Organ
of the
GD — Society for Dermopharmacy
 |
Issue 1 (2004) |
Dermopharmacy News
Symposium of DFG-Research Group 463 in Berlin
Targets, Drugs and Carriers.
Novel Therapeutic Approaches
The interdisciplinary research group 463 set up by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (German Research Association) under the name of “Innovative Pharmaceuticals and carrier systems - integrative optimization of treatment of inflammatory and hyper-proliferating diseases” organized a symposium which sets a major focus on dermopharmaceutical issues at the Free University of Berlin on 14 and 15 Mai 2004. Over 100 interested parties participated in the event under the title “Targets, Drugs and Carriers. Novel Therapeutic Approaches”. Among the participants there was a large number of follow-up researchers.
In his welcoming speech professor Dr. Helmut Keupp, vice-president in natural science and research at the Free University of Berlin emphasized the significance of the symposium for the development of Berlin as science and pharma location. He explained that the speaker of the research group and head of the symposium, the GD-member of the board, professor Dr. Monika Schäfer-Korting from the Institut für Pharmazie (Institute for Pharmacy) of the Free University Berlin is also in charge of a significant combination project in the given context by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry for Formation and Research) (BMBF). The scope of this project which will also be dealt with in the course of the GD Symposium “Einsparung von Tierversuchen mit Humanhautmodellen” (Reduction of animal experiments by means of human skin models) in Berlin on 25 November 2004 concerns a validation study for the test of skin penetration with the aid of biologically produced skin models.
New insights in the therapy
of inflammatory dermatoses
Professor Dr. med. Dr. h. c. Thomas Ruzicka, Düsseldorf, expounded the modern possibilities regarding the investigation of gene-expression and novel long-term approach resulting thereof for the topical therapy of inflammatory skin diseases. He emphasized the major innovative potential feasible by means of the already introduced topical immuno-modulators. Moreover, he stressed the epidermically interfered barrier at the atopical eczema as crucial point of attack for interventions.
Professor Dr. Konrad Sandhoff, Bonn, outlined the functionally significant chemical structures of the epidermal barrier and here particularly the role of sphingolipids in the water management of the skin. In his opinion a substitution with relevant exterior substances due to the complex formation of the epidermal barrier is hardly promising.
This could, however, come alternatively about by the expression of relevant genes in the skin, as explained by professor Dr. Dieter Steinhilber, Frankfurt Main, in the context of lipoxygenasis and 1.25-Dihydroxy-Vitamin D3.
A lecture alike the lecture by his Frankfurt colleague professor Dr. Josef Pfeilschifter who lectured about the highly topical subject of the redox- regulation through NO by matrix-metabolizing enzymes revealed which potential a university center for pharmaceutical research also relevant for industry may represent as it had been founded some time ago in Frankfurt.
Chemo-prevention
from skin cancer
Professor Dr. med. Hans Merk, Aachen, dealt with the potential of chemo-prevention from skin cancer. He introduced the novel paradigm of signification in inflammation phenomena within the scope of the formation of epithelioma of the skin. The potentiality available for some time now to bring preliminary stages of this skin cancer to degeneration by targeted inhibition of the cyclo-oxygenasis corresponds to this concept.
In this context a particular significance is ascribed to the iso-enzyme 2. While Diclofenac, which is already contained as active agent in the hyalurone-acid-containing dermatic solely has a reduced selective effect on this enzyme, more potent selective active agents are at present subject to clinical testing. Admittedly at the present time it cannot yet predicted whether a selective inhibition of the cyclo-oxygenasis 2 in fact represents a considerable therapeutical progress in chemo-prevention of skin cancer. (hck)
top