Phosphagenics fills Phase 2 acne trial enrolment

THE ROADHOUSE PHARMACY: Phosphagenics Limited (ASX: POH) has completed enrolment for a Phase 2 clinical trial of the company’s improved treatment for the common skin disorder acne vulgaris.

The three month study is examining the efficacy of the topical acne drug tretinoin, which has been formulated with Phosphagenics’ proprietary transdermal delivery technology TPM®, against a leading commercial tretinoin formulation.

A total of 54 patients have been recruited for the randomised double blind study at three trial sites in Perth, Brisbane and Hamilton, New Zealand.

Phosphagenics anticipates the trial will be completed at the end of this quarter, with results to be announced Q3 2014.

The company said previous studies it has conducted demonstrated an increase in the delivery of trentinoin into the skin compared to a leading commercially available product as well as substantially deeper penetration of the drug.

This was achieved with less irritation to the skin and surrounding application area when evaluated against the comparator.

Tretinoin is a drug most commonly prescribed by dermatologists for topical treatment of acne, however, it causes adverse skin irritation in many patients and consequently leads to a large number of those patients withdrawing from treatment.

Phosphagenics explained that as a result, products often contain a less than optimal amount of tretinoin to reduce irritation but this leads to a decrease in efficacy as well.

“Dermatological products and particularly those with active ingredients that need to penetrate deeply into the skin but cause irritation, lend themselves perfectly to this technology,” Phosphagenics Limited CEO Harry Rosen said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“They are therefore of great interest to our company.”

Email: info@phosphagenics.com

Website: www.phosphagenics.com