How new psoriasis, alopecia and atopic dermatitis therapies stood out at Fall Clinical Derm 2025

Back in October, the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference showcased some of the most exciting advances in skin disease treatment this year. From pill-based TYK2 inhibitors and durable IL-23 biologics for psoriasis to oral therapies for alopecia areata, researchers are giving patients more effective and convenient options than ever before.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) also saw promising new approaches, including OX40-targeted drugs that could stop flares early and IL-13 inhibitors that improve both widespread and high-impact symptoms. Across these updates, the theme was clear: dermatology is moving toward smarter, more personalized care that addresses both the science and the daily lives of patients.

Below were the most-read stories from our coverage at the Fall Clinical Derm meeting. To view all of the coverage, check out our Fall Derm page here.

1. Beyond Sotyktu: next-gen TYK2 drugs enter late-stage development | Fall Clinical Derm 2025
   Experts shared how oral TYK2 inhibitors are reshaping psoriasis care by offering pill-based options with effective results for moderate to severe disease. While Sotyktu (deucravacitinib) remains the only approved TYK2 inhibitor, there are a number of next-generation agents such as brepocitinib and envudeucitinib that are currently in late-stage development, raising excitement about more choices ahead.
   
   Benjamin Lockshin, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at Georgetown University, expressed to Dermatology Times in a previous interview, that these therapies fill an important gap for patients who want to avoid injections while still achieving meaningful skin clearance, including in hard-to-treat areas. Looking ahead, dermatologists see oral TYK2 drugs as a growing complement to biologics, with the potential to make treatment easier and more flexible in the future.
   
2. Dermatologist James Song talks about managing psoriasis with IL-23 inhibitors | Fall Clinical Derm 2025
   James Song, M.D., dermatologist, co-chief medical officer and director of clinical research at Frontier Dermatology, discussed how IL-23 inhibitors have become a key component of psoriasis care, especially due to their strong durability and less frequent dosing. At the time of the meeting, he discussed new International Psoriasis Council criteria that clarify when patients should move from topical to systemic therapy, helping clinicians better identify treatment failure.
   
   Song also reviewed real-world data showing IL-23 inhibitors such as risankizumab and guselkumab have the highest drug persistence among biologics, meaning patients are more likely to stay on them long term. Looking ahead, he pointed to emerging oral therapies that could soon offer biologic-like efficacy with the convenience of a pill.
   
3. Almost half of severe alopecia areata pediatric patients saw hair regrowth on Olumiant, study shows | 2025 Fall Clinical Derm
   Phase 3 data presented at the Fall Clinical Dermatology meeting showed that Olumiant (oral baricitinib) led to meaningful hair regrowth in young adults with severe alopecia areata. After 52 weeks, 54% of patients ages 12 to 18 years treated with the 4-mg dose achieved at least 80% scalp hair coverage, with many also seeing eyebrow and eyelash regrowth. Investigators stressed that earlier use of this therapy could improve outcomes and should be part of treatment discussions sooner for pediatric patients.
   
4. New therapies targeting OX40 pathway offer hope for atopic dermatitis | Fall Clinical Derm 2025
   Shawn Kwatra, M.D., shared new AD treatments that target the OX40 pathway, which plays a major role in long-lasting inflammation and itch. He explained that OX40 and its ligand act like a “sticky handshake” between immune cells that keeps inflammation going even after the skin should heal. By breaking this connection earlier in the immune response, these therapies may help stop flares before they fully develop. Kwatra noted that several OX40-targeted drugs are already in late-stage trials, offering hope for safer and longer-lasting relief for patients.
5. When it comes to interleukins and atopic dermatitis, 13 is a lucky number | Fall Clinical Derm 2025
   AD is now seen as a disease mostly driven by interleukin-13 (IL-13), a protein that causes inflammation and itching. Experts at Fall Clinical Dermatology highlighted three FDA-approved biologics that target IL-13: dupilumab (Dupixent), tralokinumab (Adbry) and lebrikizumab (Ebglyss). These treatments help patients with both widespread and high-impact areas of AD, like the face and hands. Experts also discussed switching between these drugs or using other options like JAK inhibitors when patients don’t respond well, showing that IL-13 inhibitors offer strong benefits for many patients.