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Galderma Laboratories has received FDA approval for Clobex (clobetasol propionate 0.05 percent) in a lotion formulation. The class I steroid prescription lotion is designed to control and treat steroid-responsive dermatoses, including moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

The FDA approved Amgen and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals drug, Enbrel (etanercept), to inhibit the progression of structural damage in patients with active psoriatic arthritis and reduce its signs and symptoms.

Astralis Ltd., partnered with SkyPharma PLC, has initiated a phase I clinical trial in the United States for Psoraxine, a new injectable treatment for moderate psoriasis.

FDA APPROVES VALTREX

The FDA has approved a supplemental new drug application for Valtrex (valacyclovir HCI) manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

The Lupus Research Institute, a national nonprofit organization, will seek new grants, with particular attention paid to development of early biomarkers to assess disease activity in lupus and possible response to therapy.

Jack Arbiser, assistant professor of dermatology at Emory University headed a study of magnolia seed cones in research funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Organogenesis announced the completion of its court-approved reorganization plan, allowing the company to emerge from Chapter 11 protection and to continue manufacturing and supplying Apligraf, its bilayered skin substitute approved to heal venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given expanded wrinkle clearance to Candela Corp. for its Smoothbeam diode laser, which can be used for non-invasive treatment of facial wrinkles.

An affiliate company of DFB Pharmaceuticals Inc, Healthpoint, Ltd., has signed an exclusive agreement with IsoTis, S.A. to develop and license its patented, biologic, wound-healing technology called Allox.

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Expensive or Good Deal?

Biologics manufacturers cite complex research and development process,along with FDA scrutiny, as reason for costly - but worthy - drugs

Emerging Gold Standard?

San Francisco - More than two decades after collagen launched a revolution in filling facial wrinkles, the FDA is expected to approve the soft filler hyaluronic acid (Restylane, Q-Med) within the next few months. The approval will be partly based on a phase III study that showed it provides longer-lasting correction of nasolabial folds than collagen.

Fungoides Foiler

San Francisco - Cytokine therapies that enhance the T-helper 1 (TH1) response may be the key to effective treatment of mycosis fungoides, according to David P. Fivenson, M.D. The treatments, still in the investigative stage, have potential advantages over existing treatments because their selectivity of action also reduces the risk of nonselectivity-related toxicity, he said, noting that mycosis fungoides is now typically termed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

San Francisco - While lasers and other surgical innovations have emphasized the surgical component of dermatology, the new biologic agents used to treat psoriasis have quietly rejuvenated the medical side of the field, according to Francisco Kerdel, M.D.

Chicago - Results of two multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials support the conclusion that the TNF-a chimeric monoclonal antibody infliximab (Remicade) is a highly effective and generally well-tolerated treatment for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, Alan D. Menter, M.D., said.

San Francisco - For patients who want to smooth out wrinkles and facial lines but who cannot tolerate collagen injections, alternative fillers already in use in other countries are at the cusp of FDA approval. More people than ever are interested in pursuing such anti-aging measures, as worldwide facial aesthetic product sales in the first quarter of 2003 rose to $17 million, an increase of 8 percent over the first quarter of 2002.

Beware Risks of Blindness

New York - Permanent blindness can occur as a complication of facial filler procedures, but it is probably a preventable phenomenon with use of proper injection technique, Sydney Coleman, M.D., said at Emerging Technologies and Techniques in Plastic Surgery, a meeting sponsored by the New York University School of Medicine.

Same-Day Tx

San Francisco - Two new dermal fillers approved for use without a pre-treatment skin test will enable dermatologists to offer patients same-day collagen replacement therapy.

Growing Season

Beverly Hills, Calif. - Hair follicle neogenesis has exciting potential for enabling hair restoration with an unlimited supply of donor material, said Ken Washenik, M.D., Ph.D.

Angiogenesis Starters

San Francisco - Angiogenesis stimulation is a key strategy for promoting wound closure, and there are now a number of modalities available for achieving that goal, said Vincent W. Li, M.D., M.B.A.

Nonsurgical browlift

In order to avoid the complications that can present from a surgical eyebrow lift, a study was conducted to test a nonsurgical, noninvasive eyebrow lift method.

BOTOX and Prostate

Botulinum toxin injected into the prostate reduced symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and was well tolerated, according to the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, preliminary trial (Urology 2003; 62:259-265).

Varicose Vein TX

VNUS Medical Technologies announced results of a peer-reviewed, multi-center randomized trial comparing recovery rates and quality of life between patients treated with conventional varicose vein stripping surgery and radiofrequency vein ablation (Closure procedure).

Powder helps scabbing

An scientist's accident has led to the development of a blood-clotting powder that works on contact and reportedly is being sold at CVS and Walgreens.