Breakthrough drug for people intolerant of sunlight

22-Dec-2009 - Australia

A new pharmaceutical drug which protects people from sunlight may revolutionise preventative treatments for patients with a range of light-sensitive skin disorders. A 12 month trial of the drug, afamelanotide, has just been completed on patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a condition where patients are completely intolerant to sunlight. But it’s expected this treatment, developed by Clinuvel and dubbed a “UV vaccine” by scientists, may have much wider application.

The EPP trial focused on 101 patients around the world diagnosed with the debilitating genetic disorder. It’s estimated around 300 Australians are afflicted with EPP, which leaves them in “intolerable pain”, with blistering and burns when exposed to normal levels of light and sunlight. The disease is incurable and affects patients for life. As a result, EPP patients must completely cover up to leave their homes. Sunscreens are of no use as they don’t block out visible light (in the blue spectrum), which causes toxic reactions in EPP.

The breakthrough drug giving them new hope has been 19 years in development and works by activating a barrier of melanin between light and a person’s skin. The implantable drug, the size of a grain of rice, is able to stimulate and increase skin pigmentation. Skin becomes darker within 48 hours.

“After years of development and managing uncertainty in drug development, we are approaching our objectives,” Clinuvel CEO, Dr Philippe Wolgen said. “Our primary goal is to develop a safe preventative drug with a positive impact on the lives of EPP patients. It is conceivable that others with severe skin diseases affected by light may also benefit from afamelanotide. The second aim is to ensure that our shareholders recognise a successful company that eventually pays them back for the funds and trust they put in us."

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/111148/breakthrough-drug-for-people-intolerant-of-sunlight.html