DermaGen AB - part of the Karolinska Development dermatology and wound healing company "Pergamum" - today announced that Dermagen AB has received promising results from a clinical Phase I/IIa study. DermaGen AB is developing a novel antimicrobial peptide (AMP) treatment for atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease where dry skin and the skin's weakened barrier function make patients susceptible to colonization by microorganisms, a triggering or exacerbating factor of the disease. The AMP has shown a broad spectrum of activity and is both bactericidal and fungicidal. In the clinical trial, the company's candidate drug clearly reached its primary objective, demonstrating a significant reduction of total microbes in eczemas compared to placebo. In addition to good safety and tolerability performance, the candidate drug also showed a trend towards improved eczema status. This is the first time a study has shown efficacy of AMPs for atopic dermatitis in man.
Commenting on the study, DermaGen's Managing Director, Jan Alenfall, said, "Achieving such promising results from a first-time-in-man trial is very pleasing. The observed trend towards improvement of the disease condition provides particular encouragement. We will now initiate further clinical studies to substantiate this. Skin infection is recognized as an aggravating factor of atopic dermatitis. The development of a new class of treatment, capable of eradicating microbes with limited risk of microbial resistance development, is likely to have significant market appeal within this and other dermatological indications."