This week on HCPLive, several major research studies were explored in the dermatology field, with topics ranging from plaque psoriasis treatment options to gene therapy for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Some of the articles included in this list involve well-explored dermatologic conditions, whereas others covered rarer conditions with more rare genetic disorders.

The research included this week covered an array of topics, but these particular articles covered subjects of interest with a significant amount of depth and substantial data.

Highlights from This Week

1. Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa: Positive Results from Topical Gene Therapy

The research explored in this article concerned a topical gene therapy known as beremagene geperpavec (B-VEC) for patients with the rare disorder known as dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB)—a condition known known to cause skin fragility and small everyday wounds.

The research demonstrated that the treatment group’s wounds saw a 70% complete wound closure rate following 6 months of B-VEC treatment, according to the study investigators.

“In a previous phase 1–2 study, electron microscopy of skin biopsy samples obtained from patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa showed that B-VEC restored C7 expression on immunofluorescence staining at the basement-membrane zone and induced formation of anchoring fibrils.”

The research was summarized by Aimee S. Payne, MD, PhD, of University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Cellular Immunotherapies.

2. Keratinocyte Grafts for Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Found to Be Safe, Efficacious

In this article, the research covered the long-term safety and efficacy seen in recessive DEB (RDEB) patients treated with autologous gene-corrected keratinocyte grafts (EB-101) for their wounds.

These keratinocyte grafts were developed by transducing keratinocytes with a retrovirus containing the COL7A1 gene and growing them into sheets which were used on RDEB patient wounds.

“In conclusion, autologous gene-corrected keratinocyte grafts may be a safe, durable treatment for chronic RDEB wounds, and the results of this Phase 1/2a trial demonstrate early evidence of sustained, long-term clinical benefit for patients with RDEB.”

The research team was led by Jodi Y. So, MD, of the Stanford University School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology.

3. Study Indicates Deucravacitinib Superior to Apremilast, Placebo for Plaque Psoriasis Patients

The research included in this article was the result of the phase 3 trial known as POETYK PSO-2, which indicated that adult plaque psoriasis patients saw better efficacy from deucravacitinib treatment than from apremilast and placebo.

The investigators’ research concluded that their patients' response rates for outcomes increased by 24 weeks, and were found at weeks 16 and 24 to be consistently higher with deucravacitinib compared to apremilast.

“The overall safety profile of deucravacitinib, including a slight increase in the risk of nonserious viral infections, appears to be consistent with the mechanism of selective TYK2 inhibition.”

The investigators were led by Bruce Strober, MD, PhD, of the Depart of Dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine.