Scottish Researchers to Develop New Eczema Drugs
A grant with a value in excess of one million pounds has been awarded to researchers working in St Andrews and Dundee, Scotland, UK. Its provision has been made to enable the scientists to formulate new drugs in respect of the skin condition eczema. The funding was provided by the Medical Research Council.
The basis of the research will be a gene entitled filaggrin - the existence of which was discovered in 2006 by scientists at Dundee University. Approximately 50 per cent of children with eczema in its severe form possess genetically flawed filaggrin, which causes their skin to become inflamed. The present generation of eczema treatments work by targeting the immune system, but it is hoped, from this new research, to develop new drugs capable of attacking eczema's primary cause.
Filaggrin is a protein that is found in the skin's external layers. A frequent phenomenon within sufferers of eczema is that of "leaky" skin, which permits external matter to permeate through. This is caused when filaggrin is present in genetically defective form.
A proportion of the work will be undertaken in a newly-opened building at Dundee University's School of Life Sciences. The new unit includes a dedicated facility for drug-screening - which enables scientists to find out which drugs will perform best in respect of treating diseases.
Highlighting the virtues and potential of the funding, Dundee University's Professor Irwin McLean stated: "One in five children in the UK and other developed countries get eczema and many go on to develop a range of allergies and a form of asthma related to eczema. This is a really exciting opportunity to develop new treatments aimed directly at the first major gene known to be involved in eczema and related conditions.
"Although this early stage research may not lead to human trials for a few years, it gives hope for tens of millions of people who carry this gene defect and are predisposed to developing these debilitating diseases."
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Research and Development Analyst
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