CLINUVEL Showcases Innovative Vitiligo Therapy at AAD 2026

Company's photomedicine and vitiligo programs generate significant interest at dermatology's largest annual conference.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 6:34am

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A minimalist, glowing neon outline of a human hand against a dark background, conceptually representing the potential of CLINUVEL's photomedicine technology to address vitiligo.CLINUVEL's innovative photomedicine technology aims to restore pigmentation and stabilize vitiligo, offering a new approach to this chronic skin condition.Denver Today

CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED, a global specialty pharmaceutical group, had a strong presence at the recent American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. The company showcased its innovative photomedicine and vitiligo programs, generating significant engagement from over 20,000 dermatology professionals in attendance.

Why it matters

CLINUVEL's approach to vitiligo therapy, which utilizes the company's proprietary peptide afamelanotide in combination with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy, offers a fundamentally different path from the current focus on immune-suppressing JAK inhibitors. This shift in treatment discourse highlights an increasing demand for therapies that prioritize sustained stability and patient safety over the long term.

The details

At the AAD 2026 meeting, CLINUVEL presented new insights from its ongoing Phase III vitiligo study (CUV105), which is evaluating afamelanotide as a systemic therapy with adjunct NB-UVB phototherapy to stimulate repigmentation and stabilize the disease. Professor Antoine Bertolotti from the University Hospital of La Réunion presented patient case studies from the CUV105 trial, reporting repigmentation following 20 weeks of afamelanotide with adjunct NB-UVB, with patients maintaining their pigmentation up to the six-month follow-up visit subsequent to withdrawal of therapy.

  • The 2026 AAD meeting took place in Denver, Colorado.
  • CLINUVEL's ongoing Phase III vitiligo study (CUV105) is evaluating afamelanotide as a systemic therapy with adjunct NB-UVB phototherapy.

The players

CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED

A global specialty pharmaceutical group focused on developing and commercializing treatments for patients with genetic, metabolic, systemic, and life-threatening, acute disorders, as well as healthcare solutions for specialized populations.

Professor Antoine Bertolotti

A physician from the University Hospital of La Réunion who presented patient case studies from CLINUVEL's CUV105 vitiligo trial.

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What they’re saying

“Returning to the AAD for a second year has allowed us to witness a significant maturation in the clinical dialogue surrounding vitiligo. Our engagement in Denver confirms a growing recognition among the medical community that the next frontier in vitiligo care must prioritise long-term physiological stability and safety beyond immune-suppression.”

— Dr. Linda Teng, Director of North American Operations, CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED

What’s next

CLINUVEL's ongoing Phase III vitiligo study (CUV105) will continue to evaluate the efficacy and safety of afamelanotide in combination with NB-UVB phototherapy as a potential treatment for vitiligo.

The takeaway

CLINUVEL's innovative approach to vitiligo therapy, which focuses on long-term physiological stability and safety rather than immune-suppression, is generating significant interest and engagement within the dermatology community. The company's presence at AAD 2026 reinforces its commitment to advancing photomedicine and developing solutions that address the unmet needs of vitiligo patients.