From Research to Practice: Translating AD Clinical Trial Results and Overcoming Barriers

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The results from trials like ADmirable and DISCOVER significantly impact clinical practice by providing evidence-based confidence for treating diverse patient populations. Andrew M. Mastro, MS, PA-C, explains that these data allow providers to address patient concerns about treatment effectiveness in people who “look like them,” helping overcome historical mistrust and skepticism about therapeutic options. For clinicians working in urban settings with diverse patient populations, having population-specific efficacy data creates more meaningful patient-provider conversations and builds therapeutic confidence.

The trials’ inclusion of postinflammatory pigmentation assessment tools provides valuable insights for managing secondary concerns that significantly impact patients with darker skin tones. These data help clinicians set appropriate expectations about treatment timelines and outcomes, addressing both primary disease control and secondary pigmentation effects that may persist after inflammation resolves. The evidence supports moving patients away from long-term topical corticosteroid dependence toward more targeted biologic therapies with better long-term safety profiles.

Despite improved clinical trial representation and therapeutic options, significant barriers remain in achieving timely diagnosis and treatment access. Mark Makhinson, PharmD, identifies continuing challenges including potential health care provider mistrust, particularly in underserved communities, limited access pathways for patients with certain insurance types, and high cost-sharing requirements that may impact treatment adherence. These barriers require systematic approaches addressing both individual patient needs and broader health care system inequities to ensure equitable access to advanced atopic dermatitis (AD) treatments across all patient populations.