Atopic Dermatitis and Plaque Psoriasis
Atopic dermatitis and plaque psoriasis are chronic, relapsing and remitting inflammatory skin disorders that affect large patient populations, span all age groups and significantly impact quality of life. These disorders impact over 100 million people worldwide and affect both physical and emotional health. Currently available topical therapies, however, have significant treatment limitations and side effects. And despite the large leaps in innovation in general drug development over the past decade, topical therapies in atopic dermatitis and plaque psoriasis have largely remained without innovation.
About Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common skin disorders, impacting up to 15-20% of children (most common skin disorder in children) and 1-3% of adults worldwide. It is characterized by a disrupted skin barrier, dry skin, red, oozing skin lesions, and itching.
Quality of life for patients, as well as for patients’ families, is significantly impacted by atopic dermatitis. US based surveys have found that up to 91% of patients with atopic dermatitis experience itching on a daily basis, which leads to sleep disturbance in up to two thirds of patients.
Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid complications and improve quality of life. The majority of patients have mild to moderate disease and are treated with topical therapy.
Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of this treatment but patients may develop side effects, including stretch marks, skin thinning, secondary infections, and potential systemic effects, including endocrine axis suppression and increased blood glucose levels. Other treatment options include topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) or crisaborole, a topical PDE-4 inhibitor. Topical calcineurin inhibitors carry a boxed warning for the risk of malignancy and are to be used non-continuously. Crisaborole can cause local burning and stinging with use. There is an unmet need for new topical therapies in atopic dermatitis that are efficacious, safe and tolerable for long term use in both children and adults.
TER-101, Teres Bio, Inc’s lead asset, has a novel mechanism of action and inhibits inflammatory pathways important in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin disease, including atopic dermatitis. In December 2020, Teres Bio initiated a clinical study with topical TER-101 for the treatment of mild or moderate atopic dermatitis. Find out more at: clinicaltrials.gov.
About Plaque Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a common, chronic disease with prevalence up to 11% of the population in some countries. Approximately 90% of patients have plaque psoriasis, which is characterized by raised, red skin patches covered with silver or white scaly skin. The disease typically waxes and wanes and plaques can be itchy, painful and disfiguring. People with psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing other chronic diseases, including psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and hypertension. The disease can cause significant physical as well as emotional distress.
More than 80% of patients have mild to moderate disease, and topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment however, patients may develop stretch marks, skin thinning, secondary infections, and potential systemic effects, including endocrine axis suppression and increased blood glucose levels. Despite the large number of patients with plaque psoriasis, few topical therapies with new mechanisms have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in decades.
There is an unmet need for new topical therapies in plaque psoriasis that are efficacious, safe and tolerable for long term use in patients. TER-101, Teres Bio, Inc’s lead asset, has a novel mechanism of action and inhibits inflammatory pathways important in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin disease, including plaque psoriasis.
