Arcutis Debuts Its First ESG Report

Early-stage commercial dermatology firm Arcutis Biotherapeutics, based in Westlake Village, has published its first environmental, social and governance report.

The report covers matters such as access and affordability of treatments, the makeup of the company’s staff and board, community engagement and more. 

“Our first ESG report highlights the commitment of Arcutis to be an upstanding global citizen and make a positive impact by executing our business in a socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible manner,” Frank Watanabe, Arcutis’ president and chief executive, said in a statement. “In particular, we are proud of the progress we have made to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into our culture and practices, from hiring and professional development to conducting clinical trials.”

Employee data revealed that as of December last year, slightly more than half of Arcutis’ workforce was comprised of women, while 32% of its leadership roles were controlled by women.

The company is a corporate sponsor of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA).

In addition to a benefits program, employees receive a new-hire equity grant when they join the company and are also eligible to receive annual equity grants. The company also sponsors a 401k program with company match.

Arcutis’ board composition as of October tallied six men and four women, with the average age of its directors being 58 and average tenure being three years.

In 2021 drug safety reporting, Arcutis did not have any product fatalities, recalls or violations of good manufacturing practices to report, as its first commercial product was not approved until this year. 

This summer, Arcutis announced that the new drug application for Zoryve (roflumilast) cream was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The cream is a treatment for plaque psoriasis.

The company’s sustainability efforts have translated into product packaging that consists of recyclable cartons and aluminum tubes. Speaking on its work model, the report, which was released in November, stated that “Arcutis uses a hybrid in-office and work-from-home model. Our footprint is limited to one corporate office space that uses environmentally friendly practices to reduce our impact.

“Before initiating a partnership with a supplier, we evaluate them across several criteria; one of those is a commitment to sustainability with a dedicated program in place,” the report added. “We’re proud to say 100% of our suppliers do meet this criteria.”