Findings will be Presented at the Late-Breaking Research Program at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in March
Alexandria, VA | February 22, 2024
New research from the Light Treatment Effectiveness (LITE) study demonstrates that home phototherapy is non-inferior to office-based phototherapy for the treatment of plaque and guttate psoriasis for all skin types and for both patient-reported and physician-reported outcomes. Study results indicate that home phototherapy may be considered a first line treatment option for plaque or guttate psoriasis – having significant implications on patient care and health policy.
The LITE study is a large pragmatic randomized study embedded in routine clinical practice comparing the effectiveness, safety (tolerability), and duration of treatment response at 12 weeks of home versus office-based narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for the treatment of plaque or guttate psoriasis across all skin types. Launched in 2019, this study is the result of a long-standing collaboration between the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Utah. The LITE study concluded in December 2023 after enrolling 783 patients with skin types I-VI at 42 dermatology practices across the United States.
The LITE study is distinguished by several novel approaches to clinical research, including:
- The study was prioritized by patients with psoriasis who have been involved in all aspects of the trial from study design, execution, oversight, and dissemination of results.
- Payers represented a key stakeholder and were involved in study design, oversight, and dissemination of results.
- The study used simple entry criteria that reflect actual clinical practice.
- The study was specifically designed to be inclusive enough to definitively test the non-inferiority of home phototherapy compared to office phototherapy in people with fair, medium complected, and darkly complected skin. Details about the LITE study can be found at https://www.thelitestudy.com and https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03726489.
“The results of the LITE study are compelling and convincing,” said Joel M. Gelfand, M.D., M.S.C.E, principal investigator, and James J. Leyden Professor of Dermatology & Epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “Health insurance companies should cover home phototherapy for treatment of psoriasis as standard of care, and dermatology providers should prescribe home phototherapy for management of psoriasis when medically appropriate and based on shared decision making with patients.”
“The data generated in the LITE study will support new policies that improve access to care for phototherapy,” said Kristina Callis Duffin, M.D., co-principal investigator, and Professor and Chair of Dermatology at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah. “We’re extremely excited to see this data come to light and for the impact it will have on patient health across the country, especially for those in areas where access to office-based care is more challenging.” The study authors emphasize that home phototherapy uses the same prescription-based narrow band 311 ultraviolet B bulbs as are used in dermatology offices. This form of light is distinct from commercial tanning beds, which use a different wavelength in the UVA spectrum that is not as effective for psoriasis and is associated with skin cancer and melanoma. Therefore, commercial tanning beds are generally not recommended for psoriasis treatment.
Study results will be presented to the Late-Breaking Research Program at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, held in San Diego on March 8-12, 2024. This program highlights the latest trailblazing research in dermatology. All submissions are reviewed by a team of experts, and only the top abstracts are selected for inclusion. AAD registrants can attend the study presentation, “The Light Treatment Effectiveness (LITE) Study: A pragmatic trial of home versus office-based narrow band ultraviolet B phototherapy for the treatment of psoriasis in the United States,” on Saturday, March 9 at 9:50am Pacific time in room 20BCD.
“Everything we do at the National Psoriasis Foundation is centered around the needs of the patient,” said Leah M. Howard, J.D., President and CEO of NPF. “We are proud to partner with the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Utah to help the community find effective treatment options, and we are thrilled to see these findings presented at such a prestigious program at AAD. We know that the LITE study will have broad impact on patient health outcomes and access to care.”
The LITE study is funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), an independent research institute authorized by Congress in 2010 that funds comparative clinical effectiveness research that engages patients and other stakeholders throughout the research process.
“The study results represent optimism for the community,” said Eric Fielding, who has lived with psoriasis since 1993 and is a member of the LITE study patient stakeholder committee. “There are so many treatment options for psoriasis; knowing that a home-based option is just as effective as one delivered in the office opens up the doors for so many to get effective care.”
About the National Psoriasis Foundation
Serving the community of people impacted by psoriatic disease for more than 55 years with patient support, advocacy, research, and education, the National Psoriasis Foundation is the leading nonprofit representing individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The mission of NPF is to drive efforts to cure psoriatic disease and improve the lives of more than 8 million individuals in the United States affected by this chronic immune-mediated disease. Learn more at psoriasis.org.