Briefs from the dermatology industry, as it responds to COVID-19

E.T. Browne Drug Co. The manufacturer of Palmer' Cocoa Butter Formula and Coconut Oil Formula skin and hair care products is now producing medical-grade hand sanitizer to address widespread supply shortages in the wake of COVID-19. Initial production of the disinfectant sanitizer will supply local medical first responders and U.S. Military personnel. 

Columbia University Medical Center. In an effort to provide dermatology care to patients at home during COVID-19. Columbia University Medical Center had launched a robust Telehealth system so patients can see a dermatologist from any location.  There are no barriers to being seen across state lines so anyone across the country can call for an appointment during the crisis and they should be covered by insurance.  This can be verified prior to scheduling as well.  If anyone needs a dermatologist at this time Columbia University is available at 212-326-8465. 

RealSelf: RealSelf launched a new virtual consultation feature that allows consumers to easily find and schedule appointments with doctors offering online consultations. More than 600 doctors across the United States have already opted to use the new feature. The company also offers a COVID-19 Resource Center and is partnering with Bluestone Sunshields to manufacture and distribute safety glasses and full-face shields. Learn more about how you can help here.

The HydraFacial Company. HydraFacial is now selling and distributing washable masks made of CuTec material, a proprietary copper fiber known to have antimicrobial properties. This a medical mask is intended for those working in healthcare, public safety, and emergency personnel environments.  They are also working with a local Long Beach, Calif. company to build ventilators to help with the shortage throughout the United States.  HydraFacial is also using extra space in their warehouse to help house and develop these devices. Also, HydraFacial’s customer support staff has partnered with a telemedicine company to answer incoming calls.

Crown Aesthetics. Crown Aesthetics (formerly Bellus Medical) has reduced their workforce. The company plans to send weekly emails with new educational and practice management resources, increase social media posts and engagement and will host an online Reputation Webinar on April 14, 2020.

Ortho Dermatologics and Solta Medical.  The company is following protocols prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect employees who can’t work remotely due to the nature of their jobs such as manufacturing employees. Ortho Dermatologics and Solta Medical are also taking all necessary measures to ensure the stability and consistency of the product supply, including routinely assessing manufacturing and distribution processes to mitigate any potential risk.

Barco’s Nightingales Foundation. Barco’s Nightingales Foundation (BNF) will be donating 350,000 masks to four California hospital organizations that are treating patients infected with COVID-19. Masks have been procured and paid for by BNF. Hospitals receiving the mask donations include Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Hospitals, Keck Medicine of USC Hospitals, Stanford Health Care and  Kaiser Permanente of Northern California. 

Dermatology Education Foundation. DEF is hosting an NP/PA Video Series to review the impact of coronavirus on dermatology practices.DEF President Joe Gorelick, MSN, FNP-C will moderate. The event is Thursday, April 2 at 7 pm ET. Registration is required.

LEO Pharma. As the COVID-19 situation evolves, LEO Pharma Inc. says it remains committed to protecting the security and health of employees in the US and the medical dermatology community. The company has closed its office in Madison, NJ and directed all employees to work from home. It has directed all US customer-facing employees to work from home, at least until the end of March. This includes colleagues across roles in medical affairs, sales, corporate account, and health outcome teams.

Leo has canceled participation in external conferences, tradeshows, and third-party events and activated business continuity plans.

“It is our hope these actions – combined with national, state and local containment efforts – can begin to significantly slow the spread of the virus in the coming weeks,” says Christopher Posner, President, and CEO, LEO Pharma Inc. “I am proud of the way our LEO Pharma US team has come together during this unprecedented pandemic as one team, united in supporting patients, healthcare professionals and each other.”

Globally, Leo has activated business continuity plans to continue to provide an uninterrupted supply of medicines. 

The company is monitoring raw material inventory levels and taking additional measures to mitigate against interruption. At this point, it does not anticipate any significant shortage of our medicines due to COVID-19.

 Leo is presently assessing appropriate measures to be taken for individual ongoing trials to assure the continued safety monitoring of trial participants and the safety of trial site personnel. The company will adhere to the most current guidelines recommended by respective Health Authorities and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) / Ethics Committees (ECs) and will communicate guidance to investigative sites. 

An early phase healthy volunteer clinical trial (LP1045-1315 ) has been halted, i.e. no further dosing, for precautionary reasons until the nature of COVID-19 is better understood. 

DermYoung. Skincare company, DermYoung has launched an initiative with medical spas to donate personal protection equipment (PPE) to local hospitals including Massachusetts General Hospital.

Upon learning about the dire need for PPE, CEO Dr. Yang Brooks and the DermYoung team acted quickly, reaching out to their medical spa clients across the country to ask for PPE donations. Within 24 hours, DermYoung collected more than 500 surgical and N95 respiratory masks which were immediately sent to colleagues in Boston for delivery to Mass General and other local hospitals.

Dr. Brooks and her team are now contacting medical spas outside the immediate DermYoung customer network to encourage them to donate to their local hospital and clinics. DermYoung continues to identify sources of N95 respiratory masks, face shields, gloves, and hand sanitizer and will continue to purchase them for donations for medical institutions across the country. To join the effort, please contact Dr. Brooks or visit GetUsPPE.org for instructions submitted by health-care workers themselves, which include specifications for items they need most, as well as how to get those items to donation sites. 

Coty. Kris and Kylie Jenner are joining forces with Coty, majority stakeholder to Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin, to produce hand sanitizers for hospitals in Southern California. The hand sanitizers will be donated to the emergency and healthcare workers caring for patients on the front lines of the current COVID-19 public health crisis.