Daily Archives: December 17, 2019

It's an uncomfortable sensationa sudden tickle or prickle that begs for you to scratch. And sometimes, itchy skin is accompanied by rashes or patches that you'd rather not show the world. We spoke to three board-certified dermatologists about possible sources of itchy skinand what exactly you can and should do about it.

Related: How to Prevent Eczema Flares During the Winter

All of the professionals we interviewed agree: Dry skin is the leading cause of itchiness. Avoid this, particularly during winter or in areas with low humidity, by keeping your skin hydrated. "Avoid long, hot baths or showers," advises Dr. Dina Strachan, MD, Director of Aglow Dermatology in New York City. "Use a moisturizing cleanser. Apply moisturizer after bathing." Another dermatologist, Margaret E. Parsons, MD, FAAD, Dermatology Consultants of Sacramento, specifically recommends Eucerin, Cetaphil, and CeraVe, and for more sensitive skin, Vanicream and non-irritating emollients such as petroleum jelly (Vaseline), Aquaphor, and even coconut oil and shea butter. "There are some over-the-counter products that can relieve itch, including products with pramoxine or menthol," adds Bruce A. Brod, MD, FAAD Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine.

There's atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema (dry, rashy skin), seborrheic dermatitis (patches mainly on the scalp and possibly ears and eyebrows), and contact dermatitis (triggered, as the name implies, when the skin comes in contact with an irritant or allergen, which can be anything from skin and haircare products to fabric to poison ivy). "I always review if there are any new clothes, soaps, hair products, foods, travel, or anything else new in someone's life when they have a skin issue," Dr. Parsons, who is also the Associate Clinical Professor at UC Davis, Department of Dermatology, tells us. "Often people say, 'It's all the same,' and we have to remember we can acquire sensitivities or allergies, or a product may have had ingredients changed."

She adds that it can take two months for some itches to calm down because of skin's "memory cells" and cautions people with sensitive skin to avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets and reach for perfume- and dye-free laundry products. In clothing, opt for natural, non-irritating fibers: cotton, silk, linen, wool, and bamboo. To temporarily treat these issues, Dr. Parsons says you can take antihistamines, such as the more sedating diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or the prescription hydroxyzine, cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra), or levocetirizine (Xyzal). "For more notable eczema, topical corticosteroid creams or ointments are often prescribed," she adds. "There are also some non-steroid prescription topicals for those with persistent skin concerns."

It's an unpleasant thought, but there's a chance your crawling skin is due to a crawling or flying creature. You're probably all too familiar with mosquito and spider bites from your youth or from time spent in the garden. Insect-related or otherwise, pay close attention to any sudden, severe itch and hives. "If someone has any trouble breathing or lip swelling, that of course would be of great concern and needs to be promptly evaluated, possibly at the emergency room if severe," Dr. Parsons advises.

Though not as likely as the aforementioned causes, itchy skin could also be a sign of an internal condition such as diabetes, thyroid disease, anemia, kidney or liver disease, or even cancer, say our pros. "With these medical conditions, there is usually other things going on with general health such as fatigue," Dr. Parsons explains. That's why anyone experiencing an itch that just won't quit should make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist. "If the itch is due to a skin condition, then treating the underlying skin condition can help," Dr. Brod adds. "Itch is a complex issue and should be carefully evaluated by a medical professional."

Read this article:
Common Itching Causes and Fixes, According to Dermatologists - Yahoo Lifestyle

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Dec. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kane Biotech Inc. (TSX-V:KNE) (the Corporation or Kane Biotech), a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of technologies and products that prevent and remove microbial biofilms, today announced that it has launched a consumer product test to evaluate the efficacy of its new shampoo on dermatitis and dandruff.

Recent research has indicated that the persistence of microbial biofilm may be linked with aggravating the symptoms associated with atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis (also known as eczema) and dandruff. Kane Biotechs shampoo consists of coactiv+TM, a patented anti-biofilm formulation, and contains ingredients approved as safe for human use.

Kane Biotech will ship 300 samples to registered adult participants in Ontario and Manitoba with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and/or severe dandruff. Individuals interested in participating in the consumer product test may register at https://kanebiotech.com/shampoo-consumer-test/. In addition, the Corporation plans to promote the consumer test with a Facebook advertising campaign in January 2020. Shipping of test samples is expected to commence in February 2020.

In the U.S., the anti-dandruff shampoo market alone is estimated at $3 billion per year, while some 31.6 million individuals have some form of eczema, stated Marc Edwards, CEO of Kane Biotech. We have anecdotal evidence that indicates our shampoo offers individuals suffering from these conditions an effective treatment option without requiring any harsh ingredients such as coal tar, ketoconazole or selenium sulfide. We are looking forward to the feedback we receive from this expanded group of consumers.

I highly encourage those looking for a solution to dry, flaking and itching scalps to participate in Kane Biotechs consumer product test, said David Kemp, a long-time Kane Biotech investor. As sufferers of these conditions, my family and I tried this shampoo, and nothing has worked better. Im delighted Kane is moving forward with this trial both as an investor and a consumer.

I want to thank the entire Kane team for bringing this project together. We already have a number of very exciting projects in both Animal Health (Oral Care, Skin Care and Supplements) and Human Health (Chronic Wound Care) on the go that require our attention, but they have once again demonstrated their nimbleness by taking on this additional program, said Mr. Edwards. I love this type of project where we take good science and, in short order, are able to get it into the hands of consumers. The very small investment of capital associated with this consumer testing could yield substantial dividends for Kane in the future.

About Kane Biotech

Kane Biotech is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of technologies and products that prevent and remove microbial biofilms. The Corporation has a portfolio of biotechnologies, intellectual property (56 patents and patents pending, trade secrets and trademarks) and products developed by the Corporations own biofilm research expertise and acquired from leading research institutions. StrixNBTM, DispersinB, Aledex, bluestemTM, AloSeraTM, coactiv+TM and Kane are trademarks of Kane Biotech Inc. The Corporation is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "KNE".

For more information, please visitwww.kanebiotech.com, or contact:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain statements regarding Kane Biotech Inc. that constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities law. These statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the Companys: (a) financial condition, including lack of significant revenues to date and reliance on equity and other financing; (b) business, including its early stage of development, government regulation, market acceptance for its products, rapid technological change and dependence on key personnel; (c) intellectual property including the ability of the Company to protect its intellectual property and dependence on its strategic partners; and (d) capital structure, including its lack of dividends on its common shares, volatility of the market price of its common shares and public company costs. Further information about these and other risks and uncertainties can be found in the disclosure documents filed by the Company with applicable securities regulatory authorities, available at http://www.sedar.com. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive.

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Kane Biotech Launches Consumer Product Test for an Innovative Shampoo Containing its Patented Anti-Biofilm Technology - GlobeNewswire

BALLERUP, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LEO Pharma A/S, a global leader in medical dermatology, today announced that tralokinumab an investigational, fully human monoclonal antibody that specifically neutralizes the interleukin-13 (IL-13) cytokine met all primary and secondary endpoints in its three pivotal Phase 3 studies (ECZTRA 1-3) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults. During the studies, the overall adverse event rate was comparable between tralokinumab and placebo.

IL-13 is a key driver of the type 2 inflammation that plays a major role in AD,1 which is the most common inflammatory skin disease in the developed world,2 affecting up to five percent of adults across the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.3 AD can have a significant, negative impact on patients well-being, primarily due to distressing itch, sleep deprivation and social stigmatization due to visible lesions.4

In its moderate-to-severe form, AD can cause unbearable recurring symptoms for patients, said Dr Kim Kjoeller, Executive Vice President, Global Research & Development, LEO Pharma. Despite recent treatment advances, we consistently hear from healthcare professionals around the world that additional treatment options are needed to address the different signs and symptoms for each patient. We are encouraged by these study results, which show that tralokinumab could be an efficacious and well-tolerated long-term treatment solution for patients living with this debilitating chronic skin disease.

ECZTRA 1 and ECZTRA 2 (ECZema TRAlokinumab studies no. 1 and 2), are randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational, 52-week studies, which included 802 and 794 adult patients respectively, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tralokinumab as monotherapy in adults with moderate-to-severe AD who are candidates for systemic therapy. ECZTRA 3 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational 32-week study, which included 380 adult patients, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tralokinumab in combination with topical corticosteroids (TCS) in patients with moderate-to-severe AD who are candidates for systemic therapy.

The primary endpoints in the three studies were an Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) score of clear (0) or almost clear (1) skin at week 16 and at least a 75 percent or greater change from baseline in their Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score at week 16. A change from baseline to week 16 in SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of at least 4, and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were secondary endpoints.

LEO Pharma is planning to submit marketing authorization applications for tralokinumab for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD to regulatory agencies in 2020 and plans to submit the detailed results of these studies for presentation at scientific congresses and publication in peer-reviewed medical journals in 2020 as well. Further information about trials with tralokinumab can be accessed at https://clinicaltrials.gov.

#ENDS#

NOTES TO EDITORS

About atopic dermatitisAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing skin disease, characterized by severe itch, dry skin, persistent immune-mediated inflammation, and skin barrier defects.5 AD is a result of skin barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation, leading to chronic inflammation.6 Type-2 cytokines, such as IL-13 and IL-4, play a central role in the key aspects of AD pathophysiology.7 Due to the immune dysregulation, IL-13 is overexpressed in lesional and non-lesional skin.8,9

About tralokinumabTralokinumab is an investigational agent under clinical development, and its safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority. Tralokinumab is a fully human, immunoglobulin (Ig)G4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that works by neutralizing the IL-13 cytokine. IL-13 plays a key role in the pathophysiology of AD.10 By specifically binding to the IL-13 cytokine, tralokinumab prevents its interaction with the receptor and the subsequent downstream IL-13 signalling.11

About LEO PharmaLEO Pharma helps people achieve healthy skin. The company is a leader in medical dermatology with a robust R&D pipeline, a wide range of therapies and a pioneering spirit. Founded in 1908 and owned by the LEO Foundation, LEO Pharma has devoted decades of research and development to advance the science of dermatology, setting new standards of care for people with skin conditions. LEO Pharma is headquartered in Denmark with a global team of 6,000 people, serving 76 million patients in 130 countries. In 2018, the company generated net sales of DKK 10,410 million. For more information about LEO Pharma, visit http://www.leo-pharma.com.

References1 Bieber T. Interleukin-13: Targeting an underestimated cytokine in atopic dermatitis. Allergy 2019; doi:10.111/all.13954.2 Weidinger S et al. Atopic Dermatitis. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2018; 4(1):1.3 Barbarot S et al. Epidemiology of atopic dermatitis in adults: Results from an international survey. Allergy 2018;73:1284-1293.4 Weidinger S, Novak N. Atopic dermatitis. The Lancet. 2016; 387:1109-22.5 Weidinger S, Novak N. Atopic dermatitis. The Lancet. 2016; 387:1109-22.6 Boguniewicz M and Leung DY. Atopic dermatitis: a disease of altered skin barrier and immune dysregulation. Immunol Rev 2011 Jul;242(1):233-46. 7 Bieber T. Interleukin-13: Targeting an underestimated cytokine in atopic dermatitis. Allergy 2019; doi:10.111/all.13954.8 Tsoi LC et al. Atopic dermatitis is an IL-13 dominant disease with greater molecular heterogeneity compared to psoriasis. J Invest Dermatol 2019 (Accepted Manuscript) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2018.12.018. 9 Tazawa T et al. Relative importance of IL-4 and IL-13 in lesional skin of atopic dermatitis. Arch Dermatol Res. 2004;295:459-464.10 Brandt, E.B., Sivaprasad, U. Th2 Cytokines and Atopic Dermatitis. J Clin Cell Immunol. 2011; 2(3): 1-25. doi:10.4172/2155-9899.1000110.11 Popovic B et al. Structural characterisation reveals mechanism of IL-13-neutralising monoclonal antibody tralokinumab as inhibition of binding to IL-13R1 and IL-13R2. J Mol Biol. 2017;429:208-219.

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LEO Pharma announces positive top-line results for tralokinumab from three Phase 3 studies in adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD - Business...

Dr. Tara Zandvliet didnt intend to be a Voice of the Year.

She had a quiet practice in South Park, where many vaccine-skeptical parents found her by word of mouth. If they could show her a family history of autoimmune disorder even psoriasis and eczema qualified she would write their child a medical exemption from vaccination.

By her estimation, Zandvliet has written roughly 1,000 exemptions. At $180 per exemption, she made nearly $200,000 in her small corner of the market. But the general public had no idea Zandvliet was Southern Californias vaccine exemption doctor of choice.

Then in March, her business attracted more attention than she ever wanted. A Voice of San Diego investigation revealed that Zandvliet had written nearly a third of all vaccine exemptions in San Diego Unified School District.

Legislators like Sen. Richard Pan and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez swiftly reacted to crack down on what Pan called unscrupulous physicians looking to make a buck who were gravely endangering the community.

Pan and Gonzalez wanted public health officials to oversee vaccine exemptions, so that doctors like Zandvliet would no longer be able to write them for reasons that fall outside the generally recognized standard of care.

The anti-vaxx movement quickly rallied, staging rowdy protests in Sacramento.

Pan got shoved on the street by a man live-streaming the attack. A woman tossed a menstrual cup full of blood onto the floor of the state Senate. Gov. Newsom hesitated, suggesting he might not sign the new legislation.

After months of debate that echoed out across the entire state, Pan and Gonzalez were successful. They passed a bill that will make it easier for state officials to crack down on doctors writing bogus exemptions. Zandvliet has also been charged with gross negligence by the state Medical Board.

This is part of our Voice of the Year package, highlighting the people who played a major role in shaping civic discussion in 2019.

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Voice of the Year: Dr. Tara Zandvliet - Voice of San Diego

Dr Joel Akande

Let me clarify a common misconception immediately now. To medical doctors, eczema is a distinct skin illness. This is different from what the general public considers as eczema. In the perception of the public, eczema covers practically all common skin diseases.

This should not be so. On the other hand, eczema and dermatitis are frequently used as if they mean the same thing. First, dermatosis. Dermatosis means any skin disease. Dermatitis means inflammation of the skin as measured by swelling, heat generation, pain and change in colour.

What is Eczema? Coming from the Greek word, ekzein, eczema means to boil out as a result of the evolution of the skin changes under eczema.

Eczema, therefore, has the following characteristics: rashes (macules for example), redness, crusting of skin, oedema or swelling, thickening of the skin due to repeated and frequent rubbing of or scratching of the skin and finally changes in the skin colour.

We should not forget that the disposition of the individual to develop eczema is equally important. The changes in colour and thickening occur at a later development or weeks after the initial changes as mentioned above. The first is acute and the second is called chronic eczema.

Types of Eczema: I will only mention here that eczema can be classified as endogenous (internal) or exogenous (internal). Of the internal, atopic eczema is perhaps the commonest. I will discuss a brief of this condition later as its seen in a lot of ways in children.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis seen frequently on the scalp of children and women is also common. Other conditions are discoid eczema, pompholyx and peeling skin syndrome. For exogenous eczema, hand dermatitis, irritant dermatitis, photo dermatitis, infective eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, exfoliative and perioral dermatitis are common examples.

I will now discuss a few of the common forms of eczema amongst our population.

Atopic eczema (dermatitis): This is a common illness and is said to account for about 20 per cent of skin disorders seen at skin clinics.

Children fed on cows milk rather than on breast milk are more likely to develop atopic eczema. Children fed on mixed breast and cows milk are also at risk.

Causes of atopic eczema: The human body reacts to intolerable agent internally but later shows up in the skin. Some diseases such as deficiency in some vitamins (biotin), cystic fibrosis may lead to eczema. Atopic eczema may also develop due to infections such as staphylococcus infection.

How does atopic eczema present? Children, infants and adults are affected. And it can show up as early as 2 weeks of life.

There are patches in both sides of the body especially on the joints of elbows, behind the knees, cheeks and forehead. Widespread dry skin involvement may occur. Itching and scratching, dryness of the skin, crusting are present.

The skin become thickened and may become infected. The face may be affected too. By age of 2-3 years, the eczema may or may not disappear only to reappear later in childhood and adulthood.

Treatment: Information and knowledge is power. Its important that adult victims and parents of children should get as much knowledge and information about the eczema as much as possible.

Atopic eczema requires intervention of specialist dermatologist. The medical doctor will endeavor to contain troublesome itching as well as ensuring the dry crusted skin remain moist.

Doctors are also likely to pay attention to curtailing inflammation and preventing occurrence of underlying causes.

Other common and important eczematous forms are contact dermatitis.

This indicates that there are agents that the sufferers have been in contact with that are ultimately responsible for the eczema now being suffered. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is common and will require a physicians attention.

See the rest here:
Revisit on skin diseases: eczema (3) - The Nation Newspaper

During the summer, our skin is challenged with overexposure sunburn, moisture sucking air conditioning, heat irritation.

Yet, when it comes to uncomfortable skin weather, winter takes the cake!

From snow-packed countryside to frost-nipped ocean fronts, cold weather brings winter dryness. Theres a whole laundry list of skin irritants to contend with including forced-air heating, low humidity, and harsh skin-damaging natural forces.

But, whats actually happening to your skin? Why are your hands and lips cracking? Is it possible to stop that crazy itch?

Pezibear/Pixabay

First off, harsh weather strips the skins natural protective barrier, creating gaps in the outer most layer, allowing water to escape (dehydration) and irritants to get in (sensitivity). When your skin feels like its under attack it has the same response that the rest of your body has inflammatory. Once inflammation kicks in it releases histamines causing that uncontrollable dry itchy feeling. On top of that, for those that also suffer from inflammatory skin diseases, especially those caused by an impaired barrier function cold weather has the nasty knack of exacerbating these conditions such as rosacea, eczema, ichthyosis, and psoriasis.

Alright, so you knowwhyyour skin is so uncomfortable, but what are the main culprits?

While the natural elements of the winter months such as the decrease of mercury and humidity levels may seem like the perfect place to start, its actually insideyour home. Forced-air heating such as a furnace, radiators, or stand-alone heaters continuously pump out dry heat causing your eyes, nasal passages, and skin to lose precious moisture.

Then you pair this with the dry outdoors and its a recipe for winter dryness!

chezbeate/Pixabay

We know why and how the winter wreaks havoc on our skin. When it comes to winter dryness, youll most likely be affected in three major areas: eyes, nose, and overall skin. Lets take a look at what we can do about preventing dryness and naturally treating these areas of your body. Luckily, there are just as many natural remedies for dry skin as there are causes!

Skitterphoto/Pixabay

Dry eyes are maybe one of the most debilitating winter side effects making you feel fatigued, leading to headaches, and causing discomfort and pain in one of the most sensitive parts of the body. The chilly temps and increased winds, plus the dry heat and low humidity indoors, can lead to aggravated dry eyes.

What does it feel like?

Depending on how dry your eyes are, symptoms can include stinging, burning, scratching, redness, sensitivity to light, eye fatigue, blurred vision, watery eyes, and even the development of mucus around your eyes.

What can you do about it?

While you can opt for over-the-counter artificial tears and even prescription eye drops, there are some precautionary aids that may help you avoid harsh chemicals.

First and foremost, opt for wearing sunglasses or clear glasses that wrap around your face for the winter. I know what youre thinking, dont they look ridiculous? Maybe they do, but if it alleviates those dry eyes, its definitely worth it! Double up on the shades with a brimmed hat. Both of these aids can slow tear evaporation while outside.

Engin_Akyurt/Pixabay

With the combination of low humidity outdoors and forced heat indoors, your nasal passages are truly put to the test to produce adequate moisture. Not only are dry nasal passages super uncomfortable all on their own, but the dryness can actually travel into your throat causing dry cough and irritation.

Whats it feel like?

Constant dryness of your nasal passage can cause mucus in the nose to dry out and thicken, the membranes inside the nose to become more fragile and the nasal lining to crack, which leads to irritation, bleeding, and invasion of germs [along with] nasal congestion or blockage, [prevention of] drainage from sinuses and difficulty breathing.

What can you do about it?

Much like dry eye treatment, you can opt for nasal sprays. With that said, if youre looking for a chemical-free, natural treatment, there are a few options!

To begin, you may need to alter your indoor environment by increasing the humidity in your home with a humidifier. The optimal humidity level to treat dry nasal passages is between 40 and 45 percent, yet humidity levels in a heated home in the winter can be well below 20 percent and often below 10 percent.

You can also perform nasal irrigation. While saline sprays are a recommended course of action, a more natural option is a neti pot. These devices change in design depending on which you choose, but they contain a mixture of warm water and saline, which is then forced through the nasal passages to clear out mucus. When it comes to dry nasal passages, neti pots can help clear dry mucus or crusts from the nose without trauma and temporarily reduce dryness. You can choose your design based on your comfort level such as this traditional Himalayan Chandra Neti Pot Complete Sinus Cleansing System Starter Kit or this more modern NeilMed NasaFlo Unbreakable Neti Pot.

cm_dasilva/Pixabay

While dry eyes and nasal passages are no fun to deal with, all over dry skin is a huge game-changer. Wind and forced-air heating are both huge players in the dry skin game, but you can blame those cold temps. When the temperature drops, that cold or dry air basically sucks away the oil that normally traps moisture in the skin, often leading to skin irritation and itchiness, as well as flare-ups of eczema, psoriasis or other chronic skin conditions.

In dermatological terms, this condition is called skin distress, and thats exactly what it feels like. The most common symptoms of severely dry skin include tightness, roughness, itching, flaking, scaling, peeling, fine lines and cracks, gray coloring, redness, and even bleeding.

What can you do about it?

When it comes to winter skincare, youll want to approach it from both preventative and treatment angles.

Preventative care includes avoiding hot water, opt for warm try to reduce your shower times, and avoid using soapy cleansers multiple times a day. After bathing, pat your skin dry with a towel then immediately slather on a substantial cream or lotion to trap water in the upper layers of the skin.

Selecting a winter moisturizer may be one of the most important parts of skincare treatment. First off, look for super moisturizing and healing ingredients including glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, grapeseed or almond oil, sheat butter, and lactic acid, such as this vegan and cruelty-free 5-ounce Earth Science Almond-Aloe Fragrance-Free Facial Moisturizer with Jojoba, Shea, and Hyaluronic Acid or this 4-ounceFarmstead Apothecary 100% Natural Anti-Aging Face Cream with Jojoba Oil and Lemon Lavender.

Make sure to use your selected moisturizer after you bathe, in the morning, and before bed.

Golden Milk Frappuccino/One Green Planet

Even though tackling your dry skin with topical moisturizers and natural remedies is a great first line of defense, you should also consider hydrating from the inside out. Keeping your body nourished and hydrated via plant-based foods is a great way to fight dry and cracked skin. What should you look for? Try to integrate lots of vitamins, particularly vitamin C and E as well as super hydrating agents including coconut water.

Beginner Green Smoothie/One Green Planet

We start with a smoothie. Nutrient-dense smoothies are a great way to infuse your body with a powerful dose of hydrating liquids and nourishing vitamins and minerals all at once. Theyre super easy to prepare ahead of time and freeze, pack to work, or even travel with. This Beginner Green Smoothie includes vitamin C and E rich ingredients foods spinach, apples, banana, and grapes, as well as stomach-soothing ginger and powerful antioxidant-rich green tea. To really boost the hydration on this one, turn some coconut water into frozen cubes and use those instead of regular ice.

Kiwi Avocado Juice/One Green Planet

So, you could go withjustavocados for their broad nutrient profile or maybejustkiwis for their high content of both vitamin C and E. Instead, why not combine both to make a super powerful dose of hydrating and nourishing juice? This Kiwi Avocado Juice is a wonderful tonic to have on hand in your fridge for the entirety of the winter. Along with kiwi and avocado, this recipe calls for antioxidant-rich lemon juice, fiber-filled flaxseed, and some ice cubes follow suit with the smoothie and swap these out for coconut water for the cubes for an extra boost of hydration!

Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Almonds/One Green Planet

Looking for something a bit more substantial in the hydration department? How about trying your hand at some almond-based recipes! This Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Almonds are the perfect easy treat to get your daily dose of vitamin E, protein, and healthy fats. Mixed in with these wonderful almonds, youll also get a dose of healthy fat-filled olive oil and antibacterial garlic. A great snack for boosting hydrating nutrients and filling your tummy!

We also highly recommend downloading ourFood Monster App, which is available foriPhone, and can also be found onInstagramandFacebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

For more Vegan Food, Health, Recipe, Animal, and Life content published daily, dont forget to subscribe to theOne Green Planet Newsletter!

Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Pleasesupport us!

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Naturally Weatherproof Skin for Winter Dryness - One Green Planet

- Consistent evidence of symptomatic improvement across endpoints and favorable tolerability- Higher dose demonstrated trend towards significance on primary endpoint- Both doses statistically superior to vehicle on key secondary endpoints-Company plans to advance ARQ-151 development in atopic dermatitis, with Phase 2b initiation anticipated in 2H 2020

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2019 / Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc., a privately held late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for unmet needs in immune-mediated dermatological diseases and conditions, or immuno-dermatology, today announced top line results for a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study evaluating ARQ-151 as a potential topical treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD). ARQ-151 is a once daily topical cream formulation of roflumilast, a highly potent and selective Phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor (PDE4), which the Company is developing for plaque psoriasis and AD.

The ARQ-151-212 study was a Phase 2 multi-center, double blind, vehicle-controlled proof-of-concept study, in which 136 adolescents (ages 12 years and above) and adults with mild to moderate AD involving between 1.5% and 35% body surface area (BSA) were randomized to receive once daily topical applications for 4 weeks of: (1) ARQ-151 0.15% cream, or (2) ARQ-151 0.05% cream, or (3) vehicle. The study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and efficacy of the two dose levels of ARQ-151.

On the study's primary endpoint, the mean reduction in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) Total Score after 4 weeks of once-daily treatment, neither dose reached statistical significance versus vehicle, although ARQ-151 0.15% showed a trend towards significance, with a mean improvement of 6.4 in patients treated with ARQ-151 0.15% compared to 4.8 in patients treated with vehicle (p = 0.097). On the secondary endpoint of mean percent change from baseline on EASI, ARQ-151 0.15% demonstrated a statistically significant improvement versus vehicle (72.3% versus 55.8%, p = 0.049). Efficacy was also observed at both doses as measured by EASI-75 (ARQ-151 0.05%: 59.1% versus vehicle: 31.1%, p = 0.009 and ARQ-151 0.05%: 52.3% versus vehicle: 31.1%, p = 0.045). On the Validated Investigator Global Assessment - Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD), ARQ-151 0.15% also demonstrated a statistically significant improvement versus vehicle in the percentage of patients achieving clear or almost clear (ARQ-151 0.15%: 52.3% versus vehicle: 31.1%, p = 0.040).

In this study, both doses of ARQ-151 were well-tolerated. 95% of subjects on active treatment completed the full study. The incidence of treatment-related Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) and application site reactions were low (< 5%) and similar between active treatment and vehicle. TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity. Among subjects receiving ARQ-151, there was only one Serious Adverse Event (SAE), which was unrelated to treatment, and only one discontinuation due to a TEAE.

Frank Watanabe, Arcutis' Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are very encouraged by the results from this small, proof-of-concept study. The consistent separation from vehicle on multiple endpoints, and the magnitude of improvement in atopic dermatitis demonstrated in this study further reinforce our belief that ARQ-151 has the potential to be an effective atopic dermatitis therapy. As important, both doses evaluated showed a very favorable tolerability profile, which is particularly important given the majority of atopic dermatitis patients are children. Based on the strength of these results, we plan to pursue further development of ARQ-151 in atopic dermatitis, with a Phase 2b study planned for the second half of 2020."

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About ARQ-151

ARQ-151 is a topical cream formulation containing roflumilast, a PDE4 inhibitor, that the Company is developing to treat plaque psoriasis, including intertriginous psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. PDE4 is an intracellular enzyme that regulates the production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and cell proliferation. Roflumilast is a potent PDE4 inhibitor that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for systemic treatment to reduce risk of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2011, and has shown greater potency based on IC50 values (a non-clinical measure of a drug's potency) than other PDE4 inhibitors.

About Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common type of eczema, occurring in approximately six percent of the U.S. population. AD is characterized by a defect in the skin barrier, which allows allergens and other irritants to enter the skin, leading to an immune reaction and inflammation. This reaction produces a red, itchy rash, most frequently occurring on the face, arms and legs, and the rash can cover significant areas of the body, in some cases half of the body or more. Disease onset is most common by 5 years of age, and the Company estimates that approximately 60% of patients suffering from AD are pediatric patients. The rash causes significant pruritus (itching), which can lead to skin damage caused by scratching or rubbing. Given that most of the patients are pediatric, the safety and tolerability of AD therapies is paramount.

About Arcutis - Bioscience, applied to the skin.

Arcutis is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for unmet needs in immune-mediated dermatological diseases and conditions, or immuno-dermatology. Arcutis exploits recent innovations in inflammation and immunology to develop potential best-in-class therapies against validated biological targets, leveraging our deep development, formulation and commercialization expertise to bring to market novel dermatology treatments, while maximizing our probability of technical success and financial resources. Arcutis is currently developing three novel products (ARQ-151, ARQ-154 and ARQ-252) for multiple indications including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and eczema. For more information, please visit http://www.arcutis.com or follow Arcutis on LinkedIn.

Contact:

John W. SmitherChief Financial Officerjsmither@arcutis.com

Investors and Media:

Derek Cole720.785.4497derek.cole@IRadvisory.com

SOURCE: Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/570326/Arcutis-Announces-Top-Line-Results-for-Phase-2-Proof-of-Concept-Clinical-Trial-Evaluating-ARQ-151-as-a-Potential-Topical-Treatment-for-Atopic-Dermatitis

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Arcutis Announces Top Line Results for Phase 2 Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial Evaluating ARQ-151 as a Potential Topical Treatment for Atopic...

As the year comes to a close, Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) has a holiday gift for investors in the form of a new strategy. The French drugmaker announced a $2.5 billion biotech takeover in the growing immuno-oncology field earlier this week, then a day later said it is dropping research in the diabetes and cardiovascular fields. This is big news because Sanofi's top-selling drug is diabetes drug Lantus. The problem is that with pricing pressure from competitors, Lantus' sales have been sliding -- and fast.

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.

Lantus brought in more than $1.2 billion in the third quarter of 2017, and by the same period last year, the figure dropped to less than $1 billion. Sanofi reported a 17.5% decline in Lantus sales to $837 million in the third quarter of this year. To make matters worse, the rest of the diabetes and cardiovascular business has followed, weighing down earnings, while areas including oncology and immunology grew.

That's why the stock market applauded new Chief Executive Officer Paul Hudson's plan to refocus the business. Sanofi shares gained 6.2% on Tuesday after Hudson's comments.

Hudson, in his quest to focus on products and areas that are growing, targets $11 billion in sales for eczema treatment Dupixent. Sales of the drug soared 142% in the third quarter to reach $635 million. The company also will prioritize the development of six innovative investigational products in the areas of hemophilia, lysosomal storage disorders, respiratory syncytial virus, breast cancer, and multiple sclerosis.

Halting research in diabetes and cardiovascular, along with other efforts, is meant to help Sanofi reach $2.2 billion in savings by 2022. In other financial news, the company plans on expanding its business operating income margin to 30% by that year and to 32% by 2025. Business operating income is a non-GAAP measure of financial performance in which Sanofi eliminates elements such as acquisition-related effects and adds items like share of profits or losses from certain investments. The company also aims to increase annual free cash flow 50% by 2022.

Sanofi is reorganizing its operations into three business units: specialty care, vaccines, and general medicine. Consumer healthcare, which includes products like over-the-counter painkillers, will be a stand-alone business with its own R&D and manufacturing processes. Reutersreported that Sanofi might sell the unit or look for a joint venture. Consumer healthcare generated $5.2 billion in sales for Sanofi in 2018, a 3% increase from the previous year. That was about half of the figure generated by the specialty care unit, which grew 29% year over year.

Sanofi said cash from its businesses will be spent on further investment internally, acquisitions, and -- good news here, investors -- increasing the annual dividend. The last payment, in May, was $3.42, increasing for the 25th straight year.

Considering all of the good news, Sanofi isn't looking expensive. According to Zacks research, it trades at 14.16 times earnings, slightly cheaper than the large-cap pharmaceutical industry average of 14.85. The stock has gained 17% so far this year to about $49, but Wall Street predicts at least a bit more upside, with the average analyst price target at $52. Investors should also bear in mind that analysts might adjust their estimates and outlooks in the wake of Hudson's presentation.

With total net sales down 1.1% in the third quarter and the former big businesses of diabetes and cardiovascular slowing, Sanofi didn't present the best investment case a few weeks ago. This week's news, however, changed the landscape. The company is acquiring immuno-oncology company Synthorx (NASDAQ:THOR) to boost a part of its own business that is growing. It is halting the spending on struggling units and reallocating resources to stronger ones. And it continues to think of investors with the goal of boosting dividends.

For those looking to add to pharmaceutical holdings, Sanofi looks like a promising candidate going into 2020 and beyond.

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Sanofi Says Its $2.5 Billion Biotech Takeover Is Just the Beginning - The Motley Fool