This week, Contemporary Pediatrics covered topics including the multiple FDA approvals, addressing mental health in primary care visits, and more. Take a look at some of our top stories from the week of June 8 to June 12 2026, and click on each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.

Megan Cole Brahim, PhD, on addressing mental health concerns during pediatric primary care visits

A large cohort study published in JAMA Network Open found that mental health concerns are being addressed with increasing frequency during pediatric primary care visits, underscoring the growing role of pediatricians in behavioral health care. Using data from more than 37.7 million person-quarters involving over 1.8 million children in Massachusetts between 2014 and 2023, investigators observed that primary care visits involving a mental health diagnosis increased from 5.9 to 9.7 visits per 100 children.

Anxiety accounted for the largest increase, with anxiety-related diagnoses rising nearly 300% over the study period, while attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder remained the most commonly identified mental health condition. The findings suggest that mental health concerns now represent a larger share of pediatric primary care encounters, even as overall primary care utilization has declined slightly. Researchers noted that expanding access to integrated behavioral health services, additional staffing, and enhanced training may be necessary to help pediatric practices meet growing demand for mental health care.

FDA expands marstacimab (HYMPAVZI) approval to children ages 6–11 and hemophilia patients with inhibitors

The FDA expanded approval of marstacimab-hncq (Hympavzi) to include adults and children aged 6 years and older with hemophilia A or hemophilia B, with or without inhibitors, making it the first subcutaneous non-factor therapy available for children aged 6 to 11 years with hemophilia B. The decision was supported by data from the phase 3 BASIS and BASIS KIDS studies, which demonstrated low annualized bleeding rates across pediatric and inhibitor populations.

In the BASIS trial, marstacimab reduced treated annualized bleeding rates by 93% compared with on-demand bypassing therapy in patients with inhibitors. Interim pediatric data from BASIS KIDS also showed low bleeding rates among children aged 6 to 17 years, including those with inhibitors. Marstacimab works by targeting tissue factor pathway inhibitor, allowing it to enhance clot formation independently of factors VIII and IX. The expanded approval provides a new once-weekly prophylactic option for pediatric patients and individuals with inhibitor-complicated disease, populations that have historically faced limited and burdensome treatment choices.

Earlier egg introduction guidelines linked to measurable decline in infant egg allergy prevalence

A population-based study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that earlier introduction of egg into infancy, following updated Australian food allergy prevention guidelines, was associated with a reduction in egg allergy prevalence among 1-year-old children. Investigators compared more than 5,000 infants recruited before the 2016 guideline change with nearly 2,000 infants recruited afterward and found that the proportion introduced to egg by 6 months of age more than doubled, increasing from 25.4% to 57.3%.

After adjusting for demographic and allergy-related risk factors, egg allergy prevalence declined from 9.2% to 7.6%, representing a 17.7% relative reduction. The greatest benefit was observed among infants with early eczema, a high-risk group in whom egg allergy prevalence fell from 34.6% to 21.9%. The findings provide real-world evidence that early allergen introduction recommendations can reduce food allergy burden at a population level, although the magnitude of benefit was smaller than that reported in randomized clinical trials.

New sunscreen ingredient clears FDA for the first time since the 1990s

The FDA finalized an administrative order adding bemotrizinol as an approved over-the-counter sunscreen active ingredient, marking the first new sunscreen filter added to the US monograph system in more than 20 years. The agency determined that bemotrizinol is generally recognized as safe and effective at concentrations up to 6% for adults and children aged 6 months and older. Widely used in Europe and other regions, bemotrizinol is a broad-spectrum UV filter that provides protection against both UVA and UVB radiation and is known for its photostability.

The FDA review found minimal systemic absorption under maximal-use conditions and no significant safety concerns. The decision may help address longstanding gaps in UVA protection among US sunscreen products and expands the range of ingredients available to manufacturers without requiring separate drug applications. The approval also represents a milestone for the streamlined OTC monograph review process established under the CARES Act.

FDA approves lebrikizumab every-8-week maintenance dosing for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis

The FDA approved a new once-every-8-week maintenance dosing option for lebrikizumab-lbkz (EBGLYSS) in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kg with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis that is not adequately controlled by topical prescription therapies. The expanded label allows eligible patients to receive as few as 6 maintenance injections annually and makes lebrikizumab the only biologic in its class with an approved maintenance regimen at this frequency.

The approval was supported by long-term data from the ADjoin extension study, which demonstrated sustained disease control and a favorable safety profile among patients who had already completed approximately 2 years of treatment. No new safety signals were identified, and no participants discontinued therapy because of adverse events during the 32-week extension period. The decision provides greater dosing flexibility for patients managing chronic atopic dermatitis and may help reduce long-term treatment burden while maintaining disease control.