Wednesday, November 21, 2007
New study: "Successful Treatment of the Erythema and Flushing of Rosacea"
Interesting sounding new study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?tmpl=NoSidebarfile&db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=18025359&dopt=AbstractPlus
Title:
Successful Treatment of the Erythema and Flushing of Rosacea Using a Topically Applied Selective {alpha}1-Adrenergic Receptor Agonist, Oxymetazoline.
Oxymetazoline is an active ingredient used in some nasal sprays to constrict the blood vessels and reduce congestion. The Collagenex topical Col-118 (which was called Sansrosa) works on a similar principle and is actually in the pipeline, expected to enter Phase III trials in early 2008.
The struggle with such topicals is to avoid rebound dilation, whereby when the constriction effect wears off, the blood vessels dilate even more than previously, resulting in a redder face and more flushing. It is also not clear what long-term effects of topical blood vessel constriction will be (I expect this is something that Collagenex will be looking at in their Phase III trials).
I'll post updates when I get access to the full paper.
[Update1 - the study is associated with a company called Aspect Pharmaceuticals which describes itself as "a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up company working to develop new and more effective therapies to treat rosacea and other dermatologic conditions" (here).]
[Update2 - I've had a chance to read the paper in full (it can be purchased here - http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/143/11/1369). Here is my brief summary:
[Update3 - here is the patent assigned to the authors of the above paper - "Method and therapeutic/cosmetic topical compositions for the treatment of rosacea and skin erythema using a1-adrenoceptor agonists"]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?tmpl=NoSidebarfile&db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=18025359&dopt=AbstractPlus
Title:
Successful Treatment of the Erythema and Flushing of Rosacea Using a Topically Applied Selective {alpha}1-Adrenergic Receptor Agonist, Oxymetazoline.
Oxymetazoline is an active ingredient used in some nasal sprays to constrict the blood vessels and reduce congestion. The Collagenex topical Col-118 (which was called Sansrosa) works on a similar principle and is actually in the pipeline, expected to enter Phase III trials in early 2008.
The struggle with such topicals is to avoid rebound dilation, whereby when the constriction effect wears off, the blood vessels dilate even more than previously, resulting in a redder face and more flushing. It is also not clear what long-term effects of topical blood vessel constriction will be (I expect this is something that Collagenex will be looking at in their Phase III trials).
I'll post updates when I get access to the full paper.
[Update1 - the study is associated with a company called Aspect Pharmaceuticals which describes itself as "a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up company working to develop new and more effective therapies to treat rosacea and other dermatologic conditions" (here).]
[Update2 - I've had a chance to read the paper in full (it can be purchased here - http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/143/11/1369). Here is my brief summary:
- The paper is a case study of 2 patients with facial flushing and redness. One of the authors is a private practice physician.
- "A commercially available preparation of oxymetazoline hydrochloride, 0.05%, solution" was applied once a day (an OTC product).
- Results appeared within 1-2 hours of application and were long-lasting (all day).
- Reduction in redness, flushing, burning and stinging was reported by the patients.
- Patients were warned that treatment was "off-label" and that "adverse effects could occur and could include the listed adverse effects of underlying heart disease, hypertension, thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, and urinary retention."
- Long-lasting results were reported: "At the last follow-up examination, patient 1 had continued treatment for 8 months and patient 2 for 17 months, with sustained effects."
- The authors report that certain alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonists such as oxymetazoline theoretically have anti-inflammatory effects and inhibit against 5-lipoxygenase.
[Update3 - here is the patent assigned to the authors of the above paper - "Method and therapeutic/cosmetic topical compositions for the treatment of rosacea and skin erythema using a1-adrenoceptor agonists"]
