| NEWS
news W
hile much
attention is given to the Baby Boom Generation — those born between 1946 and 1964 — with regard to
cosmetic surgeries, the next generation may actually help to fuel the anti-ageing industry in the coming years. According to the American Society for
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), Baby Boomers between the ages of 51 and 64 years accounted for 28% of the total cosmetic plastic surgeries and procedures in 2010. Generation X'ers, who range in age from 31–45 years, were among the more than 4 million individuals in the age group who underwent the majority (43%) of procedures last year, despite the fact that they are fewer in number. many in the so-called Generation X — who
were born between 1965 and 1979 — are now in their 40s. According to the Los Angeles Times, many in this age group aspire to look like celebrities such as Jennifer lopez, Gwyneth
Regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Limited has announced that it has received regulatory clearance from the Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to begin the first Phase 2 trial of its proprietary allogeneic (off-the-shelf) adult stem cell therapy for patients with proliferation of leaky blood vessels in the eyes — neovascular ('wet') age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Wet AMD causes sudden and
severe central vision loss and accounts for approximately 90% of all blindness in older population.
A round-up of news stories in the aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine industry
GENErAtioN X mAy hElp to fuEl ANti- AGEiNG iNduStry, AccordiNG to ASApS
Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, and catherine Zeta- Jones — all of whom are also members of Generation X. As a whole, Generation X'ers are more willing
to spend money on their appearance. One study found that they rely on preventive anti- ageing beauty regimens to a greater extent than the older generation. in addition, the newspaper reports that 'a report from the Symphony iRi National consumer Panel says that Gen X spent $5.3 billion on beauty products in the 12-month period that ended June 26, which represented 28% of all beauty spending.' Another survey conducted by Allure
magazine found that 93% of women and 84% of men say the pressure to look young today is greater than it has ever been. This pressure — whether real or perceived —
along with the focus many have on health and beauty, may mean an increase in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the coming years. As this generation ages, they may be more apt to seek out treatments, procedures and surgeries
that help them appear younger, such as toxin or filler injections, eyelid surgeries, liposuction, and chemical peels. A recent ASAPS survey revealed that 53% of
women and 49% of men say they approve of cosmetic surgery. The poll also found that 67% of Americans said they would not be embarrassed if their friends or family knew they had cosmetic surgery.
MESOBLAST CLEARED FOR PHASE 2 TRIAL FOR EYE DISEASE
Mesoblast is developing a stem cell therapeutic product for treating a range of vascular diseases of the eye, including wet AMD and diabetic macular oedema. In North America, the prevalence
of wet AMD is estimated to grow to nearly 3 million by 2020, from 1.7 million today,
with around
200000 new cases diagnosed each year. The current standard-of- care for wet AMD in North America is repeated intraocular injections using an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agent. However, treatment needs to be
maintained long-term as cessation of repeated injections results in rapid disease recurrence and risk of vision loss. In Asia, wet AMD affects as many
as 1.9% of those aged 65 years and older. However, up to 55% of cases of wet AMD in Chinese, Japanese, and Malay populations are caused by polypoid choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), a disorder of eye blood vessel proliferation different to the wet form seen in North America and Europe. Anti-VEGF therapy does not result in adequate regression of PCV lesions, and for this reason the
first-line therapy for PCV is photodynamic therapy. Mesoblast's proprietary adult stem
cells may be effective for both forms of wet AMD since they have successfully reduced excessive blood vessel formation and leakiness in a number of pre-clinical studies. Mesoblast's randomized, placebo-
controlled Phase 2 trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a single intraocular injection of Mesoblast's allogeneic Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs), combined with the anti-VEGF agent Lucentis, in newly-diagnosed wet AMD patients.
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