KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals Announces Initiation Of First-in-Human Trial For ATX-104 - A Light-Activated Facial Contouring Agent

Main Category: Dermatology
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 17 Sep 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (KYTHERA) announced that it has initiated a first-in-human, proof-of-concept study evaluating the safety, tolerability, persistence and histological effects of ATX-104, a light-activated facial contouring agent.

"We are very excited to move ATX-104 into the clinic," said Patricia Walker, MD, PhD, KYTHERA's Chief Medical Officer. "In pre-clinical testing, KYTHERA's proprietary photofiller demonstrated improved persistence, maintenance of shape and contourability - a combination of features not available in current dermal fillers. We see this as a next-generation filler platform that has the promise of dramatically expanding the landscape of possible aesthetic treatments."

"The initiation of this ATX-104 trial marks an important milestone for KYTHERA. ATX-104 represents our third clinical stage product and the first based on our own Research programs," said Keith Leonard, President and CEO of KYTHERA. "With the data from this initial proof-of-concept trial, we intend to evaluate worldwide partnership options for ATX-104."

About ATX-104

ATX-104 is a light-activated facial contouring agent, based on a proprietary technology co-developed by KYTHERA and Johns Hopkins University. ATX-104 is designed to be injected, shaped and polymerized transdermally via an external light source. Transdermal photo-polymerization enables an alteration of ATX-104 mechanical properties in situ. In preclinical models, ATX-104 photochemistry, when combined with all tested commercially available fillers, dramatically improved the persistence and ability to maintain a contoured shape as compared with the filler alone.

Source
KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals