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Hydroxychloroquine, Pentoxifylline, and Colchicine: Off-Label is ON in Dermatology

So many diseases, so few FDA approved indications. Between the mind-numbing time and cost from bench to bottle, it is no surprise that dermatologists, as masters of the integument are the off-label bandits, marrying their wealth of knowledge on the pathophysiology of skin diseases to the mechanisms by which medications work to create an evidenced-based armament of therapies for both common and rare diseases alike. Where a primary care physician sees a blood pressure medication, a dermatologist sees an effective medication for acne. A medication for malaria you say? They use it for a plethora of complex diseases ranging from Lupus to scarring hair loss. The lengthy list of medications used off-label in dermatology continues to grow and for good reason and fortune.

Next Steps in Derm, in partnership with ODAC Dermatology, Aesthetic and Surgical Conference interviewed Dr. Adam Friedman, Professor, Interim Chair of Dermatology, and Residency Program Director at George Washington University, who shared off-label uses of drugs such as Hydroxychloroquine (currently under investigation for the treatment of patients with COVID-19), Pentoxifylline, and Colchicine. A wealth of clinical pearls you don’t want to miss!

About Dr. Friedman

Adam Friedman, MDAdam Friedman, MD, FAAD is Professor and Interim Chair of Dermatology and serves as Residency Program Director, Director of Translational Research, and Director of the Supportive OncodermatologyProgram in the Department of Dermatology at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Dr. Friedman completed his undergraduate training at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with Distinction in Dermatologic Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

Dr. Friedman is currently investigating novel nanotechnologies that allow for controlled and sustained delivery of a wide spectrum of physiologically and medicinally relevant molecules, with an emphasis on treating infectious diseases, accelerating wound healing, immune modulation, and correcting vascular dysfunction. He holds multiple patents derived from these investigations and has published over 170 papers/chapters and 2 textbooks on both his research as well as a variety of clinical areas in dermatology with an emphasis on emerging medical therapies. He has received multiple awards such as the American Dermatologic Association Young Leader Award, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Cutting Edge Research Award, the 2017 Elle Beauty Genius Award, the 2018 Journal of Drugs Innovations in Residency Teaching Award, the La Roche Posay North American Foundation Research award, and has been on the Washingtonian Top Doctors list since 2017.

Dr.Friedman’s clinical interests span the gamut of medical and pediatric dermatology. Dr. Friedman is also committed to resident and medical education. He hosts an online series titled “Ask an Expert” and the JDD Podcast “Ask the Investigator”. He currently serves as President of the Derma Care Access Network, a subgroup of the Alliance for Patient Access, the deputy chair of the AAD Poster Task Force, is the medical director of ODAC conference, senior editor of the Dermatology In-Review, Krazy Kodachromes, and director of the Oakstone Institute’s Dermatology Board Review and Dermatology for Primary Care series.

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