Acne Treatment Options after Accutane
Posted by Reporter on Wednesday
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Roche Holding AG, the world’s biggest maker of cancer drugs, recently announced the withdrawal of its Accutane acne medicine from the US Market. The decision was largely driven by falling market share, the product reaching the end of its life cycle, and the high cost of personal injury lawsuits. (i)
“While the withdrawal of Accutane comes on the heels of much public scrutiny, the bottom line is that physicians and patients need a viable alternative in their battle against acne,” says Alon Maor, President & CEO of Aesthera Corporation. Aesthera has developed and manufactured the Isolaz system, a leading device-based acne therapy and the only FDA cleared treatment for Comedonal and Pustular Acne. The device is also cleared for the treatment of mild to moderate acne including Acne Vulgaris.
“Acne Vulgaris is a disease which can cause longstanding psychological and emotional harm to patients. The need for a safe treatment solution such as the Isolaz that physicians and patients can count on is of paramount importance. I offer Isolaz treatments to all of my acne patients. It is a painless, quick and effective process,” says Amy Wechsler, MD, FAAD, of Amy Wechsler Dermatology in NY. Dr. Wechsler is one of only two physicians in the United States board certified in both dermatology and psychiatry.
“We’ve been using the Isolaz in our practice and are very pleased with treatment outcomes particularly in patients with severe acne,” says Tina S. Alster MD, co-investigator of a recent clinical study on the Isolaz titled “Treatment of Acne with Photopneumatic Therapy,” published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Drugs and Dermatology. The paper studied the clinical efficacy of Photopneumatic Therapy for the treatment of mild to severe facial acne(ii). Earlier studies corroborate study outcomes and demonstrate an 88 percent reduction in papular, pustular, comedonal and nodular acne after 4 treatments without any of the side effects associated with systemic treatment alternatives.
To date, the Isolaz has been used to successfully treat over 200,000 patients who suffer from mild to severe acne, worldwide. “We’ve used the Isolaz to successfully treat patients with recalcitrant acne,” says Ava T. Shamban, MD, of Santa Monica, CA referring to results of a study she authored showing that 64 percent of acne patients who had not responded to oral medications (including Accutane), topicals and traditional lasers in the past had shown greater than a 75 percent clearance of acne lesions after treatment with the Isolaz(TM) system. (iii)
“To help alleviate the pressure caused by the withdrawal of Accutane, Aesthera is setting up an Acne Community Education (ACE) Initiative for patients and their physicians,” adds Alon Maor. The ACE Initiative, among other things, will provide a physician led web based forum to help patients better manage their acne and be proactive about treatment. It will also provide physicians with information on alternative non-systemic treatment therapies. For more information on the ACE Initiative visit www.AESTHERA.com or www.ISOLAZ.com.
(i) Roche Pharmaceutical Press Release; Roche Discontinues and Plans to Delist Accutane in the U.S. Roche Pharmaceuticals, Nutley, NJ. June 26, 2009
(ii) Wanitphakdeedecha R, Tanzi EL, Alster TS. Photopneumatic Therapy for the Treatment of Acne. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, March 2009; volume 8, pp 239-241.
(iii) Photopneumatic Pore-Cleansing Acne Treatment: A Breakthrough Treatment Option for Non-Responders to Acne Therapies, Ava T. Shamban, MD, Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care, Santa Monica, CA, October 2006.
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