HORSHAM, PA — STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc. highlighted new clinical data showing its XTRAC excimer laser significantly improved repigmentation outcomes in children with progressive vitiligo when paired with oral JAK inhibitors, as the company positions the treatment platform for broader reimbursement coverage and expanded use in autoimmune skin disorders.
The multicenter study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, evaluated 188 pediatric patients across five academic dermatology centers in China and compared oral JAK inhibitors combined with 308-nm excimer laser therapy against tacrolimus paired with the same laser protocol.
Patients receiving the JAK inhibitor combination therapy achieved an overall response rate of 85.5%, compared with 53.8% in the control arm, according to the published findings. The study also reported substantially higher repigmentation rates across facial, trunk, and limb lesions, with 33 lesions in the combination-treatment group achieving greater than 95% repigmentation by week 48 versus three in the control group.
The trial comes as drugmakers and device manufacturers increasingly pursue combination approaches for autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases, particularly in vitiligo, where durable treatment responses have historically been difficult to achieve.
Chief Executive Officer Dolev Rafaeli described the data as validation of the company’s strategy to position XTRAC as part of broader combination regimens rather than as a standalone therapy.
“This publication is a powerful validation of our personalized medicine approach,” Rafaeli stated, adding that the study demonstrated “unprecedented response rates” in pediatric patients.
The study reported that all adverse events were mild to moderate and resolved with treatment management. Researchers also found statistically significant improvements in quality-of-life scores among patients receiving the JAK inhibitor combination.
STRATA is simultaneously seeking to expand intellectual property protections around combination therapies involving excimer lasers, biologics, systemic agents, and JAK inhibitors. The company stated pending patent applications are intended to support future exclusivity strategies tied to inflammatory and autoimmune dermatology treatments, including vitiligo, psoriasis, alopecia areata, and atopic dermatitis.
The company also pointed to a recent decision by the American Medical Association’s CPT Editorial Panel to expand reimbursement eligibility for excimer laser procedures beginning January 1, 2027. The coding revision broadens coverage beyond psoriasis to additional inflammatory and autoimmune skin conditions, including vitiligo and alopecia areata.
STRATA indicated the reimbursement expansion could materially increase the addressable market for XTRAC treatments. Based on the company’s internal reimbursement data, more than 75% of current non-psoriasis XTRAC patients already receive insurance coverage.
The study was published online March 19, 2026, under the title “Efficacy of oral JAK inhibitors combined with 308-nm excimer laser in pediatric progressive vitiligo: A multicenter study.”
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