Join us as leading experts discuss key data and perspectives from the late-breaking sessions at this year’s AAD meeting
This March, experts from around the world gathered in Denver, Colorado, for the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting. This year’s meeting showcased a strong pipeline of innovation in inflammatory and immune-mediated skin diseases, alongside promising developments in other areas, including skin cancer, pyoderma gangrenosum, and aesthetic dermatology.
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Editor-in-Chief, Dr Raj Chovatiya
“AAD Denver 2026 was as exciting as one could imagine, based on how much new data we saw in many of the disease states that many of us see on a day-to-day basis…
… there was a lot happening in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and even alopecia areata and vitiligo that is really going to make us think about how we might change our practice in the future.”
→ Watch: Key updates in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
Longer-term data strengthen the case for povorcitinib
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Povorcitinib, an oral JAK1 inhibitor under evaluation for hidradenitis suppurativa, previously showed encouraging early results in interim 24-week analyzes from the Phase 3 STOP-HS programme. In this interview, Dr Martina Porter reviews the 54-week findings, highlighting the longer-term efficacy, safety and quality-of-life data for this treatment.
→ Read: New positive phase 3 data for povorcitinib in hidradenitis suppurativa
Upadacitinib advances as a potential systemic option
Vitiligo
Results from the Phase 3 Viti-Up study have underpinned recent regulatory applications for the oral selective JAK1 inhibitor upadacitinib in non-segmental vitiligo. In this Q&A, Prof. Thierry Passeron highlights the key efficacy and safety findings, which mark the first robust Phase 3 evidence supporting a systemic treatment for this condition.
→ Read: Upadacitinib: Promising phase 3 repigmentation and safety results in non-segmental vitiligo
Phase 2 AMETHYST results highlight litifilimab’s potential
Cutaneous lupus
Litifilimab has the potential to represent a major advance in the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Prof. Victoria Werth explores the 24-week results from the Phase 2 AMETHYST study and discusses what these findings could mean for the future management of a condition for which there are currently no approved targeted therapies.
→ Read: Litifilimab significantly reduces disease activity in phase 2 cutaneous lupus erythematosus trial
New data explores extended-release of oral minoxidil
Androgenetic alopecia
Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia remain limited, fuelling interest in novel therapies that can deliver faster and more meaningful results. In this interview, Prof. Jerry Shapiro discusses the limitations of current treatments and examines whether emerging data on a novel extended-release formulation of an existing therapy could point to a new solution.
→ Read: Could extended-release minoxidil improve outcomes in androgenetic alopecia?
Envudeucitinib shows promise as a non-injectable option
Psoriasis
With a combination of strong efficacy and oral convenience, the next-generation TKY2 inhibitor, envudeucitinib, could emerge as an important new treatment option for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Dr Andrew Blauvelt joined us to explore what sets this therapy apart from existing options, the key study findings, and the potential implications for future psoriasis care.
→ Read: Envudeucitinib: Oral TYK2 inhibitor delivers high skin clearance rates in pivotal phase 3 ONWARD trials
Emerging research helps identify strategies to slow skin ageing
Aesthetic dermatology
Non-invasive tools such as tape stripping are opening up new possibilities for molecular research that may help identify strategies to slow skin and promote skin longevity. In this Q&A, Dr Helen He discusses her latest study, and the insights it offers into the mechanisms of skin aging and future targeted interventions.
→ Read: Molecular signatures of aging skin reveal potential anti-aging targets
Pivotal study raises questions about vilobelimab’s future
Pyoderma gangrenosum
Although pyoderma gangrenosum can result in significant morbidity and mortality, there are currently no approved therapies in the USA or Europe, leaving patients with limited treatment options. Building on findings from the Phase 2 study, Dr Ben Kaffenberger discusses late-breaking data from the pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy of vilobelimab in this condition.
→ Read: Insights from the pivotal Phase 3 trial of vilobelimab in pyoderma gangrenosum
Phase 1b data for intratumoral PD-1-directed immunotherapy released
Cutaneous carcinoma
PH-762 is an investigational intratumoral PD-1-directed immunotherapy designed to enable local delivery and enhance anti-tumour immune activation, with the aim of reducing tumour burden and improving surgical outcomes. In this interview, Dr Mary Spellman discusses the rationale for this novel strategy, the early Phase 1b findings, and the potential implications for future treatment.
→ Read: PH-762 shows early potential in cutaneous carcinomas
This content has been developed independently by Touch Medical Media for touchDERMATOLOGY. It is not affiliated with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Touch Medical Media.
Cite: Inside AAD 2026: Key insights and late-breaking data. TouchDERMATOLOGY. 23 April, 2026
Editor: Gina Furnival
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