Timber Pharmaceuticals is evaluating TMB-001 (topical isotretinoin) for the treatment of moderate to severe subtypes of CI in the Phase 2b CONTROL study.

May is Ichthyosis Awareness Month, and Timber Pharmaceuticals, LLC is highlighting the efforts of the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (FIRST) to educate communities virtually throughout the month.

The organization is planning to host a webinar titled "FIRST to Know:  What's New in Ichthyosis Research" on Thursday, May 21st.

Congenital ichthyosis (CI) is a group of rare genetic keratinization disorders that leads to dry, thickened, and scaling skin. People living with CI may have limited range of motion, chronic itching, an inability to sweat normally, high risk of secondary infections, and impaired eyesight or hearing. Most cases of ichthyosis are inherited, but some types develop in association with genetic syndromes or diseases. At least 300 babies are born each year with a moderate to severe form of ichthyosis, according to FIRST.

Timber LLC is currently evaluating TMB-001 (topical isotretinoin) for the treatment of moderate to severe subtypes of CI in the Phase 2b CONTROL study. In 2018, the FDA awarded $1.5 million to support Phase 2a and Phase 2b clinical trials evaluating TMB-001 through its Orphan Products Clinical Trials Grant program. The CONTROL Study is focused on moderate to severe subtypes of CI that affect about 80,000 people in the U.S.

"We are focused on building a development pipeline in rare dermatologic diseases that have limited treatment options today," says John Koconis, Chief Executive Officer of Timber, in a news release. "The management of CI is truly a life-long endeavor focused on reducing scaling and supporting skin lubrication with systemic and topical treatments. We believe there is an opportunity to develop a new therapy with reduced systemic absorption, potentially allowing for chronic use over larger areas of the body. We recently closed on the second tranche of a grant from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) that will support our efforts to drive this research through late-stage clinical studies."