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Table 1 Selected pipeline candidates for the next generation of acne therapeutic drugs

From: Host-microbiome interactions and recent progress into understanding the biology of acne vulgaris

Company

Drug

Formulation

Effect

Mechanism

Stage

Melinta Therapeutics

Radezolid

Topical oxazolidnone

Antibacterial

Second generation antibiotic with enhanced ribosomal binding

Phase II

Allergan and Paratek Pharmaceuticals

Seysara®

Oral sarecycline antibiotic

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory

Narrow spectrum of activity against C. acnes and S. aureus

Phase III

Novartis

CJM112

 

Anti-inflammatory

Anti-IL-17

Phase II

Sebacia

Microparticles

Topical suspension of gold microparticles

Sebostatic

Photothermolysis of sebaceous glands

Phase III

KLOX Technologies

Kleresca®

Cream containing chromophores

Killing of C. acnes

Excitation of bacterial porphyrins by light absorption

FDA-approved

Botanix

BTX 1503

Transdermal gel containing synthetic cannabidiol

Anti-inflammatory and sebostatic

Activation of vanilloid-4 ion channels to inhibit sebocyte lipogenesis

Phase Ib

Foamix Pharmaceuticals

FMX101

Topical minocycline foam (4%)

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant

Blocks inflammasome-pyroptosis and cleaved IL-1β

Phase III

BiophramaX

BPX-01

Solubilized topical minocycline gel

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant

Inhibits protein synthesis in bacteria and inhibits iNOS and MMPs in cells

Phase III

Dermira

Olumacostat glasaretil (DRM01)

Topical small molecule prodrug

Sebostatic

Inhibitor of acetyl coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase involved in FA biosynthesis

Phase III

Allergan

ANT-1207

Topical botulinum toxin type A

Anti-inflammatory

Acetylcholine inhibitors and glutamate-antagonists

Phase II

Promius Pharma LLC

DFD-03

Topical tazarotene lotion

Anti-inflammatory

Retinoid prodrug: suppress keratinocyte hyperproliferation

Phase III

Celtaxsys

Acebilustat (CTX-4430)

Oral capsule

Anti-inflammatory

Leukotriene A4 hydrolase inhibitors

Phase II

AOBiome

B244

Topical spray

Anti-inflammatory and microbiome modulation

Production of nitrite and NO to suppress inflammation

Phase IIb

Novan Thereputics

SB204

Topical gel

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory

Release of NO that inhibits IL-1β

Phase III

AndroScience

ASC-J9

Topical cream

Androgen modulation

Synthetic androgen receptor degradation enhancer

Phase III

Galderma

Trifarotene (CD-5789)

Topical cream

Anti-inflammatory

Retinoic acid receptor gamma agonists

Phase III

Seoul National University Hospital

Lupeol

Topical lupeol cream

Suppressed lipogenesis, anti-inflammatory

NF-κB and PI3K/Akt Modulator

In clinical trials

Sienna Biopharmaceuticals

SNA-001

Topical silver particle suspension

Photothermolysis of sebaceous gland

Laser-excited particles that convert light energy to heat

Phase IIb