Karo Bio starts Phase II clinical trials in the field of dermatology

Karo Bio starts Phase II clinical trials in the field of dermatology

The Swedish Medical Products Agency has approved Karo Bio’s application to
start Phase II clinical trials on patients suffering from skin atrophy,
which is caused by repeated steroid treatment of skin diseases.

“Skin atrophy is a common condition, which causes patients to become
vulnerable to blows, which can lead to bruising, and in some cases can
impair the wound healing. These side-effects mean that steroid treatment,
in many cases, cannot be provided effectively. The background to these
side-effects is that steroids reduce the production of certain proteins,
which are important structural components in the skin’s composition. Skin
atrophy is also caused by aging or by extreme exposure to the sun. There
is currently no satisfactory treatment for skin atrophy, which means that
there is a large need for new therapies. For this reason, we are very
pleased that our research in this area is making such good progress, ”
says Per-Olof Mårtensson, President of Karo Bio.

The planned studies will be conducted at the Dermatology Clinic of
Sahlgrenska Hospital in Gothenburg, under the supervision of Associate
Professor Jan Faergemann. Karo Bio has developed an ointment containing a
substance that activates the thyroid hormone receptor.

“In earlier animal tests, we have shown that the active substance can
convincingly prevent steroid-induced skin atrophy, which is the
dermatological indication to which we have given the highest priority. Our
patent application has been filed in the USA, Europe and in leading Asian
markets, and covers possible treatments, with substances acting through
the thyroid hormone receptor, for a range of dermatological diseases,”
says Per Otteskog, Head of Research at Karo Bio.

Preliminary studies, which Karo Bio has carried out on human skin,
indicate that thyroid hormone can be used in treatment of a range of
different skin disorders. These studies show that thyroid hormone and
vitamin A, which both work via various nuclear receptors, have, to a large
extent, the same effects on the composition of the skin. However, the use
of vitamin A is limited by local irritations such as peeling and redness.

For further information, contact:
Per- Olof Mårtensson, President Karo Bio AB
+46 8 608 6020
per-olof.martensson@karobio.se
Per Otteskog, Executive Vice President (R&D)
+46 8 608 6018
per.otteskog@karobio.se

Karo Bio is a drug discovery company working with the development of
receptor and tissue-selective drugs for the treatment of common diseases
that are responsive to nuclear receptors, such as cancer, osteoporosis,
cardiac arrhythmia, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and inflammatory
diseases. Operations are conducted in collaboration with international
pharmaceutical companies and leading academic institutions. Karo Bio has
80 employees and is located at the Novum Science Park at Huddinge
Hospital, Stockholm. The Company collaborates with Abbott Laboratories,
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Merck & Co.

On March 27 Karo Bio’s board of directors announced the acquisition of the
US biotechnology company Novalon. The acquisition will broaden Karo Bio’s
technological knowledge concerning nuclear receptors and increase the
company’s knowledge in the field of genomics, providing new opportunities
for the development of high precision drugs. The merged Karo Bio will be
located in Stockholm, San Francisco and Durham, North Carolina.

Please visit our website: www.karobio.se

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