Taken together, two new studies suggest that BioPharmX Corp.’s BPX-01 topical minocycline may have a favorable pharmacokinetic advantage compared with oral minocycline for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

The research was at the Skin Disease Education Foundation's 17th Annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

In one study, daily use of BPX-01 one percent topical minocycline gel for four weeks resulted in a statistically significant reduction in P. acnes.  Moreover,  treatment was well tolerated and there was no detectable minocycline in the plasma.  Prior observations indicate that BPX-01 was effectively delivered into the pilosebaceous units, which was confirmed clinically by a reduction in P. acnes counts without evidence of systemic exposure.

The second study indicated that daily administration of oral minocycline for the same period of time resulted in high circulating levels of minocycline.  

A confirmatory phase 2b clinical study to support this observation is in progress.

Stay tuned.