Compnay web site: http://www.novogen.com.au/about/about0101.cfm?mainsection=01&subsection=01
I found this announcement interesting, especially the part in bold.
Human Clinical Trial Commences for Dermatological Compound
NOVOGEN LIMITED 2002-06-13 ASX-SIGNAL-G
HOMEX - Sydney
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Novogen has commenced a second human clinical trial of its novel synthetic dermatological compound NV-07a.
The trial, at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney will determine the extent to which NV-07a is able to reverse the damaging effects of sun exposure on the skin.
In pre-clinical studies conducted by Novogen, NV-07a, when applied topically, demonstrated an ability to undo the immediate effects of sunlight, such as reddening of the skin; and also to undo the underlying damage from exposure to sunlight which results in skin cancer.
Both of these effects were observed even when NV-07a was applied after sun exposure and in long term pre-clinical studies this resulted in reduced incidence of skin cancer.
Novogen's Research Director, Professor Alan Husband, explained that one of the mechanisms by which sunlight exposure causes skin cancer was by suppression of the skin's immune capacity.
"The current study is being conducted in human subjects who have an inbuilt marker of skin immune function and who are susceptible to a particular type of skin allergy." Professor Husband said.
"Normally these subjects have a reduced allergic reaction after sun exposure because the immune system becomes suppressed. This study will determine if the reduced immune effect can be avoided when NV-07a is applied after sun exposure in these subjects."
Despite increased public awareness about the benefits of avoiding excessive sun exposure and the importance of sun block creams to prevent sun damage, the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer has issued a medical alert warning that the use of sun block creams is not effective in preventing the long term damage to the skin which may result in skin cancer.
"The use of these creams reduces sunburn but does not correlate with a reduction in risk of life-threatening skin cancers such as malignant melanoma," Professor Husband said.
Professor Husband added that NV-07a had commercial potential for use as an after-sun skin repair agent in cosmetics and skin care products.
The current annual spend in the US on UV sun block creams is US$90 million and in Europe the figure is US$100 million. The current total skin care market for the world is around US$30 billion annually, of which about US$6 billion is spent in the US. Australia spends approximately 10 per cent of the US market.
Novogen's Managing Director, Mr Christopher Naughton, said Novogen would be managing the clinical development program for NV-07a and then reviewing potential marketing partners for the commercialisation of the product.
NV-07a development has been supported by the grant of A$3.7 million from the Australian Government under the R&D START program.
NV-07a is the third Novogen compound in human clinical studies. Immunosupression is one of the multiple therapeutic applications targeted by Novogen's phenolic drug technology research and development program.
Within the same class of compounds are Novogen's anti-cancer drug phenoxodiol (now in Phase I/II human clinical trials in Australia and the US and under licence to Marshall Edwards Inc) and Novogen's NV-04 cardiovascular drug program, also now in human trials.
Novogen is involved in drug discovery and product development for disorders that are commonly associated with aging and co-ordinates an international clinical research and development program with external collaborators, hospitals and universities.
For further information Mr Christopher Naughton, MANAGING DIRECTOR, or
Professor Alan Husband, RESEARCH DIRECTOR, Tel (02) 9878 0088 http://www.novogen.com
ISSUED BY: Westbrook Communications CONTACT: David Reid Tel (02) 9231 0922 or 0417 217 157 (Mobile)
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