Foamix: This Promising New Acne Treatment Uses Foam To Treat The Skin Condition

This article was first published on The Times of Israel and was re-posted with permission.

Foam is for more than just bubble baths – an Israeli medical development firm has found dozens of beneficial uses. One of the most promising is an acne treatment that researchers say is more effective and safer than products now on the market. Other Foamix-inspired roles for foam are delivering treatments for infections and afflictions of the skin, uterus, vagina, and other sensitive areas of the body. All this has driven the company toward going public.

With 55 registered patents and 135 pending approval, Foamix is well-placed to raise up to $75 million in an initial public offering, which the company filed with the NASDAQ exchange several weeks ago. Foamix’s secret sauce is its 4% minocycline foam formulation for the treatment of acne, which is set to enter Phase III studies and testing next year, the last stage before final FDA approval.

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Acne, the scourge of teenagers everywhere, provides over the counter and prescription treatment makers with a huge opportunity. The market for preparations to beat pimples is worth $3 billion worldwide, and it’s growing. For mild cases, there are the topical treatments like Clearasil, which use benzoyl peroxide and other chemicals to clear pores and eliminate pimples. “Heavier” cases require prescription treatment. The most popular and best-performing on the market are Solodyn pills, which contain minocycline, an antibiotic, as the main active ingredient.

Minocycline is an effective treatment for acne, but it has some undesirable side-effects, such as vertigo and dizziness, stomach upset, diarrhea, mouth sores, and other unwanted symptoms. Even more serious conditions can develop, researchers say, because minocycline can penetrate the prostate, brain, and central nervous system.

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The key would be to harness the power of minocycline to fight acne, while avoiding the internal misfortunes that can develop. Foamix, after over a decade of work, has figured out how to do that.

To continue reading this article on the TOI site, click here.

Photo by: Acne spot pimple spot by Bigstock