The United States currently leads the seven major markets in treatment volume, with approximately 27,000 new cases diagnosed annually. While corticosteroids remain the primary management tool, their long-term use often triggers safety concerns, prompting pharmaceutical developers to prioritize steroid-sparing alternatives. This shift has accelerated clinical activity, with several late-stage candidates now entering the pipeline.

Key emerging therapies include Kyorin Pharmaceutical and aTyr Pharma’s efzofitimod, which has garnered orphan drug designations across the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Other notable candidates such as Priovant Therapeutics' brepocitinib, Molecure’s OATD-01, and Xentria’s XTMAB-16 are currently under evaluation to address inflammatory and fibrotic processes. Analysts expect these innovations to reshape the standard of care by offering more precise control over the disease, potentially reducing patient dependence on broad immunosuppressive regimens.