Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its fourth-quarter investor letter for the “Baron Health Care Fund”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund rose 13.10% (Institutional Shares) in the quarter, compared to a 11.92% gain for the Russell 3000 Health Care Index (benchmark) and a 2.40% gain for the Russell 3000 Index (the Index). The Fund returned 10.28% for the full year, compared to 14.56% and 17.15% gains for the indexes, respectively. Strong stock selection in biotechnol ...

Arcutis Biotherapeutics develops topical therapies for chronic skin conditions, with a portfolio targeting psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.On February 5, Tejara Capital reported selling out of Arcutis Biotherapeutics (ARQT 0.04%), unloading 520,503 shares in an estimated $9.81 million trade based on quarterly average pricing.What happenedAccording to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated February 5, Tejara Capital reported selling its entire holding of 520,503 shares in Arcutis Biothe ...

Arcutis Biotherapeutics Inc. (ARQT), on Monday, announced that its phase 2 study evaluating ZORYVE cream 0.05% in infants aged 3 months to less than 24 months with atopic dermatitis has yielded positive topline results.In the phase 2 study, dubbed INTEGUMENT-INFANT, which enrolled 101 infants, 58% of participants achieved a 75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75) with ZORYVE cream 0.05% at Week 4. Moreover, the product was well tolerated and demonstrated a safety profile consistent with ...

58% of participants achieved a 75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75) with ZORYVE cream 0.05% at Week 4Investigational ZORYVE cream 0.05% was well tolerated and demonstrated a safety profile consistent with previous studies, with no new safety signals identified through 4 weeks of treatmentAtopic dermatitis impacts 9.6 million children in the United States; up to 60% of children with atopic dermatitis develop symptoms within their first yearThe Company plans to submit a supplemental New ...

Arcutis Biotherapeutics (ARQT) announced that on January 23, 2026, the Company and Kowa Pharmaceuticals America mutually agreed to terminate their promotion agreement. The agreement covered sales and promotion of ZORYVE by Kowa to primary care physicians and pediatricians in the United States. Following the termination, Arcutis plans to assume responsibility for sales and promotion of ZORYVE in the pediatric and primary care settings. The Company is finalizing its plans for promotion to these clinicians an ...

Core Viewpoint - Arcutis Biotherapeutics has terminated its promotion agreement with Kowa Pharmaceuticals for ZORYVE, and will take over the sales and promotion responsibilities in the pediatric and primary care markets [1][2][3] Group 1: Agreement Termination - The promotion agreement with Kowa Pharmaceuticals was mutually terminated on January 23, 2026, which involved the sales and promotion of ZORYVE to primary care physicians and pediatricians in the U.S. [1] - Under the termination agreement, Kowa will cease all sales and promotions of ZORYVE, and Arcutis will not be required to make any further payments [3] Group 2: Future Plans - Arcutis plans to assume responsibility for the sales and promotion of ZORYVE in pediatric and primary care settings, with further updates expected during the Q4 earnings call on February 25, 2026 [2] - The company is also expanding its dermatology salesforce to enhance ZORYVE prescriptions in dermatology practices [2] Group 3: Product Information - ZORYVE cream is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients aged 2 to 5 years and in patients aged 6 years and older [4] - ZORYVE foam is indicated for the treatment of plaque psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis in patients aged 12 years and older and 9 years and older, respectively [5] Group 4: Safety Information - ZORYVE is contraindicated in patients with moderate to severe liver impairment and has flammability warnings due to its propellant [6] - Common adverse reactions for ZORYVE cream and foam include upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, headache, and nausea, with varying percentages across different age groups and formulations [7][8][9][10] Group 5: Company Overview - Arcutis Biotherapeutics is a commercial-stage medical dermatology company focused on innovations for immune-mediated dermatological diseases, with a growing portfolio of advanced targeted topicals [11]

Core Insights - Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. will report its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on February 25, 2026, after U.S. markets close, and will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET on the same day [1] - The company will also participate in the Guggenheim Emerging Outlook: Biotech Summit on February 11, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. ET [2] Company Overview - Arcutis Biotherapeutics is a commercial-stage medical dermatology company focused on innovations for immune-mediated dermatological diseases, with a portfolio of advanced targeted topicals approved for three major inflammatory skin diseases [3] - The company utilizes a unique dermatology development platform and expertise to create differentiated therapies targeting biologically validated targets, resulting in a robust pipeline for various inflammatory dermatological conditions [3]

Core Insights - Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. has released findings from a nationwide survey on patient perceptions regarding the use of topical steroids for chronic inflammatory skin diseases, highlighting a significant focus on reactive treatment rather than proactive management strategies [1][2][3] Group 1: Survey Findings - The survey involved 1,000 adults and 500 parents of children with plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis, revealing that most treatment plans are reactive, aimed at managing flare-ups rather than preventing them [3][5] - Concerns about the side effects of topical steroids are prevalent, with nearly 9 in 10 respondents expressing worry about potential short- or long-term effects [5][6] - A significant portion of adults (72%) and children (80%) reported experiencing uncontrolled disease at least once a month, indicating a high frequency of flare-ups [6] Group 2: Emotional and Social Impact - The emotional and mental burden of living with these conditions is substantial, with many adults and children experiencing discomfort, frustration, and anxiety when their skin condition is uncontrolled [6][10] - The survey indicates that nearly half of adults (47%) have avoided social interactions due to their condition, and over half of children have missed school or social activities [6][7] - Even when symptoms are managed, a majority still feel self-conscious and anxious about potential future flare-ups, with only 20% of adults and 19% of parents feeling completely confident in their treatment plans [10] Group 3: Industry Implications - The findings suggest a critical opportunity for the dermatology community to shift towards more proactive disease management strategies, moving away from the traditional episodic care model [9] - There is a growing consensus among dermatology professionals regarding the risks associated with long-term steroid use, emphasizing the need for alternative treatment options that provide sustained relief [9] - Arcutis Biotherapeutics aims to address these challenges by developing innovative therapies that meet the needs of patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases [15]

Core Insights - Arcutis Biotherapeutics is focusing on expanding the growth of its product ZORYVE and advancing its innovative pipeline in 2026 [2][3][6] Strategic Priorities - The company aims to grow the ZORYVE business as a foundational therapy for chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as plaque psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis [3][6] - Plans to expand the ZORYVE franchise into additional indications through strategic life cycle management, starting with proof-of-concept studies in vitiligo and hidradenitis suppurativa [4][6] - The company will advance its pipeline by enrolling patients in the Phase 1 study of ARQ-234, a biologic treatment for atopic dermatitis, in the first quarter of 2026 [5][6] Financial Outlook - Arcutis expects full-year net product sales for ZORYVE to be in the range of $455 million to $470 million for 2026 [6][7] - The company plans to expand its dermatology sales force by approximately 20% to enhance prescriber targeting and increase adoption of ZORYVE [7] - Positive cash flow transition will enable investments to accelerate the growth of the ZORYVE franchise and advance the pipeline [6][7] Clinical Development - The company anticipates announcing topline results from the INTEGUMENT-INFANT Phase 2 study of ZORYVE cream for infants in the first quarter of 2026 [7] - Ongoing FDA review of the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for ZORYVE cream 0.3% for treating plaque psoriasis in children ages 2-5, with a target action date set for June 29, 2026 [7] - Expected decisions on program advancements for investigational ZORYVE foam for vitiligo and hidradenitis suppurativa in late 2026 and early 2027, respectively [7]

Group 1 - Compass Therapeutics, Inc. (CMPX) is a notable stock in the Medical sector, showing strong year-to-date performance compared to its peers [1][4] - The Medical sector consists of 946 individual stocks, with Compass Therapeutics ranked within the top 4 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank system indicates that Compass Therapeutics has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting a favorable outlook for the stock [3] Group 2 - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMPX's full-year earnings has increased by 19.7% in the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment [4] - CMPX has achieved a year-to-date return of approximately 247.6%, significantly outperforming the average return of 6% for Medical companies [4] - Compass Therapeutics is part of the Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, which includes 464 companies and has an average gain of 17.7% this year, further highlighting CMPX's strong performance [6] Group 3 - Another stock in the Medical sector, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ARQT), has also shown strong performance with a year-to-date return of 99.4% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - The consensus EPS estimate for Arcutis Biotherapeutics has increased by 46.5% over the past three months, reflecting positive analyst sentiment [5] - Investors are encouraged to monitor both Compass Therapeutics and Arcutis Biotherapeutics for their continued strong performance in the Medical sector [7]