Professional Golfer Max Homa Joins Arcutis’ Free to Be Me Campaign, Urging Individuals with Seborrheic Dermatitis to Tee Up a Conversation with Their Healthcare Provider About Long-Term Treatments
Rhea-AI Summary
Arcutis (Nasdaq: ARQT) announced that professional golfer Max Homa joined its Free to Be Me awareness campaign to encourage people with seborrheic dermatitis to seek long-term treatment. The company highlights ZORYVE foam 0.3%, indicated for ages 9+, showing rapid clearance and itch relief in clinical trials.
In trials, 77% achieved clear/almost clear skin at 8 weeks versus 53% for inactive foam; itch relief reached nearly 63% versus 41%. ZORYVE is steroid-free, leave-in, and reported common side effects ≥1% (common cold, nausea, headache).
Positive
- 77% of patients achieved clear or almost clear skin at 8 weeks
- Nearly 63% achieved significant itch relief at Week 8
- ZORYVE indicated for adults and children 9 years and older
Negative
- Common side effects reported ≥1%: common cold (1.5%), nausea (1.3%), headache (1.1%)
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
ARQT gained 3.52% while several biotech peers also showed gains (e.g., TARS +5.84%, AGIO +3.11%, IRON +3.26%, TVTX +3.02%, APGE +1.26%). Momentum scanner also flagged BEAM, TARS, and DNLI moving up, but sector momentum was not classified as a coordinated move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | Inducement RSU grants | Neutral | +4.8% | Reported 94,000 RSUs granted to 12 new hires under inducement plan. |
| 2026-02-02 | Clinical trial results | Positive | +0.8% | Positive Phase 2 INTEGUMENT-INFANT topline data for ZORYVE cream 0.05%. |
| 2026-01-26 | Promotion agreement change | Neutral | +0.5% | Termination of Kowa promotion deal; Arcutis taking over PCP/pediatric promotion. |
| 2026-01-22 | Earnings and conferences | Neutral | -1.7% | Announcement of Q4/FY 2025 earnings date and Guggenheim conference appearance. |
| 2026-01-21 | Survey on steroids | Positive | +3.2% | Nationwide survey underscoring concern with topical steroids and long-term needs. |
Recent ARQT news, especially clinical and strategic updates, has generally coincided with modest positive moves, with only one recent neutral scheduling update followed by a mild decline.
Over the past months, Arcutis has reported several developments around ZORYVE and broader dermatology positioning. A Jan 21, 2026 survey release highlighting unmet needs in chronic inflammatory skin disease coincided with a +3.21% move. Positive INTEGUMENT-INFANT Phase 2 data for ZORYVE cream on Feb 2, 2026 saw a smaller +0.79% reaction. Operational items like inducement RSU grants on Feb 5, 2026 and the Kowa promotion termination have also aligned with modest gains, while an earnings-date announcement on Jan 22, 2026 was followed by a -1.69% move. Today’s awareness campaign continues the theme of strengthening ZORYVE’s dermatology footprint.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement expands Arcutis’s dermatology franchise visibility by pairing Max Homa’s story with clinical data for ZORYVE foam 0.3%. The release highlights substantial response rates, including 77% achieving clear or almost clear skin and 63% with significant itch relief at Week 8, plus early improvements within 48 hours. In context of prior ZORYVE updates and survey data, investors may watch future prescriptions, real‑world safety consistent with the reported ≥1% adverse events, and upcoming financial disclosures to gauge commercial traction.
Key Terms
seborrheic dermatitis medical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
- Max Homa shares his journey with seborrheic dermatitis to encourage others to take control of their symptoms
- ZORYVE® (roflumilast) foam
0.3% is a once-daily, steroid-free, leave-in topical foam uniquely formulated to treat the itching, redness, and flaking of seborrheic dermatitis anywhere it appears, including hair-bearing areas - 10 million Americans live with seborrheic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease that occurs most often on areas with oil-producing glands, including the face and scalp
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Feb. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQT), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing meaningful innovations in immuno-dermatology, today announced that six-time PGA Tour winner Max Homa has joined the company’s Free to Be Me awareness campaign to help encourage the millions of Americans living with seborrheic dermatitis (seb derm) to speak with their healthcare providers about long-term treatment options.
Like many people with seb derm, Max Homa spent years trying to understand what was happening to his skin. He often scrolled through the internet trying to self-diagnose what was causing his dry, flaky, and itchy face and scalp. He also tried countless over-the-counter treatments, but nothing helped his symptoms or provided long-term relief. By joining the Free to Be Me campaign, Max hopes that his story will encourage people to speak with their doctor to identify and properly treat their seb derm.
“Even on the days when my face wasn’t red or flaky, seb derm was in the back of my mind—I’d catch myself wondering if other people could see it,” said Max Homa, husband, father, and professional golfer. “I spent years trying different products, but without a diagnosis, nothing worked. Getting a proper diagnosis and treating my seb derm with ZORYVE made a big difference. Having clearer skin and scalp has allowed me to fully focus on what matters most to me.”
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.
“Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disease causing flaking, redness, and persistent itching, which can significantly impact a person’s quality of life due to the emotional toll that comes with a highly noticeable condition,” said Dr. Tina Bhutani, a board-certified dermatologist, clinical researcher, and CEO of Synergy Dermatology. “Many patients, like Max, spend years trying to self-diagnose or manage symptoms on their own, often assuming the problem is ‘just dandruff,’ not realizing their discomfort comes from a medical condition that can be effectively treated by a dermatologist. Because seb derm is lifelong, it’s essential to have effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatments for regular and long-term use. ZORYVE is a unique treatment option because it is a steroid-free topical foam that can be used anywhere on the body, including the scalp, face, and beard, to provide meaningful, sustained relief and help patients regain comfort and confidence in their skin.”
ZORYVE foam
In one clinical trial, nearly
ZORYVE foam is safe and well tolerated. The most common side effects (≥
For more information on ZORYVE foam, including full prescribing information, please visit ZORYVE.com.
About ZORYVE®
ZORYVE is the number one prescribed branded topical therapy across three major inflammatory dermatoses combined—atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and plaque psoriasis. ZORYVE foam is a topical formulation of roflumilast, an advanced targeted topical phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitor. Inhibiting PDE4, an intracellular enzyme that is an established target in dermatology, decreases the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. This decreases inflammation in the skin and balances the skin’s immune system.
Demonstrating both clinical impact and broad industry recognition, ZORYVE has been honored with multiple prestigious awards and recommendations. ZORYVE was recently awarded by Allure with the "2025 Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award," making it the first FDA-approved medication for atopic dermatitis, plaque psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis to win this prominent award. ZORYVE cream
About Free to Be Me
The Free to Be Me campaign shares real experiences of people with inflammatory skin conditions—including atopic dermatitis, plaque psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis—to help others feel seen, understood, and empowered to take the important step of starting an open conversation with a healthcare provider to find a safe and effective treatment plan.
INDICATION
ZORYVE topical foam,
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
ZORYVE is contraindicated in patients with moderate to severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C).
Flammability: The propellants in ZORYVE foam are flammable. Avoid fire, flame, and smoking during and immediately following application.
The most common adverse reactions reported (≥
Please see full Prescribing Information for ZORYVE cream and full Prescribing Information for ZORYVE foam.
ZORYVE is for topical use only and not for ophthalmic, oral, or intravaginal use.
About Arcutis
Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQT) is a commercial-stage medical dermatology company that champions meaningful innovation to address the urgent needs of individuals living with immune-mediated dermatological diseases and conditions. With a commitment to solving the most persistent patient challenges in dermatology, Arcutis has a growing portfolio of advanced targeted topicals approved to treat three major inflammatory skin diseases. Arcutis’ unique dermatology development platform coupled with our dermatology expertise allows us to develop differentiated therapies against biologically validated targets, and has produced a robust pipeline for a range of inflammatory dermatological conditions. For more information, visit www.arcutis.com or follow Arcutis on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For example, statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs and expectations. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential of ZORYVE foam to simplify disease management for care of seborrheic dermatitis, and the potential of real-world use results of ZORYVE on individual patients. These statements are subject to substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ include risks inherent in our business, reimbursement and access to our products, the impact of competition and other important factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 25, 2025, as well as any subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this press release are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise or update information herein to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.
Contacts:
Media
Amanda Sheldon, Head of Corporate Communications
media@arcutis.com
Investors
Brian Schoelkopf, Head of Investor Relations
ir@arcutis.com
