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Novel topical minocycline gel may safely treat acne
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BPX-101, a novel topical gel formulation of minocycline, may deliver the medication to target areas of acne without side effects, according to a poster presentation at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.
The early clinical data from the study were presented by researcher Usha Nagavarupu, PhD, BioPharmX senior director of preclinical drug development for BioPharmX, according to a news release from BioPharmX, which sponsored the study.
“BPX-01 is a novel topical gel formulation of minocycline that can be delivered to the pilosebaceous units with a favorable safety and efficacy profile compared to oral minocycline,” the researchers reported in the poster.
The study was designed to confirm whether BPX-01, stable hydrophilic topical gel with fully solubilized minocycline, can effectively treat acne with lower and safer dosages of minocycline, according to the release.
Acne is currently treated with oral minocycline, but because the drug is delivered systemically, side effects can include upset stomach, diarrhea, dizziness and headache. BPX-01 may enable a lower dosage of the drug to be used, and studies suggest that it does not enter the blood stream in measurable quantities, BioPharmX reported.
BioPharmX is currently conducting a phase 2b, dose-finding, 12-week, multi-center clinical trial to measure efficacy and safety of BPX-01 for treating acne vulgaris. The randomized study includes 225 patients, aged 9 to 40 years, who have moderate-to-severe inflammatory, non-nodular acne vulgaris, according to the release.
“The ‘Holy Grail’ in acne treatment is optimizing both efficacy and tolerability,” Ted Levin, MD, an investigator in the phase 2b study, stated in the release. “What dermatologists desperately need is a product with both a very limited side effect profile and reliable efficacy comparable to that of oral antibiotics.”
Reference: www.biopharmx.com
Nagavarapu U. Development and Assessment of BPX-01, a Novel Topical Minocycline Gel for Treatment of Acne Vulgaris. Presented at: American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting; March 3-7; Orlando, Fla.
Disclosure: Healio.com/Dermatology was unable to determine relevant financial disclosures at time of publication.