Denifanstat maintains acne control in 52-week study

New data from a phase 3 open-label extension study shows that denifanstat, an oral fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibitor, sustained acne control over a 52-week period. The findings were presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2026 in Vienna.

Denifanstat works by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for sebum production, rather than acting as an antibiotic or retinoid. In the ASC40-304 extension study conducted by Ascletis BioScience, treatment success was achieved by 57.8% of patients who remained on the drug continuously and 55.6% of those who switched from a placebo after a 12-week period. The study reported a favorable long-term safety profile for patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris.