Currents: Eczema

Medicine X Launches Eczema Xplained Patient Story To Drive Understanding, Awareness

Medicine X has launched Eczema Xplained, its first illustrated story in the US on atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema.

Each Xplained story follows a real patient and is backed by medical experts and a creative team of artists to bridge the difference between the language health care providers may use and what many patients and their caregivers understand.

“Due to the nature of this skin condition, individuals with atopic dermatitis report a significant impact on their quality of life from both a physical and emotional standpoint,” says Medicine X Founder and President Dr. Kim Chilman-Blair. “We know that stress can be a key trigger for atopic dermatitis, and with a global pandemic, many individuals may be experiencing flares. Now more than ever, there is a crucial need for online resources that can be easily understood and communities that can unite individuals and show them they are not alone.”

The Eczema Xplained story follows Kellie, a 35-year-old teacher and mother of two from North Carolina. Kellie has had atopic dermatitis for as long as she can remember. She describes how she carefully chooses outfits and changes her plans based on her AD. She also provides some useful information about possible factors behind this skin condition and how she manages her flares—from documenting her triggers in a journal, to wearing loose clothes, and following a specific moisturizer routine. Patients are encourgaed to share their personal story with their health care providers.

Peter Lio, MD, founding director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center, dermatologist, and contributor to Eczema Xplained, also acknowledges atopic dermatitis can be a complicated condition and advocates for open communication among patients and health care providers, noting “While we don’t fully understand what causes it, the key issue for most people seems to be an impaired skin barrier. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease, so unfortunately that means it usually doesn’t go away for good, but I want people to understand that with good control some individuals can enter a relative state of remission, which is very exciting.”

Eczema Xplained is sponsored by LEO Pharma. “We believe in the power of patient storytelling and these types of educational resources being made available to patients and their caregivers through Medicine X,” says Christopher Posner, President and CEO, LEO Pharma Inc. “We are honored to support the launch of Eczema Xplained and hope the platform will be a helpful source of information for patients and families affected by atopic dermatitis.”

Amytrx Therapeutics Comes Out of the Gate Strong with Lead Program AMTX-100

Nashville-based Amytrx is developing novel therapies for inflammatory diseases with lead program AMTX-100, a new anti-inflammatory therapeutic platform, currently in clinical development for dermatologic indications. AMTX-100 has broad potential in multiple inflammatory, autoimmune, and metabolic diseases.

Amytrx acquired the technology in an exclusive license of IP from Vanderbilt University, leveraging 25 years of scientific research developed in the lab of distinguished immunologist Dr. Jacek Hawiger, MD, PhD, co-founder of the company. Post-licensing, Amytrx secured $11 million in Series A financing from prominent investors to advance a pipeline of best-in-class anti-inflammatory therapies for diseases with significant unmet medical need.

AMTX-100 is a first-in-class, cell-penetrating, anti-inflammatory peptide bioengineered entirely from human protein sequences. It modulates chronic and acute inflammation by targeting importins, which are nuclear transporters of large inflammatory transcription factors that promote the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, by a natural process to restore immune and metabolic balance.

The company received FDA approval of its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (eczema), initiating a Phase 1/2b clinical trial for this indication in March. Preclinical safety studies in the IND cover several other inflammatory skin conditions including psoriasis, rosacea, acne, herpes type 1 and 2, and shingles, potentially accelerating clinical development for these indications.

“Amytrx is using a revolutionary and broad-spectrum approach to treating inflammation with its cell-penetrating peptide platform. The clinical data for eczema generated thus far is very encouraging,” says Dr. Dennis J. Carlo, Chief Executive Officer of Adamis Pharmaceuticals and Amytrx Board member.

AD Challenge Grants Available

Lilly Launches Digital Health Open Innovation Challenge to Help Transform AD Care

Eli Lilly and Company is launching an open innovation challenge for individuals and teams across the US to submit inspiring digital health solutions to help make life better for people living with atopic dermatitis.

The challenge, “Transforming Atopic Dermatitis Care: Enhancing Quality of Life and Patient Care for People Living with Inflammatory Skin Diseases,” focuses on leveraging digital technologies to enhance care and improve health and well-being for people with inflammatory skin diseases.

Submissions will be accepted through 11:59 pm EDT on October 21, 2020.

A panel of Lilly experts will evaluate all submissions and select five finalists by November 20, 2020. The finalists will be selected based on the idea’s potential impact, creativity, technical feasibility and ability to address the longer-term needs of people with atopic dermatitis.

The finalist with the winning idea, subject to the submissions received, will be announced in December and will be awarded $50,000 along with the potential opportunity to co-develop the solution with Lilly.

Interested participants can learn more and enter at lilly.com/atopicdermchallenge.

Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron launched the 2020 “Agents of Change” AD Challenge

Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron’s 2020 “Agents of Change” AD Challenge, a global grants initiative to support people living with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Up to five participants will receive up to $10,000 in grant funding to support the development and implementation of their idea. This year’s Challenge is focused on the “uncertainty” that people with AD and those around them face on a daily basis.

This year’s Challenge is seeking creative ideas to help the AD community address the anxiety and social challenges that can be brought on by a flare up that affects not only the person with AD, but those around them who may struggle to understand what’s happening to their love one, friend, co-worker or schoolmate.

Submissions are welcome from non-profit organizations, including (but not limited to) patient and professional organizations, as well as advocacy groups. Interested parties can submit entries from September 14 to October 12, 2020. More information is at changead.com.

DeepLife Challenge from Innovation Endeavors and the LEO Pharma Science & Tech Hub

Innovation Endeavors and the LEO Science & Tech Hub have joined forces to kick off a DeepLife Challenge program that aims to help identify cutting edge precision medicine and next-generation therapies for dermatological conditions.

Start-ups selected to participate in the Deep Life Challenge could receive financial investment by Innovation Endeavors, as well as collaborations with the LEO Science & Tech Hub.

The Deep Life Challenge aims to identify startups with platform approaches to drug discovery and to validate if there is an application for dermatological conditions.

More information is available at deeplife.science/ieleo-submission-form.