STRATA Skin Sciences Highlights Meta-Analysis Confirming Clinical Efficacy of 308 nm Excimer Laser for Plaque Psoriasis

Rhea-AI Summary

STRATA Skin Sciences (NASDAQ: SSKN) highlighted a February 17, 2026 meta-analysis showing 308 nm excimer laser therapy produces substantial PASI improvements in plaque psoriasis. Reviewed trials (n sizes 20–100) reported PASI reductions of ~56%–85% with 10–14 treatments over 5–7 weeks. The analysis emphasized MED-guided dosing and session fluences typically 200–600 mJ/cm² (1–3× MED), with some protocols using higher multiples. STRATA noted its high-power XTRAC technology supports delivery of targeted high-fluence doses efficiently, enabling short treatment times and lesion-directed therapy while sparing healthy skin.

Positive

• PASI reductions of ~56%–85% across reviewed studies
• Patients achieved results in 10–14 treatments (~5–7 weeks)
• MED-guided dosing enables patient-specific, targeted fluence
• STRATA XTRAC devices support delivery of high-fluence targeted doses

Negative

• Treatment fluences reported (up to 600 mJ/cm² per session) exceed typical broadband/narrowband UVB starting doses
• Significant MED variability by anatomy (ranges up to ~650–950 mJ/cm²) may require higher-energy devices

Key Figures

Tang et al. sample size: 32 patients Tang et al. PASI change: 11.47 to 5.08 (~56% reduction) He et al. PASI change: 14.73 to 2.42 (~84% reduction) +5 more

8 metrics

Tang et al. sample size 32 patients Plaque psoriasis trial with 308 nm excimer laser

Tang et al. PASI change 11.47 to 5.08 (~56% reduction) PASI improvement with twice-weekly excimer treatments

He et al. PASI change 14.73 to 2.42 (~84% reduction) PASI improvement in excimer laser plaque psoriasis study

Gerber et al. PASI change 13.70 to 2.10 (~85% reduction) PASI improvement in 100-patient excimer laser trial

Dong et al. PASI change 12.02 to 4.09 (~66% reduction) PASI improvement in 20-patient excimer laser study

Treatment frequency Twice weekly, ≥10 sessions Meta-analysis protocol for plaque psoriasis treatment

Session fluence range 200–600 mJ/cm² per session (1–3× MED) MED-guided dosing across included studies

Excimer wavelength 308 nm Excimer laser UVB used for plaque psoriasis

Market Reality Check

Price: $0.3450 Vol: Volume 1,559,212 vs 20-da...

high vol

$0.3450 Last Close

Volume Volume 1,559,212 vs 20-day average 490,024 (relative volume 3.18x) indicates elevated trading activity. high

Technical Price 0.345 trades below 200-day MA of 1.83 and 91.06% below 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

SSKN is down 11.54% with high relative volume, while peers show mixed moves: RSL...

SSKN is down 11.54% with high relative volume, while peers show mixed moves: RSLS up 29.8%, BMRA up 5.05%, PAVM up 1.46%, and HSCS down 3.23%. This divergence from peers points to stock-specific dynamics rather than a broad sector move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 09 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 09	Commercial expansion	Positive	+6.5%	Showcased XTRAC and TheraclearX with early TheraclearX adoption momentum in Mexico.
Nov 13	Earnings update	Negative	-9.5%	Q3 2025 revenue decline, equipment weakness, but modest EPS improvement and cash disclosure.
Nov 06	Reimbursement news	Positive	-4.7%	CMS maintained and modestly increased excimer CPT payments and flagged 2027 expansion.
Nov 05	Earnings scheduling	Neutral	+0.0%	Announced date and access details for upcoming Q3 2025 results and call.
Oct 28	Regulatory clearance	Positive	+14.9%	COFEPRIS clearance and first TheraClearX placements in Mexico under usage-based model.

Pattern Detected

News flow has mixed price reactions: positive commercial or regulatory updates sometimes lifted shares, but favorable reimbursement and earnings-related items have also coincided with declines, suggesting inconsistent market confidence in the story.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, STRATA released several notable updates. In Oct 2025, COFEPRIS cleared TheraClearX in Mexico with strong initial commercial rollout, and shares rose. A November CMS decision expanded excimer CPT code coverage ahead of 2027, yet the stock fell. Q3 2025 results showed revenue pressure but improving EPS, again followed by a decline. Later in Dec 2025, early adoption momentum in Mexico produced a positive price reaction. Today’s clinical meta-analysis reinforces XTRAC’s efficacy, building on prior clinical and reimbursement milestones.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement underscores growing clinical evidence for 308 nm excimer laser therapy, with multi...

Analysis

This announcement underscores growing clinical evidence for 308 nm excimer laser therapy, with multiple trials showing substantial PASI reductions, often achieved within 10–14 treatments over 5–7 weeks. It reinforces STRATA’s XTRAC platform within mainstream dermatology alongside prior reimbursement and international expansion milestones. Investors may watch how this academic validation supports adoption, reimbursement discussions, and future updates, particularly given the company’s recent regulatory filings around listing status and capital access facilities.

Key Terms

meta-analysis, plaque psoriasis, excimer laser

3 terms

meta-analysis medical

"highlights findings from a February 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis confirming"

A meta-analysis combines results from multiple independent studies on the same question to produce a single, more reliable estimate of an effect or outcome. Like averaging many temperature readings to get a truer picture of the weather, it reduces random noise and highlights consistent signals; investors use it to assess how strong and reliable the scientific or economic evidence is, which affects regulatory outlook, product prospects, and valuation risk.

plaque psoriasis medical

"308 nm Excimer laser in plaque psoriasis. Published in the Journal of Drugs"

A chronic autoimmune skin condition that causes raised, red, scaly patches where the skin sheds too quickly, like a tree producing bark in clumps instead of renewing smoothly. It matters to investors because prevalence, severity, and treatment options drive demand for therapies, shape clinical trial design and regulatory review, and affect potential market size, pricing and reimbursement for drugs or devices aimed at relieving symptoms or altering the underlying immune response.

excimer laser medical

"clinical efficacy of 308 nm Excimer laser in plaque psoriasis."

An excimer laser is a high-energy, pulsed ultraviolet light device that removes or reshapes tiny amounts of material with extreme precision, like a scalpel made of light. Investors watch it because it underpins key businesses—such as corrective eye surgery and semiconductor manufacturing—so demand, regulatory approval, maintenance cycles, and technological upgrades for excimer lasers can meaningfully affect revenue, margins, and competitive positioning of companies that make or use them.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Growing body of clinical data like February 2026 publication from Georgetown University supports optimized, targeted Excimer laser UVB strategies for inflammatory skin conditions

HORSHAM, Pa., Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSKN), a medical technology company dedicated to developing, commercializing, and marketing innovative dermatologic treatments, today highlights findings from a February 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis confirming the clinical efficacy of 308 nm Excimer laser in plaque psoriasis. Published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology by investigators from Georgetown University School of Medicine and the Department of Dermatology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the analysis evaluated clinical trials assessing the efficacy of the 308 nm excimer laser for plaque psoriasis. Across the included studies, patients were treated twice weekly for a minimum of 10 sessions, with outcomes measured using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). The study by Gratz, Ben, et al., titled, "Excimer Laser for Plaque Psoriasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" was published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (JDD 25.2 (2026): e36-e37.).

“This meta-analysis reinforces what dermatologists have observed clinically — that properly calibrated, MED-guided Excimer Laser therapy provides effective, targeted treatment for plaque psoriasis,” said Dr. Dolev Rafaeli, STRATA Skin Sciences Chief Executive Officer. “Enabling the delivery of high-fluence 308nm UVB precisely to affected plaques while sparing surrounding healthy skin represents a meaningful therapeutic advantage.”

Significant PASI Improvements Across Studies

The meta-analysis demonstrated substantial and statistically significant reductions in PASI scores through review of previously published studies, including:

• Tang et al. (n=32): PASI improved from 11.47 to 5.08 (~56% reduction)
• He et al. (n=40): PASI improved from 14.73 to 2.42 (~84% reduction)
• Gerber et al. (n=100): PASI improved from 13.70 to 2.10 (~85% reduction)
• Dong et al. (n=20): PASI improved from 12.02 to 4.09 (~66% reduction)
  
  

Patients typically achieved these outcomes within 10–14 treatments over approximately 5–7 weeks, underscoring the efficiency of targeted excimer laser protocols.

MED-Guided Dosing and Targeted Fluence Delivery

A key focus of the publication was the role of minimal erythema dose (MED)-guided dosing, a patient-specific calibration method that determines the lowest UVB fluence producing visible erythema at 24 hours.

Across the studies reviewed, treatment fluences generally ranged from approximately 200–600 mJ/cm² per session (1–3× MED), (and in some protocols, up to 1,200 mJ/cm² total fluence per session when higher MED multiples are used). These energy levels are considered higher than typical starting doses in conventional broadband or narrowband UVB phototherapy, reflecting the targeted, lesion-directed dosing inherent in excimer laser protocols.

Prior excimer laser studies (see, e.g. Al-Mutairi N, Al-Haddad A. “Targeted phototherapy using 308 nm Xecl monochromatic excimer laser for psoriasis at difficult to treat sites,” Lasers Med Sci. 2013 Jul;28(4):1119-24. doi: 10.1007/s10103-012-1210-4. Epub 2012 Sep 28. PMID: 23053247) found higher MEDs in certain patient populations, e.g., a mean MED of ~383 mJ/cm² for scalp psoriasis and ~415 mJ/cm² for palmoplantar psoriasis (with ranges up to ~650–950 mJ/cm²), indicating anatomical and individual variability and pointing to a need for high fluence which can only be delivered with energy enabled devices.

STRATA’s latest high-power XTRAC® technology models enable practices to deliver these optimized targeted doses efficiently, supporting short treatment times for patients while maintaining favorable practice economics.

Clinical Significance

The data confirm that MED-based excimer laser dosing consistently produces clinically meaningful and statistically significant PASI reductions.

The publication, authored by established dermatology researchers from Georgetown University and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, highlights continued academic interest in refining targeted UVB strategies within mainstream clinical dermatology.

Conclusion

The February 2026 meta-analysis confirms that 308 nm Excimer Laser therapy, reliably produces significant improvement in plaque psoriasis.

STRATA Skin Sciences remains committed to advancing clinical evidence-based dermatologic therapies that improve outcomes for patients living with chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

About STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.

STRATA Skin Sciences is a medical technology company dedicated to developing, commercializing, and marketing innovative products for the in-office treatment of various dermatologic conditions, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, and acne. Its products include the XTRAC^® excimer laser, VTRAC^® lamp systems, and the TheraClear^®X Acne Therapy System.

STRATA is proud to offer these exciting technologies in the U.S. through its unique Partnership Program. STRATA’s popular partnership approach includes a fee per treatment cost structure versus an equipment purchase, installation and use of the device, on-site training for practice personnel, service and maintenance of the equipment, dedicated account and customer service associates, and co-op advertising support to help raise awareness and promote the program within the practice.

Safe Harbor

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include but are not limited to the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and may contain words such as “will,” “may,” “seeks,” and “expects,” that suggest future events or trends. More specific risks and uncertainties are set forth in the Company’s SEC reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K. Given such uncertainties, any or all these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect or unreliable. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release. The Company urges investors to carefully review its SEC disclosures available at www.sec.gov and www.strataskinsciences.com.

Investor Contact:
CORE IR
516-222-2560
IR@strataskin.com

FAQ

What did the February 17, 2026 meta-analysis report about 308 nm excimer laser efficacy for plaque psoriasis (SSKN)?

The meta-analysis found substantial PASI reductions, typically ~56%–85% within 10–14 treatments. According to STRATA, reviewed trials showed consistent, statistically significant PASI improvement using MED-guided excimer laser protocols over 5–7 weeks.

How quickly do patients improve with 308 nm excimer laser therapy reported in the February 2026 study (SSKN)?

Patients typically reached outcomes within 10–14 sessions, about 5–7 weeks. According to STRATA, the reviewed trials used twice-weekly schedules and observed meaningful PASI reductions within that timeframe.

What dosing ranges did the meta-analysis report for excimer laser treatments in plaque psoriasis (SSKN)?

Treatment fluences were generally ~200–600 mJ/cm² per session (1–3× MED), with some protocols using higher MED multiples. According to STRATA, MED-guided dosing produced targeted high-fluence delivery to plaques while sparing healthy skin.

Why does STRATA highlight MED-guided dosing in the February 2026 excimer laser analysis (SSKN)?

MED-guided dosing tailors UVB fluence to each patient’s minimal erythema dose for precision. According to STRATA, this patient-specific calibration supports effective, lesion-directed therapy and helps optimize clinical outcomes.

What do PASI reductions of 56%–85% reported in the 2026 meta-analysis mean for clinical practice (SSKN)?

Those reductions indicate large, clinically meaningful improvement in plaque severity over short courses. According to STRATA, such results support targeted excimer laser use as an efficient option for lesion-directed psoriasis treatment.

How do STRATA XTRAC devices relate to the February 2026 excimer laser findings (SSKN)?

STRATA says its high-power XTRAC models enable delivery of the higher, targeted fluences cited in the analysis while maintaining short treatment times. According to STRATA, this supports practical clinic workflows and lesion-directed dosing.