Experts Assembled To Discuss The Present And Future Developments On Acne Treatment

Main Category: Dermatology
Article Date: 18 Oct 2007 - 2:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Galderma Laboratories participated in the XXI World Congress of Dermatology held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, bringing experts to take part in a symposium on some of the latest developments in the treatment of acne.

The panel of experts opined that the management of acne involves both the art and the science of medicine. The chairs of the panel stated that the inflammatory aspect of acne was one of the key factors in disease severity. The possible use of this knowledge for the development of future treatments was presented in the symposium.

The issues discussed included:

- Rational therapeutic approaches to minimize or even prevent scar formation.
- Updating international guidelines
- Patient compliance with treatment
- State of the art review of fixed dose combinations drugs (current and future)
- Advantages and disadvantages of lasers and light-based therapies
- Future treatments and therapies

The most relevant issues discussed in the symposium were:

- Consensus recommendations from the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne emphasize the role of topical retinoids as the foundation of acne therapy , based on their multiple mechanisms of action, especially on microcomedones

- The panel discussed clinical trials involving that show strong data to support the first-line use of topical retinoids in comedonal acne or in combination with antimicrobial agents in inflammatory acne.

- In addition, the panel discussed controlled clinical trials that support the original recommendation by the Global Alliance for use of topical retinoids as maintenance therapy in acne.

- A survey was presented on the factors influencing adherence to anti-acne treatments in different countries, with the aim of evaluating any correlation between quality of life and patient adherence. In this international survey, more than 2,000 patients have currently been included from Asia, Europe, North America and South America. These preliminary results confirm that adherence is improved by a better understanding by the patients of their disease and their therapy the efficacy and tolerabity of the treatment, but is independent of acne seventy. Adapalene has shown the best level of good adherence among all topical treatment used (retinoids, antibiotic)

- The efficacy of several fixed-dose combination acne formulations was discussed: Combination of benzoyl peroxide with an antibiotic (BPO/AB) and those combining a topical retinoid with an antibiotic (TR/AB). Use of these combination products is aimed at improving convenience and efficacy versus the use of any of the components alone. The combination of a topical retinoid with BPO is a standard of care by targeting different pathophysiological factors (Follicular hyperkeratinzation,, inflammation, P acnes) and therefore clearing inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions (microcomedone, comedo). The new fixed dose combination of the retinoid adapalene with the most well known potent bactericidal agent BPO represents the most logical and complete combination (Epiduo). Results of several clinical studies have shown Epiduo´s strong and quick efficacy associated with an excellent tolerability profile.

- As a treatment for active acne, lasers and light-based therapies attempt to target Propionibacterium acnes, sebum production, or both. Clinicians with experience in the use of lasers and light-based treatments for active acne have mixed opinions on the effectiveness of these therapies. Such treatments are often used in combination with pharmacologic therapies in clinical practice.

- One panelist discussed ongoing research into the area of the causes of acne at a cellular level. The panelist opined that a large number of genes are highly expressed in the skin lesions of patients with acne. Many of these genes were known to be involved in either inflammation or tissue remodeling. In addition, work is being done to determine the factors that regulate lipid production in the skin and sebaceous glands.

Speakers

Galderma assembled several outstanding experts for this symposium:

- Harald Gollnick , M D. Professor and Chairman. Department of Dermatology and Venereology

- Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany

- Vicente Torres Lozada , M D. Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeon, Department of Dermatology Juarez Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico

- Sewon Kang, M D. Professor and Director Program for Clinical Research in Dermatology, University of Michigan, Michigan, USA

- Harald Gollnick, M D. Professor and Chairman. Department of Dermatology and Venereology

- Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.

- Brigitte Dréno, M D , P h D. Professor of Dermatology. Head, Department of Skin Cancers - Head, GMP Unit of Gene and Cell Therapy Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France

- Diane Thiboutot, M D. Professor of Dermatology. Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA

About Galderma

Created in 1981 as a joint venture between Nestle and L'Oreal, Galderma is one of the leading dermatology companies in the world according to recent IMS D-Class survey. With a worldwide presence in 65 countries, Galderma has over 900 sales representatives dedicated to dermatology. Galderma is a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company with a global sales and marketing structure and worldwide product development capability. Galderma provides innovative therapeutic skincare solutions to meet the needs of dermatology patients and physicians. The company is committed to improving the health of skin with an extensive line of products that treat a range of conditions including: acne, rosacea, fungal nail infections, psoriasis/SRD (steroid-responsive dermatoses), pigmentary disorders, skin cancers and medical products for skin senescence.

With a new research and development center in Sophia Antipolis (France), Galderma has one of the largest R&D facilities dedicated to dermatology. Galderma is also poised to continue making significant impact on dermatology treatments with the introduction of exciting technology and products on the horizon.

http://www.galderma.com/

• Additional
• References
• Citations