LONDON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A British drug company is conducting a phase I trial on an unnamed drug currently on the market that may be useful in treating acne.
Chemistry & Industry reports that the phase 1 trial with the drug involves 18 healthy human volunteers and the results should be released later this year.
The drug trial is to determine if the drug reduces the excretion of sebum. Sebum is associated with acne development,
Reducing sebum production has been the "holy grail" of acne treatment for 30 years, and there has been little success aside from Roaccutane, which has significant side effects, explained Nigel Blackburn, director of clinical development at the company, Summit, which is conducting the drug trial.
"The phase I results are startlingly good," Blackburn said in a statement.
Acne develops when too much sebum is produced in the skin and the sebaceous glands are infected by the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. Acne affects up to 90 percent of adolescents, and approximately 30 percent of adults, stated the United Kingdom Primary Care Dermatology Society
