for atopic dermatitis, including ruxolitinib, roflumilast, and tapinarof. He highlighted that these agents are as effective as corticosteroids but with fewer systemic adverse effects, supporting efforts in steroid stewardship. Attendees discussed treatment nuances, age indications, strengths, and insurance challenges, noting that these topicals could largely replace corticosteroids in maintenance therapy if coverage weren’t an issue.

DiRuggiero also emphasized the value of publishing and speaking for physician assistants and nurse practitioners, as sharing case reports and reviews advances the specialty and contributes to broader medical knowledge.

3. Recludix Pharma’s REX-8756 for Type 2 Inflammatory Diseases Enters First Human Trials

Recludix Pharma has begun clinical dosing in a first-in-human phase 1 trial of REX-8756 (SAR448755), an oral small-molecule STAT6 inhibitor being developed for type 2 inflammatory diseases, following FDA investigational new drug clearance in December 2025, which triggered a $20 million milestone payment from partner Sanofi. In preclinical studies, REX-8756 showed rapid and durable suppression of STAT6 signaling—key to IL-4 and IL-13–driven inflammation—without inducing protein degradation, suggesting biologiclike efficacy in an oral format. The randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1 study will enroll approximately 100 healthy volunteers to assess safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics, marking a major step forward in the Recludix-Sanofi collaboration, which includes up to $1.2 billion in potential future milestones.

4. Phase 1b Asthma Data Highlight Durable IL-13 Suppression With Zumilokibart

Apogee Therapeutics reported positive interim results from a phase 1b trial of zumilokibart (APG777), a novel half-life–extended monoclonal antibody targeting IL-13, in adults with mild to moderate asthma enriched for type 2 inflammation, a population relevant to atopic dermatitis (AD) due to shared immunopathology. In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, a single 720-mg dose of zumilokibart was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events, conjunctivitis, injection site reactions, or antidrug antibodies observed. Pharmacodynamically, the biologic achieved a mean maximum FeNO reduction of 45 ppb (approximately 60% from baseline), with suppression maintained through weeks 16 to 32, suggesting durable IL-13 inhibition and potential for extended dosing in AD. These findings support Apogee’s ongoing phase 2 APEX program in AD, with phase 3 trials planned for the second half of 2026, and highlight zumilokibart’s promise for sustained disease control, improved adherence, and systemic benefits across comorbid type 2 inflammatory conditions.

5. Expert Consensus Redefines the Role of Systemic Corticosteroids in AD

A 2026 expert consensus reviewed systemic corticosteroid (SCS) use in atopic dermatitis (AD), highlighting significant risks even with short-term courses and reinforcing that long-term or repeated use carries serious adverse effects. The panel defined short-term exposure as less than 4 weeks and long-term exposure as 4 weeks or more, and emphasized that any SCS use should prompt a transition to advanced systemic therapies. Preferred options include IL-4/IL-13–targeted biologics and oral Janus kinase inhibitors, which offer rapid, durable disease control without cumulative corticosteroid toxicity. The guidance aims to standardize practice, reduce harm, and promote safer, more effective long-term management of AD.