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Maddi Hebebrand is an associate editor of 

and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in May 2024. She attended Baldwin Wallace University, studying Media Production and Film, and received her Masters in Digital Media from Ohio University. When she's not writing, Maddi loves to read, attend concerts and spend time with her family. 

Articles

Catch up on dermatology news, highlights, and insights from the past 24 hours.

Daily Derm Times: August 6, 2025

Explore the complexities of medication sampling, balancing patient access with ethical and safety concerns in clinical practice.

Call for Best Practices in Medication Sampling

Marie Bosslett is the assistant editor of 

 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in October 2024. She attended Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with minors in marketing and writing. When she’s not writing, Marie enjoys going to concerts, reading on the beach, and spending time with friends and family.

Discover how Rolf-Markus Szeimies, MD, is revolutionizing at-home skin care with 5-ALA, enhancing cellular health and hydration in daily routines.

Q&A: Rolf-Markus Szeimies, MD, on the Evolution of 5-ALA

Parents advocate for children with chronic skin conditions, highlighting school challenges and the need for better support in pediatric dermatology.

Are Schools Failing Children with Chronic Health Conditions?

Dermatology Times connects dermatology professionals with key skin disorder coverage, therapeutic strategies, clinical trial updates, and expert insights.

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Virginia Sybert, MD, is a clinical professor of medical genetics at the University of Washington.

Virginia Sybert, MD, emphasized the importance of using genetic testing judiciously in dermatologic care.

Sybert Stresses Smart Genetic Testing in Dermatology

Final Thoughts: The Importance of Comparative Studies in AD

Panelists offer concluding insights and emphasize the critical role of comparative studies in advancing atopic dermatitis treatment strategies.

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Video Series

Robert Sidbury, MD, MPH, a prominent figure in pediatric dermatology, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 11, 2025. Dr Sidbury, 61, was the chief of dermatology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and a professor in the University of Washington’s Department of Pediatrics. His death has deeply saddened the dermatology community, including those in the Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD), the American Academy of Dermatology, and the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance, where he was a proud member and leader.

The SPD held a special tribute to honor Dr Sidbury’s life and contributions at its 

, titled “The Society for Pediatric Dermatology at 50: A View of Our Specialty Through the Life and Work of Dr Robert Sidbury.” Speakers at the event highlighted his profound impact as a clinician, researcher, mentor, and friend.

Dr Sidbury’s colleagues and friends remember him for his exceptional qualities. Peter Lio, MD, recalled a trip to a hydrotherapy center in the south of France with Dr Sidbury and other clinicians, where they brought patients with severe atopic dermatitis. At the SPD hosted tribute, Lio remarked, “Although it was a business trip, and we were working to learn about the treatments while trying to help and support our patients, Rob’s warmth, inquisitiveness, and incredibly sharp sense of humor made it so much more than that. We had a wonderful experience getting to know our patients better, getting to know the other dermatologists in the group, and truly enjoying the journey.” He added, “Rob was the kind of person who could make a gray Monday morning in an office feel like hanging out on a weekend. His kindness, compassion, and genuine love and interest in the world at large made everything a little bit brighter, more interesting, and more fun. He was someone with tremendous charisma, and his light will be greatly missed.”

Nanette Silverberg, MD, who was a fellow with Dr Sidbury at Children’s Memorial Hospital of Northwestern University (now the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago), described him as “always a true gentleman physician, very kind, polite, inclusive of many opinions, and generous with his time with friends, patients, and in public service.” She lauded his brilliance and humility, noting, “His conceptual work in the guidelines for atopic dermatitis created the scaffold for the adoption of new, cutting-edge therapeutics and improved the lives of countless children with atopic dermatitis.” Silverberg concluded, “I am saddened by his loss. He will be deeply missed within our society and by his colleagues and friends. He is irreplaceable.”

Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, MSCI, shared his connection: “I had the privilege of first meeting Robert when I was a dermatology resident. I was lucky to work with him as my assigned faculty mentor as a part of the DermMentors Resident of Distinction award program, which was taking place in Seattle that year. I won the top prize that year with him by my side, and that little bit of serendipity connecting us blossomed into a long-term relationship. Robert was such a kind, caring, and accomplished individual, and I was blessed to call him a colleague and a friend. He will be missed by all of us in dermatology.”

Dawn Eichenfield, MD, PhD, echoed similar sentiments, recalling her first encounter with Dr Sidbury at the Resident of Distinction event in Seattle. “Although he was not my assigned ‘mentor’ for the event, he was so kind and welcoming, and the experience left such a memorable impression that it helped confirm my decision to become a pediatric dermatologist.”

Amy Paller, MD, MS, recounted Dr Sidbury’s fellowship at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago and his move to Seattle 25 years ago to begin his faculty career. She remembered him as “a pleasure to be with, funny, a great listener, and with great common sense. He was always curious and had a great love of learning, taking a few years to earn a master’s degree in public health and investigating the relationship between vitamin D levels and atopic dermatitis.” Paller emphasized Dr Sidbury’s role as “a champion in teaching about the management and triggers of atopic dermatitis, cochairing the American Academy of Dermatology’s guidelines committee twice.” She concluded, “Above all, he was incredibly giving to his trainees, his colleagues, and his patients. We are all shocked and saddened by this sudden loss of our dear friend and colleague, and we offer our heartfelt sympathy to his wife, daughter, and all who knew and loved him.”

Dr Sidbury’s impact extended beyond his professional achievements. He was known for his dedication to his daughter, Claire, and his love for his wife, Sheila. He built the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at Seattle Children’s Hospital into a strong, tight-knit, vibrant team. He fostered an environment where everyone felt valued and supported, creating “brave spaces” where colleagues could be their authentic selves. His ability to connect with people, his dry humor, and his unwavering kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

Dr. Robert Sidbury, a leading figure in pediatric dermatology, passed away unexpectedly at 61. As chief of dermatology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and a professor at the University of Washington, he was celebrated for his contributions to the field, particularly in atopic dermatitis. Colleagues and friends remember him for his warmth, humor, and mentorship. His work significantly impacted clinical guidelines and patient care, and he was deeply involved in professional societies. Dr. Sidbury's legacy includes his dedication to family, fostering supportive environments, and his profound influence on peers and patients.

The pediatric dermatology community mourns the loss of Dr Robert Sidbury, a beloved leader and mentor, celebrated for his compassion and groundbreaking contributions.

In Memory of Robert Sidbury, MD, MPH

US FDA issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) to Replimune Group

 regarding its Biologics License Application (BLA) for RP1 (vusolimogene oderparepvec) in combination with nivolumab. This decision follows the FDA’s earlier 

acceptance of the BLA under Priority Review in January 2025

, based on promising results from the IGNYTE clinical trial.

RP1 is Replimune’s lead oncolytic immunotherapy candidate, developed from a genetically modified herpes simplex virus and engineered to induce direct tumor cell lysis, enhance immunogenicity, and activate systemic anti-tumor responses. In combination with the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab, Replimune stated RP1 had shown potential in patients with advanced melanoma who had progressed after prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy—an area with significant unmet medical need and limited therapeutic alternatives.

“We are surprised by this FDA decision and disappointed for advanced melanoma patients who have limited treatment options as highlighted by the granting of breakthrough status at the time we provided the IGNYTE primary data,” said Sushil Patel, PhD, chief executive officer, Replimune, in a news release. “The issues highlighted in the CRL were not raised by the agency during the mid- and late-cycle reviews. Additionally, we had also aligned on the design of the confirmatory study. We strongly believe that RP1 in combination with nivolumab can bring substantial benefit to advanced melanoma patients.”

The BLA was supported by data from the IGNYTE trial, which evaluated RP1 plus nivolumab in patients with advanced melanoma who failed anti-PD-1 treatment. The FDA granted the submission Priority Review status and Breakthrough Therapy designation earlier this year, signaling that the therapy might offer meaningful improvements over existing treatments. At the time, the agency did not request an advisory committee meeting and had not cited major review concerns.

However, in a CRL the FDA concluded that the IGNYTE study does not constitute an “adequate and well-controlled” trial sufficient to demonstrate substantial evidence of effectiveness. The agency expressed concerns about the heterogeneity of the patient population in IGNYTE, which complicated interpretation of the trial’s results. In addition, the CRL raised design issues with the confirmatory phase 3 trial, IGNYTE-3, particularly around evaluating the individual contribution of each treatment component in the combination therapy. No safety concerns were identified.

Replimune said it plans to request a Type A meeting with the FDA, expected within 30 days, to discuss a path forward. The company noted that many of the issues raised in the CRL were not previously flagged during mid- or late-cycle reviews, and that they had already aligned with the FDA on the design of the confirmatory trial.

This CRL comes as the FDA is undertaking a broad initiative to enhance transparency in its drug approval process. In a landmark move, the agency recently 

published over 200 previously confidential CRLs

 issued between 2020 and 2024. These documents, now available through 

, provide public insight into the common deficiencies that lead to non-approval—including safety and efficacy concerns, trial design flaws, and manufacturing issues.

In a recent news release, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, stated, “For far too long, drug developers have been playing a guessing game when navigating the FDA… We’re one step closer to delivering predictability, with an ultimate goal of bringing cures and meaningful treatments to patients faster.”

Historically, sponsors have often declined to disclose key regulatory feedback, with 1 FDA analysis showing that 85% of the agency’s concerns were omitted from public announcements. The new transparency measures aim to reduce miscommunication, improve industry learning from past mistakes, and enhance the quality of future submissions.

The FDA’s decision to issue a CRL for RP1 and nivolumab underscores both the complexities of cancer drug development and the evolving regulatory environment. While the absence of safety issues offers a degree of reassurance, Replimune now faces the challenge of addressing efficacy concerns and refining its clinical development strategy. The outcome of upcoming FDA interactions will be critical in determining whether RP1 can ultimately fulfill its promise as a novel therapy for patients with advanced melanoma.

Replimune receives complete response letter from FDA for RP1 biologics license application for the treatment of advanced melanoma. News release. Global Newswire. Published July 22, 2025. Accessed July 22, 2025. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/22/3119299/0/en/Replimune-Receives-Complete-Response-Letter-from-FDA-for-RP1-Biologics-License-Application-for-the-Treatment-of-Advanced-Melanoma.html

Replimune announces biologics license application acceptance and priority review for RP1 for the treatment of advanced melanoma. News release. Replimune. Published January 21, 2025. Accessed July 22, 2025. 

https://ir.replimune.com/news-releases/news-release-details/replimune-announces-biologics-license-application-acceptance-and

FDA embraces radical transparency by publishing complete response letters. News Release. US FDA. Published July 10, 2025. Accessed July 22, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-embraces-radical-transparency-publishing-complete-response-letters?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The US FDA issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) to Replimune Group for its Biologics License Application (BLA) for RP1 in combination with nivolumab, despite earlier Priority Review acceptance. The CRL cited concerns about the IGNYTE trial's heterogeneity and design issues in the confirmatory phase 3 trial, IGNYTE-3, without identifying safety concerns. Replimune plans to discuss a path forward with the FDA. This decision aligns with the FDA's broader transparency initiative, aiming to improve industry understanding of regulatory feedback and enhance future submissions.

Replimune faces FDA challenges for RP1's approval in advanced melanoma, highlighting complexities in cancer drug development and regulatory scrutiny.

FDA Issues CRL for RP1 and Nivolumab in Melanoma

Renata Block, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, interviews Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, about his research into cannabidiol’s photoprotective potential, clinical trial design, and future directions.

Derm Dispatch: Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, Unpacks the Science Behind CBD’s Role in UV Protection

, host Renata Block, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, sat down with Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, professor and chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, to discuss his decades-long journey researching cannabidiol (CBD) and its potential in photoprotection.

The conversation offered a look at the origin story of a topical CBD formulation backed by clinical evidence and how it might one day change the way dermatology clinicians think about sun protection.

"I think we have got to take a step back even further in terms of, 'How do I even get into this space?'" Friedman said. "It’s often by accident."

Friedman’s interest in cannabinoids was sparked by a former resident, Liz Robinson, MD, who shared her research on synthetic cannabinoids in dermatomyositis. While topical delivery was a challenge due to CBD’s lipophilic nature, it was that very difficulty that intrigued him.

"If you tell me I can’t deliver it, I want to deliver it more than anything," Friedman said.

With a background in nanotechnology drug development, Friedman had the tools to take on that challenge. The 2018 Farm Bill opened new research pathways by legalizing CBD with less than 0.3% THC, allowing him to move forward with work that was previously stalled due to regulatory constraints.

The idea to study CBD’s role in photoprotection came unexpectedly. A Mexico-based company, Mino Labs, producing high-purity CBD, approached Friedman and his longtime mentor, Brian Berman, MD, PhD, with a goal: validate their ingredient’s efficacy through real science, not marketing hype.

Polypodium leucotomos supplements like Heliocare helped shape the study’s direction. Friedman noted that while early studies were solid, copycat products diluted credibility in the space. 

"Unless you do the work, you cannot piggyback on someone else’s investment of time and genius and energy," he warned. "I think consumers need to be aware of that."

Unlike most CBD research stuck in preclinical models, Friedman’s study involved an IRB-approved clinical trial with 18 subjects. It tested a nanoparticle-encapsulated CBD cream using a split-site model in which patients served as their own controls.

Participants applied either vehicle cream or active cream to protected skin areas twice daily for 2 weeks, followed by UVA exposure. The team then analyzed biopsies for visible inflammation, epidermal thickening, and DNA-level changes, particularly a UVA-induced mitochondrial mutation called "the common deletion."

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

, and the topical formulation is now available commercially under the brand 

Still, Friedman emphasized that it is not a sunscreen substitute: "My hope is that people look at this as sunscreen’s best friend. No sunscreen is 100% perfect. It doesn't mean no sunscreen is necessary; it means we need to have a little bit of a backup plan, and that's kind of the point of this."

Commercialization and Regulatory Roadblocks

Despite the promising data and product launch, Friedman acknowledged the uphill battle in getting CBD products to consumers due to regulatory gray zones.

"Even though technically this is legal...a lot of the major outlets through which you would push your products didn’t want anything to do with it," he explained.
"We are undermining a space that could be so impactful from a medical perspective and hindering research and science."

Major retailers and social media platforms still place restrictions on cannabinoid marketing, limiting visibility and scale. Compared to Canada, where regulations are more relaxed, the US remains "very behind," he said.

Friedman hopes this successful entry into cosmeceuticals will build momentum toward prescription drug development, particularly in cutaneous lupus, where topical treatment options are virtually nonexistent.

"There is no FDA-approved topical lupus treatment," Friedman said. "Our work in anandamide is focusing on cutaneous lupus... and we’ve shown in a mouse model that we could treat it topically."

The team is now collaborating with Penn dermatologists through an NIH-funded SBIR grant to further pursue this avenue.

While the CBD product’s road to market has been long—over 20 years since Friedman first developed the core nanotechnology as a third-year medical student—he says the greatest reward is seeing it come to life.

"The most exciting piece of this is knowing that people are applying something on their skin that I invented," he said.

Pruritic, purple, polygonal, planar papules and plaques

Pink coloured plaques with silvery scales

The management of lung cancer brain metastases has seen significant advancements, with a focus on personalized treatment strategies. The integration of targeted therapies and immunotherapies has improved patient outcomes, offering more effective and less invasive options compared to traditional methods. Stereotactic radiosurgery and whole-brain radiation therapy remain crucial, but their roles are evolving with the advent of novel systemic therapies. Multidisciplinary approaches are essential for optimizing treatment plans, considering factors such as genetic mutations, patient performance status, and potential side effects. Ongoing research continues to refine these strategies, aiming for improved survival and quality of life.

Polls 

POLL: How Does Lichen Planus Present Clinically?

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in dermatology. Characterized by persistent or relapsing inflammation of the hands lasting more than 3 months, or recurring at least twice within a 12-month period.

However, the term often serves as a clinical umbrella, and without thorough diagnostic workup, important distinctions can be overlooked. Proper evaluation is essential to determine whether a patient truly has CHE, or whether the presentation reflects a different condition such as allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), irritant contact dermatitis, or atopic dermatitis. These disorders may present with overlapping features, but they differ in pathogenesis, prognosis, and management.

Accurate diagnosis is essential, as misclassification may delay effective treatment or allow ongoing exposure to triggers. ACD, in particular, is frequently underrecognized.

Patch testing remains the gold standard for diagnosing ACD, allowing clinicians to identify hypersensitivity reactions to common allergens like nickel, fragrance mix, rubber accelerators, and preservatives. Importantly, ACD is not an eczema subtype, but a distinct immune-mediated condition that may share overlapping clinical and histologic features with other inflammatory dermatoses.

We want to hear from our readers: When assessing a patient with a dermatoses affecting the hands, how often do you perform patch testing to evaluate for CHE or other allergic, contact, and irritant conditions?

Ghezzi G, Falcidia C, Paolino G, et al. Chronic hand eczema (CHE): a narrative review. 

Tramontana M, Hansel K, Bianchi L, Sensini C, Malatesta N, Stingeni L. Advancing the understanding of allergic contact dermatitis: from pathophysiology to novel therapeutic approaches. 

. 2023;10:1184289. Published 2023 May 22. 

Patel K, Nixon R. Irritant contact dermatitis - a review. 

Kim J, Kim BE, Leung DYM. Pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis: Clinical implications. 

Virginia Sybert, MD

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