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| Apollo's needle-free psoriasis treatment more than skin-deep |
Apollo:improving quality of life | A psoriasis treatment being developed by Apollo Life Sciences has outperformed market-leading drugs in pre-clinical studies, and is proceeding to Phase 2 trials.
Psoriasis (pronounced sore-EYE-a-sis) is a severe skin rash affecting 3% of the western population and millions of people in Asia. It occurs when an immune system overreaction leads to an overgrowth of skin cells, causing itchy lesions.
Apollo has developed a natural human version of a protein, known as a Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) blocker, which reduces inflammation and is used to treat psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases.
The comparative tests found Apollo's natural protein is at least as effective as current competitors Enbrel, Humira and Remicade. The studies also confirmed that Apollo's 'transdermal' technology successfully delivers large proteins through the skin, including products currently on the market that otherwise require injecting.
Transdermal treatment - literally, treatment through the skin - is not a new concept: ancient balms were based on the same principle. Oestrogen and nicotine patches are newer examples of transdermal delivery. These products can easily penetrate the skin because they consist of small, oil-soluble molecules. However, scientists have so far struggled to transport larger, water-soluble molecules - such as some anti-inflammatories - through the skin.
Apollo has now mastered world-first technology, known as "TransDTM", to take these substances through the skin. This means that substances previously taken via injections or tablets can be applied via a cream, allowing direct treatment of the affected areas.
Apollo's Science Director, Dr Greg Russell-Jones, said the results show great promise. "Currently, people prescribed a TNF blocker must take injections. Apollo's transdermal treatment will be easier and less painful to apply.
"The TNF blockers currently on the market can have quite severe side-effects, from serious infections and bruising to seizures and a higher risk of cancer. Because our TNF blocker is based on human proteins, we expect it will have fewer side effects. The transdermal formula will also reduce side effects by delivering the drug directly where it is needed, rather than travelling through the whole body as with injected versions."
Psoriasis sufferers often face a lifetime of treatment and ill health: psoriasis is rarely completely cured. The global TNF blocker market is worth around US$8.5 billion, with a growth rate over 30%. |
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| www.apollolifescience.com |
