공고 • May 19
STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc. Highlights Publication of Multicenter Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Confirming Superiority of XTRAC Excimer Laser Plus Oral JAK Inhibitors In Pediatric Vitiligo
STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc. highlighted the publication of a landmark multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology demonstrating that STRATA’s 308-nm excimer laser, when combined with oral JAK inhibitors, produces unprecedented repigmentation outcomes in pediatric patients with progressive vitiligo — with a favorable safety profile across all 188 children enrolled over a 48-week treatment period. The study, conducted across five academic dermatology centers in China, enrolled children aged 2–18 years and compared two treatment arms: oral JAK inhibitors (baricitinib or tofacitinib) combined with 308-nm excimer laser therapy twice weekly (Group A) versus topical tacrolimus combined with the same excimer laser protocol (Group B). Overall response rate of 85.5% in the JAK inhibitor + excimer laser group versus 53.8% in the tacrolimus + excimer laser control group. Face and neck lesions achieved a 97.3% response rate in Group A, including a 64.9% “significantly effective” rate, compared to 59.5% in controls. Trunk and limb response rates of 89.3% and 88.9%, respectively, versus 61.6% and 64.9% in controls. 33 lesions in the combination group achieved >95% repigmentation by week 48, compared to only 3 in the control arm. Mixed-effects modeling confirmed a statistically significant 21.7% higher repigmentation rate for the JAK inhibitor + excimer laser combination (ß = 0.217, 95% CI: 0.204–0.230). All adverse events were mild to moderate in severity and fully resolved with appropriate management; no cases of tuberculosis or hepatitis B/C were observed. Quality of life improvements, measured by the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index, were significantly greater in Group A, reaching statistical significance by week 48. The mechanistic basis for these results reflects the complementary action of both therapies: JAK inhibitors suppress the upstream IFN-?/JAK-STAT1 autoimmune signaling cascade that drives melanocyte destruction, while the 308-nm excimer laser simultaneously induces targeted apoptosis of pathogenic T cells at the dermo epidermal junction and actively promotes melanocyte migration and repopulation within lesional skin. Together, these mechanisms address both the immunological and cellular dimensions of vitiligo in a true personalized medicine approach. STRATA’s growing portfolio of patent applications is designed to support intellectual property protection and potential market exclusivity for combination therapies involving its XTRAC excimer laser when used with JAK inhibitors, systemic agents, and biologic drugs. These pending or applied-for patents underpin STRATA’s strategy to expand into new clinical indications, including vitiligo and other inflammatory and autoimmune skin conditions. The importance of these patent fillings lies in their pioneering role in defining and protecting the combined use of Excimer laser therapy with systemic pharmacologic agents, a significant advancement in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, leukoderma, alopecia areata, and vitiligo. Excimer lasers, particularly at 308 nm, allow for precise, high-dose, localized UVB exposure, delivering therapeutic light energy to affected skin areas while sparing healthy tissue. When used alone, they provide rapid lesion clearance, but their effects may be short-lived in severe or systemic disease. These pending patents strategically address these limitations by combining phototherapy with systemic treatments—including biologic drugs and JAK inhibitors—to deliver a synergistic therapeutic effect, ranging from enhanced treatment response including prolonged remission, potential reduction of the dosage for these drugs, as well as improved safety by limiting the UV exposure to only the affected skin area. The American Medical Association’s CPT Editorial Panel approved updates to codes 96920–96922, expanding reimbursement eligibility for XTRAC Excimer Laser treatments to include all inflammatory and autoimmune skin conditions—such as vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia areata—in addition to psoriasis, effective January 1, 2027. Based on STRATA’s 2025 insurance reimbursement coverage data, more than 75% of XTRAC excimer laser patients treated for non-psoriasis indications are currently covered by insurance.