A newly published article introduces us to a new formulation of Azelaic Acid known as Azeloglicina. Azeloglicina (chemical name  Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate) is described as a “condensation product between one mole of Azelaic Acid and two moles of Glycine” and is touted as an improvement over the individual properties of both. A company called Singerga holds the patent on Azeloglicina.

The study showed, after 4 weeks of use, improvements in redness and hydration as well as some improvements in flushing, stinging, and burning. Very early days though of course with a small trial and so far unquantified benefits.

It appears that Azeloglicina is also being promoted as a skin lightening product.

According to Sinerga;

Interest for Dermatologists

Azelaic acid is widely know for its antibacterial, sebum-normalizing and keratoplastic capabilities and is normally used in 15-20% concentrations; it may cause, as a consequence of its activity on sebum reduction and modulation of skin proliferation, skin dryness and irritation.

Another important application of Azelaic Acid in dermatology is due to its bacteriostatic activity: azelaic acid has bacteriostatic properties versus aerobic and anaerobic. This activity is probably due to the inhibition of cells’ proteic synthesis, while it also performs a reduction of free fatty acids in cutaneous sebum due to a competitive inhibition of the enzyme 5-α reductase

DERMATOLOGICAL USES

The possibility to modify the molecule of Azelaic acid and increase the moisturizing and anti inflammatory properties can be regarded has an important breakthrough in the development of the molecule. Indeed, new application fields can be identified in the light of new therapeutic uses of azelaic acid such as in rosacea.

New Abstract

Clinical and instrumental assessment of the effects of a new product based on hydroxypropyl chitosan and potassium azeloyl diglycinate in the management of rosacea.

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2012 Mar;11(1):37-41.

Berardesca E, Iorizzo M, Abril E, Guglielmini G, Caserini M, Palmieri R, Piérard GE.,

San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, Italy Private Practice, Dermatology, Lugano, Switzerland Scientific/Regulatory Affairs Department, Sinerga S.p.A., Milan, Italy Scientific Department, Polichem SA, Lugano, Switzerland Department of Dermatopathology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

Background: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting mostly facial skin. Its origin is multifactorial. Important steps in its treatment are avoidance of any triggering factor and control of skin inflammation.

Aim: To assess the benefit of topical applications of a new product (P-3075).

Patients/Methods: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, pilot study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a cream (P-3075) based on 5% potassium azeloyl diglycinate (PAD, Azeloglicina) and 1% hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH).

Forty-two patients (rosacea stages I and II) were enrolled and randomized, 28 in the P-3075 group and 14 in the placebo group.

They were asked to apply the cream twice daily for 4 weeks.

The main assessments were the objective quantification of erythema and skin hydration using the Mexameter and Corneometer devices, respectively.

Clinical signs and symptoms were evaluated on a four-point scale.

Results: The P-3075 cream applied for 28 days was effective in skin protection by reducing erythema, evaluated both instrumentally and clinically.

In addition, the clinical assessments of other symptoms such as flushing, stinging, and burning supported the beneficial effect of the P-3075 cream.

Conclusions: The anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects of potassium azeloyl diglycinate combined with the protective properties of HPCH allow the new product to be a good candidate for controlling signs and symptoms of rosacea.

Related Articles

• Finacea Gel (azelaic acid 15%) as a Rosacea Treatment
• Finacea and the Cause of Rosacea
• Just how does Finacea work ?

According to the patent application, a tinted formulation of Finacea had improved anti-inflammatory effects compared to regular Finacea – “Surprisingly, it was found that there was a further marked reduction in cytokine release in the cultures treated with azelaic acid and titanium dioxide-coated potassium aluminium silicate 3%”.

As a related note, we know from research from Dr. Gallo’s group that the active ingredient in Finacea, azelaic acid can decrease the expression of 2 substances thought to be important in rosacea – kallikrein 5 (KLK5) and cathelicidin.

Are You Excited?

I can’t say that the thought of a Tinted Finacea is terribly exciting. Personally I rely on a tinted sunscreen for coloring and would normally expect active topicals to just deliver their therapy and that is that. Also the amount of tint would need to exactly match the amount you need for coloring, whilst matching the optimal amount for the active ingredient too. Would a tint encourage you to apply too much or too little I wonder?

Given that the addition of particular pigments might increase the effectiveness of a particular treatment does make me reconsider my stance though.

Perhaps we might see a Tinted Metrogel one day too.

Would consider switching to Finacea if it was tinted ? Would it enhance your use of Finacea if it was providing you a tint?

Azelaic acid-comprising formulation with added pigment

The present patent application relates to an azelaic acid-comprising pharmaceutical composition, preferably an azelaic acid-comprising gel, with added pigment, which composition can be used, inter alia, for treating rosacea and acne, and also to a process for its preparation.

Agent: Intendis Gmbh – Berlin, DE

Filed: May 26, 2011

USPTO Applicaton #: #20120027862 - Class: 424490 (USPTO)

It is known that topical formulations comprising azelaic acid can be used for treating certain dermatological disorders, for example rosacea and acne.

These products can be present in various pharmaceutical forms, for example as cream, gel, lotion or foam. In some of the preparations of the prior art, use is also made of azelaic acid derivatives, for example dialkyl esters. In addition, some of the compositions also comprise other pharmaceutically active substances such as, for example, metronidazole (WO 2004/108143) or retinoids (WO 2007/082780).

…

However, it is most unclear whether there are any interactions between the therapy with azelaic acid-comprising formulations and these cosmetics. Dermatologists can not exclude that such cosmetics may have an unfavourable effect on the course of the therapy.

There is therefore a need to provide novel azelaic acid-comprising compositions which allow a therapy of rosacea and acne and at the same time solve the individual cosmetic problems, without having an unfavourable effect on the course of the therapy.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide stable azelaic acid-comprising formulations, in particular with proven active compound concentrations, for example from 10 to 25% by weight of azelaic acid, in particular 15% by weight or else 20% by weight, of azelaic acid, for the therapy of rosacea and acne, and at the same time to solve the individual cosmetic problems without any unfavourable effect on the course of the therapy. In particular, relatively large amounts of pigment, which may affect stability, activity or else the compatibility of the overall formulation, should be avoided.

…

It has now been found that the addition of inorganic pigments to azelaic acid-comprising formulations resolves the problems described at the outset. Surprisingly, the combinations of azelaic acid and interference pigment showed improved antiinflammatory action compared to pure azelaic acid.

Furthermore, it has been found that stable pigment-comprising azelaic acid formulations can be prepared by a certain process. Here, the order of the process steps is important. In the process according to the invention, particular care has to be taken to avoid any rise in temperature during or after the addition.

Related Articles

• Just how does Finacea work ?
• Finacea Gel (azelaic acid 15%) as a Rosacea Treatment
• Finacea Foam being trialled
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• CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion Reviews

We know that the pH of skin is around 5.4. The makers of Finacea, Intendis have formulated Finacea to be pH of 4.8, which means that Finacea is reasonably close to the same pH as skin. One of the ingredients of Finacea is sodium hyroxide, which is alkaline, so can be used to adjust the pH of the final formulation.

By comparison, Metrogel Vaginal has a pH of about 4.0, I was unable to find the pH for Metrogel 1%.

The following research found that an azelaic formulation of pH 4.9 was substantially more effective at delivering the active agent (azelaic acid) to the dermis and epidermis, compared to a pH 3.9 formulation.

Intendis tell us that Finacea has pH-adjusted to around 4.8 and thus Finacea shows "No interference with physiologic pH of skin acid mantle. Optimum pH for formulation consistency".

Effect of ionization and vehicle on skin absorption and penetration of azelaic acid

Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2011 Nov 23, Li N, Wu X, Jia W, Zhang MC, Tan F, Zhang J.

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University , Tianjin, PR China.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ionization and vehicle of topical formulations on skin absorption and penetration of azelaic acid (AZA).

Materials and methods: In vitro transport of AZA was determined for two topical formulations containing AZA with pH values of 3.9 and 4.9, respectively. FINACEA(®) (15% AZA gel), a US Food and Drug Administration approved drug for treatment of acne and rosacea, was also used for comparison. Release profile and flux of AZA were determined in an in vitro hairless mouse skin model using Franz Diffusion Cell.

Results: The data have shown that a higher concentration of AZA is retained in the epidermis/dermis layer and the whole skin for the formulation with pH = 4.9 as compared to that with pH = 3.9 at an active loading level of 2.82 mg/cm(2). In addition, the flux of ionized species of AZA in the pH 4.9 formulation (128.4 ± 35.9 μg/cm(2)/h) is approximately five-fold greater than that in the pH 3.9 formulation (27.7 ± 4.0 μg/cm(2)/h). The results suggest that the ionized AZA penetrates through the skin and accounts for majority of the total flux.

Discussion and conclusion: This study has demonstrated that the penetration and absorption of AZA show a strong pH- and vehicle-dependency. Solubilization is the rate-limiting step in percutaneous absorption of AZA.

Related Articles

• Finacea Foam being trialled
• Just how does Finacea work ?
• Finacea Gel (azelaic acid 15%) as a Rosacea Treatment

Do We Need Finacea Foam?

It seems clear the Intendis wants to expand the number of products it manufactures to treat rosacea. This makes sense from the point of view of the company; another potential revenue stream and more products appear in your portfolio.

But what about rosacea sufferers – should they be excited about Finacea Foam? Well that is yet to be seen. It seems unlikely to me that a mineral oil based emulsion, such as is common in foaming products, will offer too many options to wanting rosacea sufferers. Time will tell.

Investigational Azelaic Acid Foam Quells Rosacea

11/17/11

FROM THE ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY

Medical Dermatology

By: BRUCE JANCIN, Skin & Allergy News Digital Network

LISBON – Physicians may soon have a new option for the treatment of papulopustular rosacea in the form of 15% azelaic acid foam.

The 15% foam is an extension of an existing product line which includes 15% azelaic acid gel as an approved topical therapy for mild to moderate rosacea, Dr. Blanka Havlickova explained at the annual congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

VITALS

Major Finding: In all, 43% of patients with papulopustular rosacea were rated as clear or as having minimal residual disease after 12 weeks of twice-daily, topical, 15% azelaic acid foam therapy.

Data Source: A double-blind, vehicle-controlled, randomized clinical trial of 401 patients with mild to moderate papulopustular rosacea who were randomized to 12 weeks of twice-daily, self-applied azelaic acid foam or vehicle.

Disclosures: The trial was funded by Intendis, which is developing the investigational agent.

Related Articles

• Finacea Foam vs. Finacea Gel
• Finacea Foam being trialled
• Finacea Gel (azelaic acid 15%) as a Rosacea Treatment

The owner of the patent, Elorac is known from their recent trials of Carbamide Peroxide as a rosacea treatment.

Finacea has received some recent good publicity via some studies that showed that Finacea was able to alter some of the elements of the way that rosacea progresses as a disease – Finacea and the Cause of Rosacea

United States Patent Application 20110256237

Bernstein; Joel E., ELORAC, INC.

Filed: April 16, 2010

METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING ACNE VULGARIS AND ACNE ROSACEA

Abstract

Methods and compositions are described for treating acne vulgaris and acne rosacea by administering compositions suitable for oral administration.

Suitable compositions contain high dosages of the vitamin nicotinamide combined with much lower dosages of azelaic acid.

Some extracts;

• [0007] Novel and improved methods and compositions for treating acne vulgaris and acne rosacea are described. High dosages of nicotinamide (aka niacinamide) ranging from 100 mg to 1000 mg per unit dose and up to 3000 mg daily were combined in formulations suitable for oral administration with much lower dosages of azelaic acid, the azelaic acid dosage ranging from 1 mg to 50 mg per unit dosage and up to 150 mg daily.
• [0008] Formulations suitable for oral administration include tablets, capsules, caplets, and suspensions. Such oral formulations optionally include beside nicotinamide and azelaic acid, other vitamins, minerals, and nutritional ingredients, including but not limited to folic acid, pyridoxine, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, copper, glycyrrhizinic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, carbenoxolone, resveratrol, and beta carotene.
• [0009] Formulations suitable for oral administration containing 100 mg to 1000 mg per unit dose of nicotinamide and also containing azelaic acid from 1 mg to 50 mg per unit dose are administered once to four times daily as tablets, capsules, caplets or suspensions to patients with either acne vulgaris or rosacea. Such daily therapy may be provided for treatment durations of as little as 1 to 2 weeks or continuously for durations of up to several years or more.
• [0010] The following examples are not meant to be limiting. It is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the concepts of the materials and methods claimed herein. Further embodiments are within the ability of one skilled in the art.
• Example 1 . Oral tablets containing 600 mg nicotinamide, 5 mg azelaic acid, 10 mg zinc (as zinc oxide), 5 mg pyridoxine, 1.5 mg copper (as cupric oxide), and 500 mcg folic acid are administered to patients with mild to moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris once to four times daily, with a majority of such patients expected to demonstrate significant reductions in their acne lesions over treatment periods of 1 to 52 weeks.
• Example 2. Oral tablets containing 750 mg nicotinamide, 50 mg azelaic acid, 1 mg folic acid, 20 IU vitamin A, 100 IU vitamin D, and pyridoxine 5 mg, are administered to patients with acne vulgaris once or twice daily for 12 consecutive weeks. Such patients are expected to show dramatic improvement in their acne conditions by the end of the 12-week administration period.
• Example 3. Gelatin capsules containing 100 mg nicotinamide, 1 mg azelaic acid, 500 mcg folic acid, 100 IU vitamin A, 25 mg zinc oxide, 1.5 mg copper oxide, and 2 mg glycyrrhetinic acid are administered four times daily to patients with rosacea for from 4 up to 52 weeks of continuous therapy. Acneform lesions of rosacea are expected to decrease significantly over this treatment course without any of the systemic side effects associated with oral antibiotics.
• Example 4. Gelatin capsules containing 600 mg nicotinamide, 50 mg azelaic acid, 10 mg zinc oxide, 10 mg pyridoxine, 500 mg folic acid, 20 mg beta carotene and 1 mg carbenoxolone administered two capsules twice daily are expected to produce impressive clinical improvement in the complexions of patients with severe inflammatory acne vulgaris.
• Example 5. Caplets containing 250 mg nicotinamide, 5 mg azelaic acid, 100 IU vitamin A and 500 mcg folic acid are administered to patients with rosacea with the expected result that such patients will have marked improvement in their acneform lesions without any systemic side effects.
• Example 6. An oral suspension flavored with artificial or natural fruit flavors (e.g. cherry, orange, pineapple) containing 150 mg nicotinamide and 5 mg azelaic acid in each 5 ml of liquid is administered to adolescent males or females with inflammatory acne vulgaris in a dosage of 1 teaspoonful (5 ml) twice daily with resulting excellent control of acne and no serious side effects.

Related Articles

• Finacea Gel (azelaic acid 15%) as a Rosacea Treatment
• Just how does Finacea work ?
• Finacea and the Cause of Rosacea
• Elorac promoting Carbamide Peroxide as a Rosacea Treatment

This review looked at the published results of 58 trials to note bias and construct a high level summary of the results.

No Surprises Here

It will come as little surprise that the well known treatments Metrogel, Finacea and Oracea were found to be effective. These prescription based treatments from Galderma and Intendis have seen high levels of investment in research and development and indeed marketing specifically as rosacea treatments.

What is a Cochrane Review

From The Cochrane Collaboration: Cochrane Reviews are designed to facilitate the choices that doctors, patients, policy makers and others face in health care. Most Cochrane Reviews are based on randomized controlled trials, but other types of evidence may also be taken into account, if appropriate.

What Bias?

The Cochrane Review attempts to identify any bias that may have affected the outcome of the trials reviewed.

Many levels of bias are possible; are the participants truly randomly selected, representative of the population, truly blinded to the treatments?, are outcomes fairly reported? what about exclusions and attrition rates ?

Any one of these sorts of bias can cause the results of a trial to be questioned. As is the usual case with these large systematic reviews, high or unclear levels of bias were present in the clinical trials.

Clinical Trials without any bias are hard to achieve and seem to be quite rare.

Effective and evidence-based management strategies for rosacea: summary of a Cochrane systematic review, Br J Dermatol. 2011 Jun 21, van Zuuren EJ, Kramer SF, Carter BR, Graber MA, Fedorowicz Z.

Background: Rosacea is a common chronic skin disease affecting the face. There are numerous treatment options, but it is unclear which are the most effective.

Objective: To assess the evidence for the efficacy and safety of treatments for rosacea.

Methods: Searches included the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, and Ongoing Trials Registers (updated February 2011). Randomized controlled trials in people with moderate to severe rosacea were included.

Results: Fifty-eight trials, including 27 from the original review, comprising 6,633 participants were included in this updated review. Interventions included topical metronidazole, oral antibiotics, topical azelaic cream or gel, topical benzoyl peroxide and/or combined with topical antibiotics, sulphacetamide/sulphur, and others. There was some evidence that topical metronidazole and azelaic acid were more effective than placebo. Two trials indicated that doxycycline 40 mg was more effective than placebo. There was no statistically significant difference in effectiveness between doxycycline 40 mg and 100 mg and with evidence of less adverse effects. One study reported that cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion was significantly more effective than artificial tears for treating ocular rosacea.

Conclusions: Although the majority of included studies were assessed as being at high or unclear risk of bias, there was some evidence to support the effectiveness of topical metronidazole, azelaic acid, and doxycycline (40 mg) in the treatment of moderate to severe rosacea, and cyclosporine 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion for ocular rosacea. Further well-designed, adequately-powered randomised controlled trials are required.

Related Articles

• Metronidazole (Metrogel, Flagyl) is a popular rosacea treatment
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Recent research is highlighting just how important are all of the ingredients in a topical preparation.

The benefits to your skin from the vehicle components help explain why one might even obtain relief from vehicle-only preparations. For example if you are on a clinical trial that is blinded. Particularly if your skincare regime is not supporting the functions of your skin, the vehicle carrying the active ingredient in a topical may itself be worth using.

This further reinforces the argument that a gentle (and supportive) skincare regime is important for rosacea sufferers.

Of course mixing your own topicals is not an easy task, so mostly we are limited to the formulations that have been made for us by the pharmaceutical companies.

As a refresher here is a listing of ingredients of the most popular rosacea topicals. As you can see it is not an easy task to discover just from the listing whether a topical is going to be a winner for you.

Metrogel Ingredients

METROGEL (metronidazole gel), 1% is an aqueous gel; each gram contains 10 mg of metronidazole in a base of betadex, edetate disodium, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methylparaben, niacinamide, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol,propylparaben and purified water.

Finacea Ingredients

Each gram of Finacea contains 0.15g (15%) micronized azelaic acid in a gel base. It also contains 0.1% benzoic acid, propylene glycol, polysorbate 80, lecithin, polyacrylic acid, triglycerides (medium chain), sodium hydroxide, disodium edetate and purified water.

Plexion Ingredients

Each gram of Plexion® (sodium sulfacetamide USP 10% and sulfur USP 5%) Topical Suspension contains 100 mg of Sodium Sulfacetamide USP and 50 mg of Sulfur USP in a suspension containing: Purified Water USP, Propylene Glycol USP, Isopropyl Myristate NF, Light Mineral Oil NF, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Monostearate NF, Cetyl Alcohol NF, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Stearyl Alcohol NF, Fragrances, Benzyl Alcohol NF, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone NF, Zinc Ricinoleate, Xanthan Gum NF, Edetate Disodium USP, and Sodium Thiosulfate USP.

Klaron Ingredients

Each mL of Klaron (sodium sulfacetamide lotion) Lotion, 10% contains 100 mg of sodium sulfacetamide in a vehicle consisting of purified water; propylene glycol; lauramide DEA (and) diethanolamine; polyethylene glycol 400, monolaurate; hydroxyethyl cellulose; sodium chloride; sodium metabisulfite; methylparaben; xanthan gum; EDTA and simethicone.

Research Abstracts

Topical rosacea therapy: the importance of vehicles for efficacy, tolerability and compliance, J Drugs Dermatol. 2011 Jun 1;10(6):627-33, Jackson JM, Pelle M.

Many topical medications are available for the treatment of papulopustular rosacea. While treatments contain metronidazole, azelaic acid, or sodium sulfacetamide-sulfur as the active ingredient, the composition of the vehicle formulations varies widely.

These vehicles come in gels, creams, lotions and foams; some ingredients are common to many vehicles, while some vehicles contain unique ingredients designed to optimize skin penetration and delivery of the active drug to its target.

Vehicles can also influence tolerability, which is always a concern in patients with heightened skin sensitivity, and compliance, which is typically lower for topical treatments than oral treatments.

Ideally, the vehicle of any rosacea treatment should enhance drug delivery, be non irritating and be easy to use. Ingredients that help repair barrier function are also desirable. This review will focus on the key components of the vehicles from the most commonly used topical therapies for papulopustular rosacea and how vehicle formulations influence the delivery of active ingredient, skin barrier repair, tolerability and compliance.

Further related research;

THE IMPORTANCE OF VEHICLE IN ACNE THERAPY

Emil A. Tanghetti, MD, Chair, A Supplement to Skin & Allergy News,

Skin Disease Education Foundation’s 29th Annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar, a continuing medical education program, March 18-24, 2005, in Maui, Hawaii. 

Physicians attempting to balance aggressive acne treatment with tolerability stress the importance of restoring hydration of the stratum corneum. Research demonstrating the stratum corneum’s pivotal role in drug delivery has sparked renewed interest in this topic.

Many common conditions directly and indirectly affect barrier function.  For example, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne affect barrier function directly through the impact of the inflammatory process on epidermal growth and maturation. Medications used to treat a number of conditions indirectly disrupt barrier function.  Topical retinoids—the mainstay of acne treatment—change and disrupt barrier function.

Several signs and symptoms characterize damage to the epidermal barrier.  Dryness and peeling occur when the water content of the stratum corneum falls below 10%.  This creates a damaged and leaky epidermis that may lead to overabsorption of topical medications and products, causing even more barrier damage.

Summary

Restoring and maintaining barrier function is critical for outcomes in patients with dermatologic diseases.  For optimal hydration, a vehicle that is both occlusive and humectant is ideal.  The addition of moisturizers such as dimethicone and glycerin to acne treatment products helps maintain barrier function and will provide better outcomes. This is particularly important when topical retinoids are included in the therapeutic regimen. For comedonal acne, combination products containing moisturizers may be effective first-line agents. Finally, clinicians should consider the vehicle prior to prescribing or recommending any products to patients with acne.

Related Articles

• Metronidazole (Metrogel, Flagyl) is a popular rosacea treatment
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• RSRP: Sulfur / Sodium Sulfacetamide Topicals

Epikinetics Pharma has pushed out a press release today (reproduced in full on sfgate.com which seems a bit sad; for a newspaper to just re-publish press releases I have to say) promoting a new product called AzaClear.

AzaClear combines Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide and Glycerin.

The manufacturers say this product is “designed to address the visible effects of problem or aging skin” and they also  “consider azelaic acid + niacinamide a potent and highly effective cosmetic topical agent “.

This is a first. A major pharmaceutical company has released a smart phone app for rosacea sufferers. Intendis, the makers of Finacea, have created a program that you can carry around for easy reference.

Built with the help of the National Rosacea Society (whom Intendis supports through corporate donations), the application can be summarized as having a consumer website for Finacea and a few simple lifestyle tools in  your pocket.

The Rosacea App is available to download for free for Blackberry, iPhone and Android.

The Rosacea iPhone App

The iPhone app failed to run at all on my iPod Touch so the following screen captures are cropped from an iPad capture. The application is only available from the US iTunes Store and by default only supports weather forecasts for the US.

Below are some sample screen captures of the application. Hopefully it will give you an idea of what it actually does. Click on an image to see it full size.

Introductory Screens

Pop Up Disclaimer

Rosacea Screens

FAQ and General Rosacea Information from the NRS

Managing Rosacea Screens

Managing Your Rosacea

Tools Screens

Trigger Tracker

Food Substitution Finder

Food Substitution Finder

Finacea Screens

Finacea Product Information

Finacea Coupon Information

Finacea Coupon Information

Before Using Finacea Photograph

After Using Finacea Photograph

Product Safety

Product Safety Information

My Thoughts

While not promising to doing anything you can’t already achieve using the internet from your desktop, the application is really quite well done. I’m encouraged to see this much investment in public education from Intendis. Of course they want to promote their product Finacea, but along the way they have created a worthwhile program that you can, thanks to your smart phone, carry around in your pocket.

New rosacea sufferers will particularly benefit from the application as will those who are heavy users of their smart phones as an alternative to a desktop PC.

What Do YOU Think ?

I don’t actually own an iPhone, Blackberry or Android handset, and don’t live in the US so can’t fully run The Rosacea App as it was intended.

If you download the app and use it for a few days, please let everyone else know below in the comments what you thought about it.

Related Articles

• Intendis makes a mobile phone app for Rosacea
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Now a new trial has been listed to compare Finacea Gel with Finacea Foam.

As I noted a year ago, these kind of `swings and roundabouts’ trials tend to be seen when a product reaches maturity and the manufacturer is seeking to build their portfolio with derivative products.

This trial will be valuable because it will be able to prove if the foam delivery system is able to offer a measurable benefit to users. Note that this trial will be looking at the Pharmacokinetics of the active ingredient – azelaic acid; that is, how much of it is available in the skin for the 12 hours after application. Thus the trial will be able to provide proof that the foam delivery mechanism it more or less effective or indeed just as effective as the topical gel.

The purpose of the test also refers to “repeated application” but doesn’t detail what this means.

Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Azelaic Acid Foam, 15% in Papulopustular Rosacea

Investigator-blinded, Randomized, Cross-over, Multiple Dose Phase I Study on Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Topically Applied Azelaic Acid Foam, 15% Compared to Azelaic Acid Gel, 15% in Subjects With Papulopustular Rosacea.

Primary Outcome Measures:

• Baseline corrected area under the curve (AUC) [ Time Frame: 12 hours ]

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