With a dermatology approval in one hand and another set to come by year-end, Arcutis Biotherapeutics has hired L. Todd Edwards to help boost its commercial push.
Edwards, who has assumed the role of Arcutis' chief commercial officer, will be responsible for overseeing the ongoing commercial launch plans for two products: Zoryve, a plaque psoriasis cream that received FDA approval last summer, and a slightly modified foam version of the drug. The company is currently seeking U.S. regulatory approval of the foam version for the treatment of inflammatory skin condition seborrheic dermatitis.
Both therapies are a formulation of roflumilast, the PDE4 inhibitor found in AstraZeneca's oral chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment Daliresp.
Edwards comes with some big dermatology chops, having most recently been the group vice president and business unit head for Incyte’s immunology business, a position that saw him lead the launch and commercialization of the company's topical JAK inhibitor for atopic dermatitis.
He’s also served stints at UCB, where he helped lead the commercialization of its dermatology, rheumatology and gastroenterology portfolios, as well as at AbbVie and TAP Pharmaceuticals.
“Over many years, [Edwards] has developed a deep understanding of what is needed to be commercially successful in dermatology, and his proven track record of successfully commercializing both topical and systemic therapies will be critical in light of our ongoing launch of Zoryve cream in plaque psoriasis,” said Frank Watanabe, president and CEO of Arcutis, in a press release.
“In addition, we are excited about the impact he will have for topical roflumilast and the expected FDA approvals in other serious skin conditions including seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis.”
Ayisha Jeter, who had been serving as the pharma's interim CCO, will assume the role of senior vice president of marketing and market access. In her new position, she will lead all marketing and market access efforts at the company and report directly to Edwards.
The changes precede the FDA's official PDUFA date, which is scheduled for Dec.16 for roflumilast foam in seborrheic dermatitis. Arcutis has already initiated its marketing efforts ahead of the anticipated approval. Just this month, the company launched a new awareness and education campaign called "Clearing Up Seb Derm" aimed at increasing diagnoses of the condition.
Back in August, the pharmaceutical company also launched its first direct-to-consumer ad campaign for Zoryve, known as the "Cream That Can," which has predominately been used across streaming platforms.