NEWS — MARCH - APRIL 2007
DERMATOLOGY NEWS
Financials, Products, Research, Treatments, Etc.
Adolescents & Young Adults Purposely Tan Their Skin: Despite having family or personal experiences with skin cancer, college students continue tanning their skin using indoor devices or outdoors. The research findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, which conducted a study of 385 college students. The majority of college students with a family member who had skin cancer did not change their tanning behavior outdoors (77%) and 45% tanned indoors. Other experiments indicate that individuals may become addicted to ultraviolet light, which stimulate release of endorphins and generate a euphoric sensation. [UPI; "College Students Addicted To Tanning", Earth Times, March 17th, 2007 (www.earthtimes.org)
Dermal Filler Manufacturers Pursue New Consumers: As noted by the Arizona Republic in mid-March 2007, two well-established competitors in the cosmetic procedures industry are expanding advertising efforts for their dermal filler products. Allergan Inc. (Irvine CA) manufactures and markets BOTOX® and JUVEDERM®, while Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (Scottsdale AZ) sells the leading product, Restylane®, and is developing two new dermal fillers.
The current market consists of approximately 1 million Americans, but as many as 30 million more women are candidates for the treatments and can afford them. Strategists at Medicis focus on delivering product information to cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists at conferences, while also appealing directly to consumers. A film project is in the works to find the "Hottest Mom in America" which Medicis officials are expected to also pitch to networks as a reality television show. Through the Internet, a web video is being distributed that features a new tagline to go along with more provocative content.
The goal is to streamline the message, get it out to potential customers, and increase awareness of Restylane as an alternative to BOTOX®. In 2006, Medicis generated approximately 10% of the total corporate revenues posted by Allergan, a larger and historically dominant competitor. Funding is available for costly promotional campaigns, such as the Fall 2006 giveaway of JUVEDERM® samples for physicians to use on approximately 10,000 patients who had previously been treated with Restylane. As of March 2007, fourth quarter 2006 JUVEDERM sales information was not publicly available, but Medicis financial results posted a 20% increase in Restylane sales for the same period of time.
DUSA Pharmaceuticals' Year-End Financial Results: For the year ending December 31st, 2006, DUSA Pharmaceuticals (Wilmington MA) posted total product revenues of $25.6 million versus $11.3 million for 2005. The Company generated record revenue of $8.2 million for the last quarter of 2006 through increased unit volume sales of Levulan Kerastick® photodynamic therapy (PDT) and non-PDT products acquired from Sirius Laboratories Inc. (which closed in March 2006). DUSA's products help patients with common skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. For more information, visit: DUSA Pharmaceuticals.
New "LipoDissolve Ultra" Provides Better Results: As a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, LipoDissolve is a form of mesotherapy that breaks down fat cells in specific parts of the body. The treatment involves injection lecithin into target areas such as the chin, stomach, or hips to dissolve fat. In March 2007, Crutchfield Dermatology (Eagan MN) introduced an improved protocol, LipoDissolve Ultra, which is currently under investigation to qualify for FDA approval. The new technique incorporates ultrasound massage before and after LipoDissolve treatment to make fat tissue more receptive to treatment. For more information, visit: Crutchfield Dermatology.
PhotoMedex XTRAC® Laser System Achieves "Medically Necessary" Status: The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA; Chicago IL) revised a portion of its National Reference Policy so that the PhotoMedex XTRAC® Laser System may be considered medically necessary for treatment of mild-to-moderate psoriasis that is not responsive to other products or procedures. The XTRAC® laser is manufactured and marketed by PhotoMedex (Montgomeryville PA). XTRAC® may also be considered medically necessary for moderate-to-severe psoriasis that affects less than 20% of body area. The National Reference Policy is available to 39 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, each of which makes independent coverage decisions. For more information, visit: PhotoMedex.
