West Chester, Pa. – August 27, 2026
Verrica Pharmaceuticals announced completion of enrollment in COVE-2, the first pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating YCANTH® (VP-102) for the treatment of common warts. An independent interim statistical power analysis confirmed that no additional patients were recommended for full enrollment, allowing the study to proceed toward its planned topline readout in the first quarter of 2027. For cGxP.wire, the key development is the completion of enrollment in the first pivotal Phase 3 study, while the second pivotal study, COVE-3, has already surpassed 50% of its current enrollment target. Verrica currently expects the remaining topline data from the global Phase 3 program by mid-2027, potentially supporting regulatory submissions in the U.S. and Japan if the program demonstrates sufficient efficacy and safety.
Verrica Completes COVE-2 Phase 3 Enrollment
The COVE-2 trial is a double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled Phase 3 study evaluating YCANTH in patients aged 2 years and older with common warts. The treatment is administered once every 21 days for up to four applications. The company said the per-protocol interim statistical analysis, conducted by an independent statistician while the study remains blinded to Verrica and the clinical team, confirmed that additional subjects were not required to maintain the study’s statistical power assumptions. This represents an important execution milestone because enrollment completion allows the first pivotal study to progress toward its planned topline analysis. COVE-2 enrolled patients in the United States, while the companion COVE-3 study is being conducted in the U.S. and Japan. Together, the trials form the core efficacy and safety package for Verrica’s potential common-warts label expansion.
YCANTH Targets Large Unmet Need in Common Warts
YCANTH is a topical cantharidin drug-device combination product currently approved by the FDA for healthcare-professional administration in patients aged 2 years and older with molluscum contagiosum. Verrica is seeking to expand its use into common warts, a significantly larger dermatology market. The company estimates that approximately 22 million people in the U.S. have common warts, with around half of patients seeking treatment being children. There are currently no FDA-approved prescription drug therapies specifically for common warts, according to Verrica. The development strategy therefore seeks to leverage an existing commercial product, physician relationships and dermatology infrastructure rather than build an entirely new commercial platform. However, the potential market size does not guarantee commercial success; Phase 3 efficacy, durability, safety and regulatory outcomes remain the critical variables.
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COVE-3 Advances as Verrica Targets 2027 Data
The global Phase 3 program consists of COVE-2 and COVE-3, supported by a long-term follow-up study, COVE-4, and a pharmacokinetic study, COVE-5. Verrica reported that COVE-3 has already exceeded 50% of its current targeted enrollment, with topline data currently expected in mid-2027. The program builds on the earlier Phase 2 COVE-1 study, which reported reductions in common-wart counts, complete wart clearance in some patients and durability of clearance in many participants. Verrica and Japanese development partner Torii Pharmaceutical are sharing the costs of the global Phase 3 program on a 50/50 basis, while Torii is funding the first $40 million of trial costs, representing approximately 90% of the current trial budget. If the Phase 3 program succeeds, the companies intend to pursue marketing approval in the U.S. and Japan. The immediate catalyst is therefore the COVE-2 topline readout expected in Q1 2027, followed by additional program data anticipated by mid-2027.
Source:Verrica Pharmaceuticals,s,,,press relese
