Australian based pharmaceutical company, Pharmaxis, in conjunction with the University of Western Australia, has begun a clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of a cream to promote scarless healing. The cream is targeted specifically at burn injuries, and would be the first of its kind in the world if the trials are successful.
The clinical trials are led by surgeon and burn expert, Professor Fiona Wood, alongside a team of researchers from Fiona Stanley Hospital. Pharmaxis’s discovery is a topical cream known as PXS-6302, and it has so far shown promising results in preclinical testing. The cream works by limiting the enzymes that lead to the development of scar tissue.
While most current scar treatment options are limited to applications after a scar has formed, or during its formation, this treatment could potentially stop the scar from forming in the first place. The treatment therefore has the potential to be a less invasive and more effective option than laser or surgery treatments.
The initial clinical trials will examine the safety and tolerability of the topical solution in healthy volunteers, before the treatment is tested on burn and surgical patients.
It is hoped that the treatment will provide relief from the psychological impacts of burn and post-surgical scars, and grant patients a new option for recovery.
“Scar formation following surgery has a huge impact on patient wellbeing and how people feel about themselves,” said research fellow at UWA, Dr Kylie Sandy-Hodgetts, “What we’re hoping is that this new cream may have the potential to improve scar outcomes in patients following surgery.”
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