OPINION | DERMATOLOGY | perfluorocarbon being developed
separately as an oxygen-carrying emulsion blood substitute), for the treatment of wounds, abrasions, burns, acne and rosacea, not to mention erectile dysfunction and cell treatment after radiation therapy. The current development plan envisages Wundecyte as a product for more complex wound-healing indications, in combination with oxygen-producing technologies based on
hydrogen
peroxide. In fact, a similar approach is being taken
by Florida-based Nanotherapeutics, Inc., which is developing a topical hydrogel formulation of the antibiotic doxycycline to improve healing in lower extremity diabetic ulcers. The product, NanoDOX Hydrogel, is being developed with support from the US National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Specialised foams Possibly the most popular approach to drug delivery to the skin is currently the use of specialised foams, and a number of such products are in development. Indeed, foam-based formulations of a number of existing dermatology products have recently been approved for marketing, and could reach the market soon. One specialist company that features
prominently in this area is Foamix, based in Rehovot, Israel, which describes itself as Ôan innovative leader in topical drug and cosmetic deliveryÕ. The company has developed a number of related technologies, including: ■ Emollient Foam, an emollient, alcohol-free, emulsion-based foam formulation for drugs used in the treatment of skin disorders
■ OleoFoamix, an oil-based foam used as an alternative to ointment
■ Suspension Foams, which contain insoluble drugs and cosmetic agents, such as zinc oxide, titanium oxide or aciclovir
■ Waterless Foams, which are intended to incorporate water-insoluble drugs and unstable drugs that are difficult to formulate in aqueous medium. Another Foamix
product is Oilgel, a semi-solid formulation
64 ❚ September 2012 |
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that assumes a liquid state on rubbing onto the skin. Foamix focuses particularly on the
dermatology and gynaecology sectors. Its lead product, which is currently undergoing clinical trials, is a topical minocycline foam formulation that it says addresses major unmet needs in dermatology, gynaecology and ophthalmic therapy. In the dermatology arena, it is being studied for the treatment of impetigo as well as uncomplicated skin infections, rosacea, acne, and wound care. Among the other foam products it is
developing are: ■ BetMetFoam, an alcohol-free betamethasone valerate product for treating superficial inflammation such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis
■ TerbiFoam, an anti-fungal product ■ AcycloFoam, a formulation of acyclovir for treating genital and labial herpes
■ LactiFoam, an ammonium lactate product for treating dry skin conditions
■ Urea Foam, a moisturiser for the treatment of dry, scaly skin, including ichthyosis vulgaris and xerosis
■ AtopiFoam, an alcohol-free emollient foam especially designed to treat the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. In the
rash (diaper dermatitis). Other companies developing
foam-based medicinal products include such well-known names as GlaxoSmithKline. GSKÕs Calcipotriene VersaFoam-EF, for example, is a 0.005% topical formulation of calcipotriol (a vitamin D derivative), developed by Stiefel Laboratories (GSKÕs dermatology business) using its VersaFoam-EF technology, for the treatment of psoriasis. As Sorilux, it has been approved in the US for use in patients aged 18 years and over. VersaFoam-EF is an emulsion formulation developed by Stiefel for use in drug delivery to non-hair bearing areas, and relieves dryness by providing a non-greasy moisturising barrier. Stiefel has also developed a foam
formulation of tazarotene, a vitamin A-like compound originally developed by Allergan for treating psoriasis and acne, for the treatment and prevention of common skin conditions such as acne.
cosmetic sector, FoamixÕs
products include foam-based night and day moisturisers, a cosmeceutical foam for the treatment of hyperpigmentation and age spots, a product for treating dry, scaly skin on the feet, and a baby foam for the prevention and treatment of nappy
Possibly the most popular
approach to drug delivery to the skin is currently the use of specialised foams, and a number of such products are in development.
Conclusions The skin has a number of important functions, but one of the most important is to form a barrier to prevent foreign materials from entering the body. When it comes to drug delivery, this can be a disadvantage. While drugs intended for a systemic effect can be administered via other routes, it is best if drugs intended to act in the skin are applied directly to the skin if at all possible, in order to localise their effect. Over the years, a number of techniques
have been developed for getting such drugs into the skin, some of which are quite complicated. For example, the technique of iontophoresis uses a small electric charge to deliver a medicinal product through the skin. However, the equipment needed makes this a cumbersome procedure not ideally suited to use in the patientÕs home. As a result, delivery techniques like
those described in this article play a very important role in the treatment of skin conditions. The gold SNA technology is therefore just the latest in a long line of technological advances designed to make the treatment of skin conditions safer and more effective.
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