Top 5 Articles of the Week: January 4-9

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

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals reported promising topline 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 over 30 years. The trials, SCALP 1 and SCALP 2, enrolled 1,465 men and assessed Target Area Hair Count and patient-reported outcomes, showing statistically significant hair growth improvements versus 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 side 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. Dermatology Times Conferences & Meetings Calendar: 2026

Every year, Dermatology Times asks our readers to share with us what conferences and meetings they are looking forward to or planning to attend in 2026. Use this list to keep track of what dermatological meetings are taking place this year!

Interested in sharing what conferences you are interested in or planning to attend this year? Is there something that's missing from our list? Email our team at DTEditor@mmhgroup.com or connect with us on social media to share your insights.

3. Legacy Healthcare Receives FDA Clearance to Advance Cinainu to Phase 3 AA Clinical Trials

Legacy Healthcare announced plans to advance Cinainu, a topical botanical drug candidate, into an international phase 3 trial for moderate to severe alopecia areata (AA) following FDA IND clearance. The RAAINBOW-2 trial, a multi-regional, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, will enroll at least 500 patients—including adults and children as young as 2 in Japan—to support a future NDA, marking Cinainu as the first topical candidate for both moderate and severe AA with potential early intervention. Cinainu’s phase 2/3 data demonstrated clinically meaningful hair regrowth, sustained benefits after treatment discontinuation, and a favorable safety profile, distinguishing it from therapies that require continuous use.

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 anti-drug antibodies observed. Pharmacodynamically, the biologic achieved a mean maximum FeNO reduction of 45 ppb (≈60% from baseline), with suppression maintained through 16–32 weeks, 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. Rethinking Pathogenesis and Severity Assessment in Chronic Hand Eczema

In a recent Dermatology Times Expert Perspectives custom video series, Omar Noor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-owner of Rao Dermatology in New York, discussed the complexity of chronic hand eczema (CHE), including its classic presentations compared with atopic dermatitis and how he addresses severity in CHE.