Innovation in Eczema

The pharmaceutical industry is constantly evolving and although billions of pounds are spent yearly developing new drugs and medical devices, innovation in the field of dermatology is one area that has lacked investment for a number of years.

From my humble beginnings as a sales rep, selling the first form of liquid Gaviscon, to board level positions in multi million pound pharmaceutical companies, I have seen almost everything the industry has to offer.

In many people’s eyes the first major development in the treatment of skin conditions was the introduction of Topical steroids in the 1950’s.  These revolutionised the treatment of eczema and inflammatory skin conditions generally. For decades the indication “steroid responsive dermatosis” gives a clue as to how specific a diagnosis had to be when choosing appropriate drug treatment for widely varying skin diseases!

There then followed a gap of almost 40 years before the next class of topical eczema treatments were introduced into clinical practice. Tacrolimus and pimecrolimus (topical immunomodulators, TIM’s) were launched in the 1990’s at a time when fears over the potential side effects of topical steroids were reaching fever pitch. Subsequent safety warnings from regulators seriously limited the usage of TIM’s through the 2000’s.

Apart from techniques such as wet-wrapping (now declining in popularity) nothing significant has happened in the last 20 years and it looks as though nothing significant is going to happen for the next 20 – unless research into filaggrin bears fruit.

A review by Massimo Riccaboni of the University of Trento and published by the Office of Health Economics (OHE Seminar Briefing No 11 June 2012) makes depressing reading for sufferers of skin diseases.

Dermatology accounts for 3% of worldwide pharmaceutical industry R&D spend and is declining, whereas research into new anti-cancer agents makes up 30% of investment and is growing at 8%. Yet the probability of success (measured by regulatory approval) is 7% in dermatology and 2% with anti-cancer programmes.

We believe that it is companies such as ours that can truly innovate and develop a unique product such as DreamSkin that eczema patients will rely on for years to come.

Eczema affects up to 10% of the UK population, 20%-25% of children and is increasing.  15% of all visits to a GP include skin complaint as the reason for the consultation, with eczema being by far the most common reason.

About Dreamskin

DreamSkin polymer coated silk clothing is changing the way eczema is treated. The polymer moisturises the skin, protects against common irritants such as washing powder residues, pollen and dust and helps to regulate body temperature.

DreamSkin is available on prescription

By Tony Wilson