Atopic Dermatitis Breakthrough: Linda Stein Gold, MD, on Tapinarof's Treatment-Free Benefits

At the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, new insights from the ADORING-3 clinical trial highlighted the potential of tapinarof (Vtama) cream, 1% (Organon) as a long-term, nonsteroidal treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD). In an interview with Patient Care Online, trial investigator Linda Stein Gold, MD, shared key findings from the study, including its effectiveness in maintaining disease control during treatment-free periods and its promising safety profile for children as young as 2 years. Dr Stein Gold—a board-certified dermatologist and director of dermatology clinical research at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan—also discussed how tapinarof’s novel mechanism of action differentiates it from existing AD therapies and how it can be integrated into clinical practice. Below, she breaks down what these findings mean for clinicians and patients.

Patient Care: What key insights emerged from the new analysis of the ADORING-3 clinical trial on the use of tapinarof cream, 1% (VTAMA) in patients with atopic dermatitis? And how might they impact clinical practice?

Linda Stein Gold, MD: The data that was new that was presented here at the AAD looked at patients who achieved completely clear skin and went into a treatment-free period of time. On average, that treatment-free period lasted about 80 consecutive days. We looked in depth at what happened to those patients at the end of that treatment-free period. What we found was generally they had mild disease based on IGA and EASI score, and their itch was less than a 3 out of 10 for their worst itch. This tells us that the disease is really coming back slowly, and these patients are well controlled, and they do well in that treatment free period.

PCO: With 83% of the study population being pediatric patients, what do these results suggest about the long-term safety and efficacy of tapinarof in children?

Stein Gold: It's essential that we have new treatment options for our younger patients. I'm really happy with the fact that we studied patients all the way down to age 2 in the initial clinical trials, so we don't have to wait for further studies to be done in younger and younger patients. We need nonsteroidal, safe, well-tolerated, and effective treatments for all of our atopic patients, but especially for those younger patients who don't have a lot of treatment options. So, this is good news. We can use 1 medication on almost any body surface area. It can be used in sensitive areas. We can use it to get the disease under control and keep it under control and really helps to simplify the treatment regimen.

PCO: How does tapinarof cream 1% (VTAMA) differentiate from existing treatment options for atopic dermatitis?

Stein Gold: What's exciting is this is a completely new mechanism of action for us in this topical medication. This is a medicine that works inside the cell and helps to modulate inflammatory cytokines. We know that it down regulates TH2-type cytokines, and that's important for atopic dermatitis. It helps to restore the barrier. It decreases oxidative stress, and down-regulates TH17 cytokines, and that's why it was studied and approved for psoriasis. So, it is nice to have a different mechanism of action. The good news, too, is that with it not being a steroid, we don't see the topical steroidal side effects. We don't see thinning of the skin or striae or lightning of skin, especially in patients with skin of color.

PCO: How do you see this medication getting integrated into current treatment practices?

Stein Gold: This is an option that can be used on any patient with atopic dermatitis who is aged 2 and up. It can be used on sensitive areas or anywhere on the body, including hands and feet. It is something that can be used even in more extensive areas. So, there's no limitation on the amount of body surface area that can be treated. It's important to have a lot of tools in our toolbox, and this is one that gives us great flexibility.