Kristina Derrick, MD, is a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

As the number of topical nonsteroidal agents grows, corticosteroid stewardship in 

 is shifting from whether to prescribe corticosteroids to how to prescribe them well. The emphasis now falls on the lowest effective potency, a defined treatment duration, and awareness of exposure from other specialties. However, cost, formulary restrictions, and prior authorization requirements often stand between clinicians and steroid-sparing care.

Kristina Derrick, MD, addressed these challenges in an interview with 

 at the National Corticosteroid Stewardship Summit in Washington, DC, on September 22, 2026, where she served as a panelist on a multispecialty panel on cumulative exposure. She discussed steroid-sparing alternatives, documentation across care settings, and what multispecialty stewardship could look like in 5 years.

Corticosteroid Stewardship in Dermatology: Access, Alternatives & Documentation

Balancing Corticosteroid Benefits and Long-Term Risks in Dermatology

"Corticosteroids are a crucial part of dermatology. We cannot practice without them," Derrick said. Because most dermatologic disease presents on the skin, topical formulations allow clinicians to limit systemic exposure, she explained, and the guiding principle remains the least potent agent for the shortest duration.

Putting this principle into practice is the challenge, given the scale of topical corticosteroid use in the US. An analysis of Medicare Part D data found topical corticosteroid prescriptions rose from 7.7 million in 2011 to 10.6 million in 2015, a 37.0% increase. Over the same period, annual Medicare spending on these agents climbed 226.5%, from $237.6 million to $775.9 million, driven largely by rising generic prices.¹

Topical Nonsteroidal Alternatives and Barriers to Reducing Corticosteroid Use

Derrick pointed to a growing list of topical nonsteroidal options, including established agents such as tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, and crisaborole, as well as newer agents such as roflumilast, tapinarof, and ruxolitinib. For acute conditions such as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndromes, Derrick noted oral or injectable steroid-sparing options may also play a role.

Tolerability and patient preference drive real-world use, she said. A greasy vehicle a patient dislikes will go unused, and clinicians need a clear rationale for when to transition from a corticosteroid to a steroid-sparing agent.

Derrick described 2 daily barriers. Patients may not understand the potential adverse effects of corticosteroids, particularly high-potency agents, which can clear a rash within days and invite continuous use. The second barrier is access, driven by cost, insurance coverage, pharmacy benefit managers, and formularies.

Even older topical nonsteroidals frequently require prior authorization, adding staffing demands for dermatology practices as well as primary care, emergency, hospital, and other specialty settings. Published data reflect this burden: in a single-center US review, prior authorization was required for 8.1% of all dermatology prescriptions, and patients with approved requests were more likely to improve than those with denials (71.1% vs 58.0%; 

Documenting Corticosteroid Exposure and Building Multispecialty Stewardship

Documenting cumulative exposure is difficult, Derrick said, because patients may not know their full corticosteroid history and medical records are often fragmented. Exposure can come from topical agents, eye drops, oral medications, and injections.

US prescribing patterns reflect this multispecialty picture. In an analysis of National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data from 2006 to 2015, family and general physicians were more likely to prescribe systemic corticosteroids for atopic dermatitis, and pediatricians were less likely.

Derrick’s advice is to control your own setting: limit refills and document the agents and durations used over the past year. This documentation also supports prior authorization requests for topical nonsteroidals, which typically require a record of failed agents over a defined period or documented intolerances. She noted patients with poorly controlled diabetes or prior adverse effects such as striae are poor candidates for continued topical corticosteroid use.

Within 5 years, Derrick said she hopes to see stewardship efforts involving dermatologists, endocrinologists, neurologists, ophthalmologists, and rheumatologists, building on existing rheumatology guidelines. She called for collaboration focused on reducing long-term higher-dose systemic use, improving access, raising patient awareness, and strengthening monitoring while preserving clinician and patient choice.

"Just because a medication requires monitoring and can have side effects does not mean it's not safe," Derrick said. She emphasized the importance of maintaining access, individualizing treatment decisions, and empowering patients with information.

Song H, Adamson A, Mostaghimi A. Medicare Part D payments for topical steroids: rising costs and potential savings. JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(8):755-759. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.1130

Popatia S, Flood KS, Golbari NM, et al. Examining the prior authorization process, patient outcomes, and the impact of a pharmacy intervention: a single-center review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(6):1308-1318. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.05.024

Fleischer AB. Guideline-based medicine grading on the basis of the guidelines of care for ambulatory atopic dermatitis treatment in the United States. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(2):417-424. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.09.026

Videos

Kristina Derrick, MD, explains how prior authorization and cost limit steroid-sparing care, and how dermatologists can document corticosteroid exposure. 

News

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clinical page is a resource for content on every specialty, disease, and topic available on our medical news site.

Dermatology

The HCPLive dermatology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on skin disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for dermatologic conditions, and more.

Navigating Corticosteroid Stewardship in Dermatology, With Kristina Derrick, MD

Sayna Norouzi, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine and clinical nephrologist at Loma Linda University Medical Center

Two years of data from the phase 3 ORIGIN 3 trial show atacicept (Trutakna) stabilized kidney function and lowered the risk of kidney disease progression compared with placebo in adults with primary 

.¹ The final efficacy analysis adds long-term kidney outcome data for a therapy currently approved only on the basis of proteinuria reduction.¹

Final analysis of the phase 3 ORIGIN 3 trial showed atacicept (Trutakna) stabilized kidney function in adults with primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN). At 52 weeks, mean eGFR change from baseline was −0.1 mL/min/1.73 m² with atacicept vs −5.7 mL/min/1.73 m² with placebo, a treatment effect of 5.6. Through 104 weeks, atacicept was associated with a 76% lower risk of a composite kidney disease progression event.  In an interview with HCPLive, ORIGIN 3 investigator Sayna Norouzi, MD, assistant professor of medicine and clinical nephrologist at Loma Linda University Medical Center, discusses the eGFR results. She explains why preserving kidney function is the ultimate treatment goal and how the data speak to the question her patients ask most: whether a therapy can keep them off dialysis or transplant.

"The ultimate goal, and the ultimate question my patients ask, is whether this medication is going to preserve my kidney function," said ORIGIN 3 study investigator Sayna Norouzi, MD, assistant professor of medicine and clinical nephrologist at Loma Linda University Medical Center, director of the Glomerular and Polycystic Kidney Diseases Clinics, and chief education officer of GlomCon, in an interview with 

. "Whenever we talk about kidney disease, patients talk about dialysis or transplant, and this is something they want to prevent."

Through 104 weeks, atacicept was associated with a slower annualized decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) than placebo (−0.6 vs −5.6 mL/min/1.73 m² per year; treatment effect, 5.0; 95% CI, 3.6–6.5; P < .0001) and a 

76% lower risk of a composite kidney disease progression event

 (hazard ratio, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.12–0.48; P < .0001), according to a September 15, 2026, release from Vera Therapeutics.¹,² According to Vera, the eGFR slope aligns with the KDIGO treatment goal of reducing kidney function decline to the physiologic rate (<1 mL/min/1.73 m² per year).¹

ORIGIN 3 trial design: once-weekly atacicept vs placebo in IgAN

ORIGIN 3 (NCT04716231) is a global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial in adults with primary IgAN at risk for disease progression. Participants were randomized 1:1 to self-administered subcutaneous atacicept 150 mg once weekly or placebo for a 104-week double-blind period, followed by a 52-week open-label extension.³

The primary endpoint, change in urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) at 36 weeks, was assessed in an interim analysis and published in 

 to reduce proteinuria in July 2026.⁴ The key secondary endpoint, eGFR change through 104 weeks, was evaluated in the full study population, with 428 patients in the final analysis set.¹

Atacicept stabilized eGFR and prevented dialysis, transplant events at 2 years

At 52 weeks, mean eGFR change from baseline was −0.1 mL/min/1.73 m² (95% CI, −1.4 to 1.2) with atacicept vs −5.7 mL/min/1.73 m² (95% CI, −7.0 to −4.4) with placebo (treatment effect, 5.6; 95% CI, 3.7–7.5; P < .0001).¹

Atacicept met all prespecified endpoints in the final efficacy analysis. Through 104 weeks, 11 patients receiving atacicept experienced a composite kidney disease progression event, compared with 38 patients receiving placebo. No patients receiving atacicept experienced dialysis for ≥30 days, kidney transplantation, or death, compared with 8 patients receiving placebo.¹

"If a medication can show us preservation of kidney function, that's huge for us, and that's huge for patients as well," Norouzi said. "It's one area where there is a lot of alignment between what we want and what our patients want."

Atacicept also achieved statistically significant reductions in the hierarchically tested endpoints of proteinuria, galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1), and hematuria.¹

"Prevention of kidney failure or kidney-related death is the ultimate goal. We now have evidence suggesting that Trutakna may help patients avoid dialysis, transplantation, or kidney-related death over the long term," Richard Lafayette, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Glomerular Disease Center at Stanford University Medical Center and a principal investigator for ORIGIN 3, said in a statement.¹

Atacicept safety: infection rates similar to placebo

Rates of overall adverse events and of infections or infestations were similar between the atacicept and placebo groups. No opportunistic infections or clinically relevant hypogammaglobulinemia occurred.¹ Across clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions with atacicept vs placebo were infections (32% vs 28%) and local administration reactions (30% vs 5%).¹

Supplemental BLA for full approval of atacicept planned for Q4 2026

Vera plans to submit a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2026, seeking full approval, and will present detailed results at an upcoming scientific congress.¹ Atacicept remains approved under accelerated approval based on proteinuria reduction. Its long-term effect on kidney function decline has not yet been formally established in the label.¹

"The numbers are looking good, and again, it's bringing a lot of hope for us and for patients," Norouzi said.

Vera Therapeutics. Vera Therapeutics announces Trutakna (atacicept-vymj) stabilized eGFR and prevented kidney disease progression through two years in ORIGIN 3 final efficacy analysis in IgA nephropathy. Published September 15, 2026. Accessed September 29, 2026. 

https://ir.veratx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vera-therapeutics-announces-trutaknatm-atacicept-vymj-stabilized

Hillenbrand A. Atacicept cuts IgAN progression risk 76% in ORIGIN 3 final data. HCPLive. Published September 15, 2026. Accessed September 29, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/atacicept-cuts-igan-progression-risk-76-in-origin-3-final-data

Lafayette R, Barbour SJ, Brenner RM, et al. A phase 3 trial of atacicept in patients with IgA nephropathy. 

. 2026;394(7):647-657. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2510198

Hillenbrand A. FDA approves atacicept (Trutakna) for IgA nephropathy. HCPLive. Published July 7, 2026. Accessed September 29, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-approves-atacicept-trutakna-for-iga-nephropathy

Final ORIGIN 3 analysis shows a 76% lower risk of kidney disease progression vs placebo through 2 years.

Nephrology

The HCPLive nephrology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on kidney disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in nephrology, and more.

Chronic Kidney Disease

IgA Nephropathy

The HCPLive Berger disease page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on IgA nephropathy. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in Berger disease, and more.

Atacicept Slows IgAN Decline to Physiologic Rate, With Sayna Norouzi, MD

Ryan Livingston joined the MJH Life Sciences team in March of 2025, shortly after graduating from TCNJ with a bachelor’s degree in English. He enjoys creative writing, reading, and scuba diving. He can be reached at rlivingston@mjhlifesciences.com.

Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

 is scheduled to begin on October 9, 2026, and is expected to present the clearest view of how 

 care has evolved in the past year. Readouts from major trials of both investigational drugs and operations to improve major biomarkers and reduce side effects have been announced, with many more likely to be revealed once the conference begins.

 editorial team will be on-site in Phoenix, Arizona for the duration of the conference, providing both written coverage and key clinician perspectives on all of the most impactful news. Keep an eye on our coverage here – and in the meantime, check out what to expect from HFSA 2026 below:



1. A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Finding Study to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of Tovinontrine in Patients With Chronic HFrEF: The Cycle-1 REF Trial

The first half of the CYCLE trials presented at HFSA focuses on HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), contrasting 3 doses of tovinontrine (CRD-750) with placebo. Roughly 560 patients were enrolled with a primary endpoint of change in NT-proBNP, which is released by the heart during HF. This trial and its companion finished enrollment in 2025, and detailed results will be presented in full at the conference for the first time.


2. A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Finding Study to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of Tovinontrine in Patients With Chronic HFpEF: The Cycle-2 PEF Trial

Cycle-2 PEF is the second trial in the Cycle pairing, studying patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Roughly 300 patients were enrolled, and the trial evaluated a single dose of tovinontrine against placebo for the same endpoint as Cycle-1 REF. The orally administered PDE9 inhibitor aims to enhance the natriuretic peptide signaling (NPS) pathway; parent company Cardurion is the first company to bring this type of inhibitor into clinical development for chronic HF.


3. Effect of Eplontersen on Health Status in Patients with Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Enrolled in the CARDIO-TTRansform Trial

While eplontersen failed to achieve its primary endpoint of reducing cardiovascular death and recurrent cardiovascular events compared to placebo in the CARDIO-TTRansform trial, patients receiving the drug did display a lesser decline in exercise capacity and health-related quality of life. Clinicians have also indicated potential nominal improvements in these metrics. To address this potential benefit, this analysis will be presented at HFSA 2026 as investigators continue to analyze the findings from the original trial.


4. Global Efficacy Of Aficamten In Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Results From ACACIA-HCM

Results from the ACACIA-HCM trial were first presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich, Germany – based on those data, investigators have concluded that aficamten effectively improved exercise capacity and patient-reported health status versus placebo in patients with symptomatic nonobstructive HCM. After 36 weeks, the patients assigned to aficamten saw significant changes in peak oxygen uptake and reductions in left ventricular ejection fraction with limited adverse events.


5. Prevalence of Cardiovascular Inflammation and Associated Patient Characteristics and Biomarker Profiles Across the Heart Failure Spectrum in the United States: Results From the POSEIDON Study

First published in May 2026, the POSEIDON study was constructed to evaluate the prevalence of inflammatory risk in patients with HF across the EF spectrum. Specifically, it examined high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in this patient population, and ultimately determined that elevated hsCRP levels were present in roughly 4 in 10 patients. Additionally, it has been associated with more severe HF and a cardio-kidney-metabolic phenotype. At HFSA 2026, further details from the study will be presented, continuing to establish the association between HF and inflammation.


6. Six-Month Outcomes of Subcutaneous Cardiac Microcurrent Therapy: Comparative Analysis of the C-MIC III Pilot Study with the C-MIC II Randomized Trial

C-MIC II was an open-label, randomized controlled trial aiming to evaluate the original surgical Cardiac Microcurrent (CMIC) device on top of guideline-directed medical therapy to improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The trial ultimately found that, after 6 months, the patients receiving the implanted device saw a significant mean improvement in LVEF, 6-minute walk distance, and functional NYHA class. The C-MIC III study, meanwhile, is a first-in-human trial of a less invasive, subcutaneous approach to delivering the same microcurrent therapy. These data will be presented for the first time at HFSA 2026, contrasting invasive surgery against a simpler, less involved operation to accomplish the same goal.

Articles

HFSA 2026 in Phoenix will spotlight near-term shifts in HF therapeutics and device-based strategies, with multiple Phase 2 readouts emphasizing biomarker modulation, functional capacity, and tolerability. Data include dose-finding PDE9 inhibition with NT-proBNP endpoints across HFrEF and HFpEF, post hoc health-status analyses in ATTR-CM after a neutral primary outcome, and further confirmation of myosin inhibition benefits in nonobstructive HCM. Additional sessions will detail inflammation prevalence across the HF spectrum and compare implanted versus subcutaneous microcurrent therapy outcomes.

Get a head start on one of the biggest heart failure conferences of the year with our HFSA 2026 preview.

Cardiology

Cardiology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for heart disease and cardiovascular events, as well as associated diabetes, renal failure, and more...

Heart Failure

The HCPLive heart failure page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on HF. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for heart disease, reduced and preserved ejection fraction, and more.

Conference

 conference coverage page features articles, videos, and expert-led live coverage from major medical meetings throughout the year.

Heart Failure Society of America 2026 Preview: 6 Trials to Watch

Alex Hillenbrand is an assistant editor for 

. She earned her BA in English from Lafayette College in 2023 and went on to write for pop culture, entertainment, and sports media outlets before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2025. In her free time, Alex enjoys cooking, going on walks, and meeting new people. Contact her at mjhlifesciences.com.

, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the 

.¹ ² The analysis also found smoking was associated with increased odds of EPI. Prevalence estimates varied substantially depending on which diagnostic test was used.²

EPI occurs when the pancreas can no longer produce enough digestive enzymes. It leads to fat malabsorption, weight loss, malnutrition, and deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.² Left untreated, EPI has been linked to increased morbidity, reduced physical function, and greater health care use.²

"This meta-analysis provides critical benchmarks for clinical practice," wrote Xinying Tang, of the Department of Gastroenterology at Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, in Shanghai, China, and colleagues. "These findings underscore the need for standardized EPI screening protocols and targeted interventions (eg, smoking cessation) to mitigate complications."²

Why EPI Prevalence Estimates in Chronic Pancreatitis Have Varied

Previous research has reported EPI rates in CP ranging from 14% to 66%. The authors attributed this spread to differences in diagnostic methods, patient populations, and definitions of CP.² Prior studies also focused mainly on prevalence and did not extensively evaluate risk factors.²

To address this gap in research, the investigators searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. They looked for English language studies published between November 2004 and November 2024.² The review was registered with PROSPERO and followed PRISMA guidelines.²

After applying the eligibility criteria, the team included 14 studies encompassing 7663 patients with CP, of whom 2947 had EPI.² Seven studies were from Europe, 4 from Asia, and 3 from North America. Exclusion criteria included prior diabetes, previous acute pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, hereditary pancreatic disorders, and prior pancreatic surgery. The team analyzed data using a random effects model, with subgroup analyses by geographic region, diagnostic method, and study design.²

Fecal Elastase-1 Testing Yielded Greatest EPI Prevalence Estimate

The pooled EPI prevalence was 40.0% (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 33.5% to 46.7%), with high heterogeneity (I² = 96.7%; 

 < .001).² The authors noted that a high I² in a pooled prevalence analysis does not by itself indicate inconsistency, since some variability is inherent in prevalence data.²

According to investigators, diagnostic method was the most influential factor. Studies using the fecal elastase-1 (FE-1) test reported a prevalence of 52.1% (95% CI, 44.2% to 59.9%). The rate was 31.6% with the ¹³C-mixed triglyceride breath test and 21.1% with steatorrhea/fecal fat testing.²

The authors attributed the gap to FE-1's sensitivity for mild to moderate exocrine dysfunction, whereas fecal fat testing captures overt malabsorption. They also noted that FE-1 can produce false positive results in patients with watery diarrhea. FE-1 cutoffs varied across studies, at 100 μg/g vs 200 μg/g.²

"A lack of standardized diagnostic protocols for EPI in current CP studies substantially compromises the consistency and comparability of findings across cohorts," wrote Tang and colleagues.²

Two Chinese cohorts (n = 946) showed a pooled prevalence of 21.1%. The authors linked this lower rate to reliance on fecal fat testing. Regional estimates were 31.3% in Asia, 44.5% in Europe, and 39.8% in North America, but these differences were not statistically significant.²

Smoking Associated With 51% Greater Odds of EPI in Chronic Pancreatitis

Pooled data from 4 studies showed a significant association between smoking and EPI (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.76).² The small number of studies limited the ability to detect publication bias for this analysis.

Individual studies, rather than the pooled analysis, reported additional factors associated with EPI in multivariate analyses. These included low body mass index and male sex (HR, 1.84).² A single cross-sectional cohort also reported associations with diabetes (OR, 2.45), pancreatic or common bile duct stenting (OR, 1.44), pancreatic resection (OR, 1.54), and bile duct stenosis (OR, 1.48). Main pancreatic duct dilation and gland atrophy were correlated with EPI in univariate analysis.²

Using data from a prior meta-analysis and 2 subsequent studies, the team estimated EPI prevalence in painless CP at 47.6%. A comparison with painful CP could not be performed.²

Heterogeneity and Observational Data Limit Conclusions on EPI Risk Factors

Heterogeneity persisted despite sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Disease duration, a likely confounder, was inconsistently reported across studies.² Limited and partially adjusted risk factor data precluded causal inference.

The authors called for routine EPI screening in patients with CP, particularly those with a smoking history, malnutrition, or advanced pancreatic damage. They recommended FE-1 as a first-line test.² They also noted that pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy remains underused and inadequately monitored. They identified harmonized FE-1 cutoffs, longitudinal natural history studies, and research on smoking cessation as priorities.¹ ²

Chinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency affects 40% of chronic pancreatitis patients. 

 Published September 28, 2026. Accessed September 29, 2026. 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1145667

Tang X, Guan H, Wu H, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in patients with chronic pancreatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 

. 2026;9(3):173-181. doi:10.1097/JP9.0000000000000263

Approximately 40% of chronic pancreatitis patients have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, with wide variability driven largely by diagnostic modality. Fecal elastase-1 testing yields higher prevalence than ¹³C-mixed triglyceride breath testing or fecal fat quantification, reflecting greater sensitivity for mild-to-moderate dysfunction but potential false positives in watery diarrhea and inconsistent cutoffs. Smoking is associated with a 51% increase in odds of EPI. High heterogeneity and predominantly observational data limit causal inference, reinforcing calls for standardized screening and more consistent risk-factor characterization.

Smoking was associated with greater odds of EPI, and prevalence ranged from 21.1% to 52.1% depending on the diagnostic test used.

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on digestive and GI conditions. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for 

, IBS and IBD, Crohn's disease, and more.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

The HCPLive Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Estimated in 40% of Chronic Pancreatitis

Carlos Bacino, MD, is the medical director of the cytogenetics laboratory at Baylor Genetics.

In the final episode, “Coordinating Multidisciplinary Care in Achondroplasia,” the panelists explore how clinicians can ensure patients receive appropriate, coordinated care as their needs change throughout childhood and adolescence. The discussion recognizes that access to dedicated multidisciplinary achondroplasia programs varies widely. Large specialty centers may bring together genetics, endocrinology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, anesthesia, social work, physical therapy, and other disciplines to review patients collectively and develop unified recommendations. The panel highlights the value of this coordinated model in reducing fragmented care and helping families receive consistent guidance.

Coordinating Multidisciplinary Care in Achondroplasia

At the same time, many children receive care in community settings where clinicians may encounter only a small number of patients with achondroplasia. The experts emphasize that high-quality care remains possible by using established clinical guidance, maintaining appropriate surveillance, and knowing when to seek input from specialized centers. The panel also discusses the growing role of virtual care and consultation in extending access to specialty expertise. Multidisciplinary centers can serve as resources for community pediatricians and subspecialists even when families cannot travel frequently to a major center.

The series concludes with optimism about the rapidly evolving achondroplasia landscape. As new treatments and research continue to emerge, the panel reiterates that the goal remains broader than height: supporting health, function, independence, and quality of life throughout the lifespan. Thank you for watching this HCPLive Peer Exchange series on achondroplasia. Please subscribe to our eNewsletter for information on upcoming video series.

Effective achondroplasia care depends on timely coordination across specialties, whether patients are managed at a dedicated multidisciplinary center or in the community.

Video Series

Peer Exchange

HCPLive® Peer Exchange panel discussions feature authoritative insights, opinions, and perspectives on important issues facing today's care professionals.

Long-term achondroplasia care extends beyond medical treatment to supporting independence, well-being, and connection throughout the patient journey.

Supporting Health, Independence, and Community in Achondroplasia

Response to growth-modulating therapy may evolve over several years. Structured monitoring helps clinicians assess benefit, manage expectations, and adapt treatment and orthopedic care when needed.

Monitoring Treatment Response and Adapting Care in Achondroplasia

Investigational oral therapies are targeting the overactive FGFR3 pathway more directly, expanding the range of approaches under study for achondroplasia.

Emerging FGFR3-Targeted Therapies

Once-weekly navepegritide provides sustained CNP exposure, with pivotal and longer-term data evaluating growth, skeletal alignment, physical function, and tolerability.

Evaluating Long-Acting CNP Therapy in Achondroplasia

Long-term data provide insight into sustained growth, proportionality, and safety across different pediatric age groups receiving CNP analogue therapy.

Long-Term Outcomes With CNP Analogue Therapy in Achondroplasia

Earlier intervention may offer opportunities to influence skeletal development, but treatment timing must be weighed against uncertainty, treatment burden, and the needs of individual families.

Deciding When to Start Treatment in Achondroplasia

Real-world COMPETE SWITCH CV data at EASD 2026 linked semaglutide 2 mg escalation to 6% lower MACE risk vs switching to tirzepatide in T2D.

Type 2 Diabetes

Endocrinology

The HCPLive endocrinology page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on endocrine system conditions. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for diabetes, hormonal disease, and more.

This page also hosts content previously published by EndocrinologyNetwork. 


Semaglutide 2 mg Escalation Tied to Lower MACE vs Tirzepatide Switch in T2D

Higher levels of Lp(a) are also associated with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism according to this retrospective cohort study.

Dyslipidemia

Structural Heart Disease

Lipoprotein(a) Consistently Linked to Incident Venous Thromboembolism in New Study

Ari Cohen, MD, MBA, is director of the Transplant Institute at Ochsner Health. 

Ochsner Health uses multidisciplinary clinics, living donor programs, and transplant innovations to address access challenges.

Hepatology

Strategic Alliance Partnership

Ochsner Health Expands Liver Transplant Access Through Multidisciplinary Care

Donald Cutlip, MD, is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Donald Cutlip, MD, discusses the sirolimus balloon’s approval and its role in clinical practice for patients with ISR.

Latest News

Navigating Corticosteroid Stewardship in Dermatology, With Kristina Derrick, MD

Atacicept Slows IgAN Decline to Physiologic Rate, With Sayna Norouzi, MD

Heart Failure Society of America 2026 Preview: 6 Trials to Watch

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Estimated in 40% of Chronic Pancreatitis

Coordinating Multidisciplinary Care in Achondroplasia