Oleogel-S10 in Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa: A Case Series Evaluating the Impact on Wound Burden Over Two Years.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare, difficult-to-treat, inherited multisystem diseases affecting epithelial integrity. Impaired wound healing is central and can lead to serious clinical complications, deformities, and symptoms with a devastating impact on quality of life (QoL). Dressing changes and wound care are central to the management of EB. Recently Oleogel-S10 (also known as birch bark extract or birch triterpenes) was approved in Europe and the UK for treating EB wounds. This approval was based on data from the EASE phase 3 study, which demonstrated Oleogel-S10 accelerated wound healing, reduced total wound burden, and decreased the frequency of dressing changes in patients with EB. A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted for up to 24 months in 13 patients with EB treated with Oleogel-S10 through an early access programme in Colombia. Effectiveness was assessed by measuring body surface area percentage (BSAP) and total body wound burden (EBDASI). Tolerability and safety were monitored throughout. This is the first report to evaluate the effectiveness of Oleogel-S10 in clinical practice. The results showed a reduction in percentage of BSA affected, from a mean of 27.3% at baseline to 10.4% at 24-month follow-up, despite treatment interruptions. A reduction in EBDASI skin activity score of - 16.2 (24 months) together with a reduced skin damage index score of - 15.4 (18 months) was also observed. Physicians, patients, and caregivers perceived faster wound closure. Adherence with therapy by patients was good, and patients expressed satisfaction with treatment and reported improvements in self-esteem, productivity, and social interaction. Oleogel-S10 was well tolerated; however, two patients reported worsening wounds related to gauze adherence. Two deaths during treatment interruption were reported and was not considered related to Oleogel-S10. This study supports the effectiveness of Oleogel-S10 in a real-world scenario in a country with scarce resources for the treatment of EB.

Use of topical morphine gel in epidermolysis bullosa wounds-A series of case studies.

In recent years, the use of topical morphine gel has increased in the palliative care setting to reduce pain in chronic wounds and fungating tumours. However, there is a paucity of evidence to support its effectiveness. Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic skin fragility disorder characterised by painful chronic wounds. Adequate control of wound pain can be challenging in this patient group due to other complexities associated with the more severe sub-types of the disease. Topical morphine gel has been used as an adjunct therapy in a small number of EB patients in our tertiary centre in an attempt to improve pain control and quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the efficacy of topical morphine gel used in a variety of EB wounds as well as patient reported reduction in pain through a series of case studies. The case studies suggest a positive effect of topical morphine gel on painful wounds across a spectrum of EB subtypes.

The C4EB study-Transvamix (10% THC / 5% CBD) to treat chronic pain in epidermolysis bullosa: A protocol for an explorative randomized, placebo controlled, and double blind intervention crossover study.

Patients with the genetic blistering skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB) report severe pain as a consequence of skin and mucous membrane lesions including blisters, wounds, and scars. Adequate symptom alleviation is not often achieved using conventional pharmacologic interventions. Finding novel approaches to pain care in EB is imperative to improve the quality of life of patients living with EB. There are several anecdotal reports on the use of cannabinoid-based medicines (CBMs) by EB patients to reduce the burden of symptoms. However, controlled clinical investigations assessing these reported effects are lacking. As the pain quality "unpleasantness" delineates EB pain, we hypothesize the modulation of affective pain processing in the brain by way of intervention with CBMs comprising the cannabinoids Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol-objectified by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The C4EB study is an investigator-initiated, single-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover trial. Adult patients with the diagnosis epidermolysis bullosa, reporting chronic pain will be eligible to participate. Following baseline measurements, participants will be randomized to receive the sublingually administered interventions placebo and Transvamix® in forward or reversed orders, each for two weeks and separated by a washout. The primary outcome is the difference in numeric rating scale pain scores between grouped interventions, using affective descriptors within the Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2. Secondary outcomes include pain self-efficacy, concomitant analgesic medication-use and adverse events. Additionally, fMRI will be employed to assess brain connectivity related to neuroanatomic pain circuits at baseline, placebo and Transvamix® interventions. The study was approved by the ethical committee at the University Medical Center of Groningen in the Netherlands. Results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Trial registration number: Netherlands Trial Register: NL9347 (Acronym: C4EB).

Filsuvez® gel (Oleogel-S10) para epidermólisis bullosa / Filsuvez® gel (Oleogel-S10) for epidermolysis bullosa

INTRODUCCIÓN: La epidermólisis bullosa o ampollosa es un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades mecanoampollosas genéticas autosómicas, dominantes o recesivas, caracterizadas por diversos grados de fragilidad de la piel y las mucosas causada por mutaciones que afectan las proteínas estructurales de la piel. Se han descripto cuatro tipos principales de epidermólisis bullosa, según el nivel estructural de división del tejido en la piel: epidermólisis bullosa simple, de la unión, distrófica y de Kindler. La gravedad de la enfermedad está determinada por el nivel de ampollas y el tipo de mutación y es muy variable entre los subtipos. La epidermólisis bullosa simple es autosómica dominante de separación intraepidérmica, con ampollas con trauma leve que curan sin dejar cicatriz y suele presentarse al nacer o en la primera infancia y de curso crónico, pero la formación de ampollas tiende a disminuir con la edad. La de la unión es autosómica recesiva de separación intra-lamina lucida, es la variante más grave, con muerte prematura en la infancia debido a la desnutrición o infecciones, y se caracteriza por ampollas y erosiones generalizadas con tejido de granulación que no cicatriza; asociado con uñas ausentes, dientes displásicos, lesiones orales y estenosis pilórica. La distrófica es autosómica recesiva y dominante de separación de láminas sub-basales y suele comenzar al nacer, con ampollas generalizadas que curan con cicatrices extensas que traen un riesgo de presentar secuelas graves y con muerte en la edad adulta temprana por las complicaciones. Finalmente, la Kindler es autosómica recesiva de separación a nivel de los queratinocitos basales o de lámina sub-basal, con ampollas inducidas por traumatismos leves que pueden disminuir con la edad. El manejo de los pacientes con epidermólisis bullosa es principalmente de apoyo e incluye el cuidado de heridas y la prevención y tratamiento de complicaciones (control del dolor, nutrición, cuidado de lesiones extra-cutáneas, etc.) involucrando a un equipo multidisciplinario de profesionales, donde en la actualidad no existe una terapia dirigida para la epidermólisis bullosa. TECNOLOGÍA: Oleogel-S10 (Filsuvez®) es un gel cicatrizante que contiene extracto seco de la corteza de Betulae (corteza de abedul), también conocido como extracto triterpénico. El gel contiene 90% peso/peso de aceite de girasol y 10% peso/peso de extracto seco de corteza de abedul, de los cuales la mayoría es betulina (72 a 88% peso/peso). Las sustancias marcadoras activas adicionales incluyen ácido betulínico, lupeol, ácido oleanólico y eritrodiol. OBJETIVO: El objetivo del presente informe es evaluar rápidamente los parámetros de eficacia, seguridad, costos y recomendaciones disponibles acerca del empleo de Filsuvez® gel (Oleogel-S10) para el tratamiento de la epidermólisis bullosa. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en las principales bases de datos tales como PUBMED, LILACS, BRISA, COCHRANE, SCIELO, EMBASE, TRIPDATABASE como así también en sociedades científicas, agencias reguladoras, financiadores de salud y agencias de evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias. Se priorizó la inclusión de revisiones sistemáticas, ensayos clínicos controlados aleatorizados, evaluación de tecnología sanitaria y guías de práctica clínica de alta calidad metodológica. En PubMed se utilizó la estrategia de búsqueda que se detalla en el Anexo I. La fecha de búsqueda de información fue hasta el 01 de noviembre de 2022. Para la búsqueda en Pubmed se utilizó la siguiente estrategia de búsqueda: ((Filsuvez[tiab] OR Oleogel-S10[tiab] OR birch bark extract[tiab]) AND (Epidermolysis Bullosa[MeSH] OR Acantholysis Bullosa[tiab])). RECOMENDACIONES: No se hallaron guías de práctica clínica actualizadas en Argentina y en el Mundo que mencionen la tecnología en la indicación evaluada. El Instituto Nacional para la Excelencia en Salud y Atención (NICE su sigla del inglés, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) de Reino Unido y la Agencia Canadiense de Medicamentos y Tecnologías en Salud (CADTH su sigla del inglés, Canadian Agency for Drugs & Technologies in Health) no han evaluado al tratamiento en la indicación evaluada. CONCLUSIONES: La evidencia que sustenta la aprobación de comercialización de Oleogel-S10 (Filsuvez®) para el tratamiento de heridas de espesor parcial asociadas con epidermólisis bullosa en personas a partir de los 6 meses de edad, se basa en un estudio clínico con resultados aún no publicados con control de pares. Este estudio demostraría que en personas sin complicaciones, el OleogelS10 sumado al cuidado estándar aumentaría la proporción de personas con cierre completo de la herida en personas con epidermólisis bullosa distrófica de herencia recesiva frente a placebo al corto plazo. No se observarían beneficios en personas con epidermólisis bullosa de la unión o con distrófica de herencia dominante, como tampoco para otros desenlaces. Los eventos adversos reportados más comunes fueron las complicaciones de heridas, reacciones en el lugar de aplicación, infecciones de heridas, prurito y reacciones de hipersensibilidad. La agencia regulatoria de los Estados Unidos todavía no ha autorizado su comercialización; mientras que la agencia europea la ha autorizado recientemente, junto con la designación de medicamento huérfano, para el tratamiento de heridas de espesor parcial asociadas con epidermólisis bullosa distrófica y de la unión en personas a partir de los 6 meses de edad. No se hallaron guías de práctica clínica actualizadas en Argentina y en el Mundo que mencionen la tecnología en la indicación evaluada. No se hallaron evaluaciones económicas publicadas, como tampoco precios de adquisición de referencia en el Mundo.

Monitoramento do horizonte tecnológico: Medicamentos para o tratamento da epidermólise bolhosa / Monitoring the technological horizon: Drugs for the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa

CONDIÇÃO CLÍNICA: A Epidermólise Bolhosa (EB) é uma doença congênita, não contagiosa pertencente a um grupo de doenças cutâneas geneticamente transmitidas, cuja principal característica é a formação de bolhas após trauma mínimo espontâneo ou mecânico. Alguns indivíduos podem apresentar deformidades das mãos e nos pés (pseudosindactilia), anemia ferropriva, perdas de unhas e dentes, escaras na córnea, atrasos de desenvolvimento devido à desnutrição e risco de desenvolvimento de câncer nas lesões crônicas. A EB é causada por mutações em pelo menos 20 genes diferentes, sendo os KRT5, KRT14, PLEC e COL17A1 os principais genes citados na literatura. Ademais, sua classificação é complexa, porque mutações nesses mesmos genes podem resultar em fenótipos clínicos distintos. As mutações causam a ausência ou a diminuição da codificação de proteínas estruturais podendo levar a redução da resistência da pele à tração da ferida. TRATAMENTO: O tratamento atual da EB é principalmente preventivo e de suporte, incluindo proteção contra forças mecânicas evitando fricção, tratamento precoce de feridas para prevenir infecções e proteção da ferida com curativos não adesivos adequados para permitir a cicatrização. O Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas (PCDT) da EB, publicado em 2021, descreve os principais tratamentos para os pacientes com essa condição. As medidas terapêuticas da EB inclui terapia medicamentosa e não medicam

Anesthetic Management of Adults With Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare, inherited diseases characterized by skin fragility and multiorgan system involvement that presents many anesthetic challenges. Although the literature regarding anesthetic management focuses primarily on the pediatric population, as life expectancy improves, adult patients with EB are more frequently undergoing anesthesia in nonpediatric hospital settings. Safe anesthetic management of adult patients with EB requires familiarity with the complex and heterogeneous nature of this disease, especially with regard to complications that may worsen during adulthood. General, neuraxial, and regional anesthetics have all been used safely in patients with EB. A thorough preoperative evaluation is essential. Preoperative testing should be guided by EB subtype, clinical manifestations, and extracutaneous complications. Advanced planning and multidisciplinary coordination are necessary with regard to timing and operative plan. Meticulous preparation of the operating room and education of all perioperative staff members is critical. Intraoperatively, utmost care must be taken to avoid all adhesives, shear forces, and friction to the skin and mucosa. Special precautions must be taken with patient positioning, and standard anesthesia monitors must be modified. Airway management is often difficult, and progressive airway deterioration can occur in adults with EB over time. A smooth induction, emergence, and postoperative course are necessary to minimize blister formation from excess patient movement. With careful planning, preparation, and precautions, adult patients with EB can safely undergo anesthesia.

Cannabinoid use and effects in patients with epidermolysis bullosa: an international cross-sectional survey study.

BACKGROUND: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) patient anecdotes and case reports indicate that cannabinoid-based medicines (CBMs) may alleviate pain and pruritus and improve wound healing. CBM use has not been characterized in the EB patient population. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate CBM use among EB patients, including CBM types, effects on symptoms (e.g., pain and pruritus), disease process (e.g., blistering, wounds, and inflammation), well-being (e.g., sleep, appetite) and concomitant medications. METHODS: English-speaking EB patients or caregivers completed an online international, anonymous, cross-sectional survey regarding CBM use. Respondents reported the types of CBMs, subsequent effects including perceived EB symptom alteration, changes in medication use, and side effects. RESULTS: Seventy-one EB patients from five continents reported using or having used CBMs to treat their EB. Missing question responses ranged between 0 (0%) and 33 (46%). Most used more than one CBM preparation (mean: 2.4 ± 1.5) and route of administration (mean: 2.1 ± 1.1). Topical and ingested were the most common routes. Pain and pruritus were reported retrospectively to decrease by 3 points (scale: 0-10; p < 0.001 for both) after CBM use. Most reported that CBM use improved their overall EB symptoms (95%), pain (94%), pruritus (91%) and wound healing (81%). Most participants (79%) reported decreased use of pain medications. The most common side-effect was dry mouth (44%). CONCLUSIONS: CBMs improve the perception of pain, pruritus, wound healing, and well-being in EB patients and reduced concomitant medication use. Nevertheless, a direct relation between the use of CBMs and reduction of the above-mentioned symptoms cannot be proven by these data. Therefore, future controlled studies using pharmaceutically standardised CBM preparations in EB are warranted to delineate the risks and benefits of CBMs.

Characterization of wound microbes in epidermolysis bullosa: Results from the epidermolysis bullosa clinical characterization and outcomes database.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) require care of wounds that are colonized or infected with bacteria. A subset of EB patients are at risk for squamous cell carcinoma, and bacterial-host interactions have been considered in this risk. The EB Clinical Characterization and Outcomes Database serves as a repository of information from EB patients at multiple centers in the United States and Canada. Access to this resource enabled broad-scale analysis of wound cultures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 739 wound cultures from 158 patients from 13 centers between 2001 and 2018. RESULTS: Of 152 patients with a positive culture, Staphylococcus aureus (SA) was recovered from 131 patients (86%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) from 56 (37%), and Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) from 34 (22%). Sixty-eight percent of patients had cultures positive for methicillin-sensitive SA, and 47%, methicillin-resistant SA (18 patients had cultures that grew both methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant SA at different points in time). Of 15 patients with SA-positive cultures with recorded mupirocin susceptibility testing, 11 had mupirocin-susceptible SA and 6 patients mupirocin-resistant SA (2 patients grew both mupirocin-susceptible and mupirocin-resistant SA). SCC was reported in 23 patients in the entire database, of whom 10 had documented wound cultures positive for SA, PA, and Proteus species in 90%, 50%, and 20% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SA and PA were the most commonly isolated bacteria from wounds. Methicillin resistance and mupirocin resistance were reported in 47% and 40% of patients tested, respectively, highlighting the importance of ongoing antimicrobial strategies to limit antibiotic resistance.

Emerging drugs for the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa.

INTRODUCTION: Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) form a heterogeneous group of rare, sometimes life-threatening inherited skin diseases characterized by skin and mucosal blistering after mild trauma from birth. They display a wide range of disease severity, with multiple local and systemic complications with no satisfactory treatment. AREAS COVERED: Approaches aiming to restore the functional expression of the defective protein such as ex vivo and in vivo gene therapy, cell therapies, protein replacement and pharmacological approaches have shown promising results. In addition, improved knowledge of EB pathogenesis has open the way to symptom-relief therapies using repurposed drugs in some forms of EB. EXPERT OPINION: A cure for all forms of EB will remain challenging, but it is anticipated that treatments for EB will rely on precision medicine, involving a combination of complementary approaches. Treatments aiming to restore the function of the defective genes will be combined with symptom-relief therapies to address the specific features of the different forms of EB and each patient complications. A growing number of biotech and pharmaceutical companies have shown an increasing interest in the treatment of EB and as a result, have implemented numerous clinical trials. Therefore, we anticipate the emergence of effective treatments in the near future.

Small molecule drug development for rare genodermatoses - evaluation of the current status in epidermolysis bullosa.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary epidermolysis bullosa (EB) comprises a heterogeneous group of rare genodermatoses, which are caused by mutations in genes involved in the maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of dermo-epidermal adhesion in various stratified epithelia. In severe variants, generalized skin disease, extracutaneous manifestations and multi-organ involvement cause considerable morbidity and mortality. Causal and early treatment by re-expression of a respective mutated gene is the major long-term goal in therapy development. However, characterization and targeted modulation of pathogenic molecular cascades in EB also holds great promise as a symptom-relieving approach to ameliorate phenotype, complications and quality of life. Small molecules are chemical structures of less than 900 Da that can diffuse across cell membranes and interfere with target biomolecules, thus influencing their function at different levels. They constitute the vast majority of active components of all approved drugs. METHODS: We performed PubMed and Google Scholar search for publications and screened FDA- and EMA-hosted clinical trial registries to identify studies using small molecule-based drugs for epidermolysis bullosa. Upon detailed analysis this resulted in the identification of a total of 84 studies. RESULTS: We identified 52 publications and 32 registered trials that investigate small molecules for their safety and efficacy as treatment for different aspects of epidermolysis bullosa. Further, a total of 38 different small molecules clinically used in EB were found. Most frequent outcome measures concerned wound healing, reduction in blister numbers, as well as reduction of itch and pain, predominantly for EBS and RDEB. CONCLUSION: We provide a comprehensive summary of the current status of clinical small molecule development for EB and discuss prospects and limitations in orphan drug development for rare conditions like EB.

Wound closure in epidermolysis bullosa: data from the vehicle arm of the phase 3 ESSENCE Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic wounds are a fundamental issue for patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB). Herein, we assess the natural history of wound closure in patients with EB who were randomly assigned to the vehicle-control arm of the multicenter, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 ESSENCE (NCT02384460) trial. METHODS: ESSENCE was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of a topical cream formulation of 6% allantoin (SD-101 6%) vs vehicle (SD-101 0%) in patients ≥1 month old who had a diagnosis of EB (simplex, recessive dystrophic, or intermediate junctional) and a target wound 10-50 cm2 present for ≥21 days. Time to complete target wound closure and the proportion of patients with target wound closure over time were analyzed overall and by parameters including patient age and baseline body surface area index (BSAi) of total wound burden (< 5% and ≥ 5%). Changes in BSAi of lesional skin, pain, and itching were also assessed. RESULTS: The vehicle-control arm included 87 patients. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) time to target wound closure within 3 months was 53.6 (28.6) days, with a range of 14 to 142 days. The proportion of patients with target wound closure increased over time from 7.1% at day 14 to 53.6% at month 3. Mean (SD) changes from baseline in BSAi of total wound burden and BSAi of lesional skin at month 3 were -2.3% (6.3) and -5.0% (13.5) of total body coverage, respectively. Reductions in pain and itching were observed at day 7 and maintained for 3 months. Faster healing times and a greater proportion of patients with wound closure were observed in patients aged 1 month to < 2 years; those with wounds < 30 days old, and in those with BSAi of total body wound burden < 5%. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment response observed in the vehicle-control arm of the ESSENCE study was unexpectedly high and may have been due to unforeseen benefits of vehicle or enhanced wound care provided by the clinical trial staff. These observations will help inform the study design of future trials in patients with EB. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02384460 ; Date of registration: February 13, 2015; First participant enrollment: March 11, 2015.

The cannabidiol conundrum: potential benefits and risks of cannabidiol products for children.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Since the federal ban on hemp products was lifted in December 2018, cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid derived from hemp, has become increasingly popular and accessible. CBD is sold in the form of oils, tablets, and foods in locations including gas stations, cafés, and drug stores. Despite a lack of reliable evidence, many parents praise its purported therapeutic effects on a variety of childhood ailments. RECENT FINDINGS: Epidiolex was the first CBD-based medication to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2018 for the treatment of two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, known as Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome, in patients of at least 2 years of age. Its efficacy was assessed through three randomized, double blind, and placebo-controlled trials in a sample of 516 patients with either Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome. Despite this development, there are few or no large-scale, rigorous studies concerning the effects of CBD on any other pediatric conditions that parents have tried to alleviate with CBD. The purpose of this review is to explore recent literature regarding the efficacy and safety of CBD in treating various health conditions in children; the risks of consuming CBD products, and the role of pediatricians in helping parents navigate often-confusing information about CBD. SUMMARY: Although CBD use has dramatically increased in recent years, both its potential to treat conditions and its risks have not yet been subjected to rigorous study. Pediatricians should be aware of the risks posed by poor-quality standards and labeling practices for cannabinoid products. Due to the confusing nature of the numerous sources of information about CBD, pediatricians are in a position to provide and clarify information about CBD to parents and understand the risks it poses to children.

Thymosin ß4: potential to treat epidermolysis bullosa and other severe dermal injuries.

Thymosin ß4 is a naturally-occurring regenerative protein present in almost all cells and body fluids, including wound fluid. In multiple preclinical injury models, it promotes dermal repair and tissue regeneration. Thymosin ß4 acts by increasing keratinocyte/epithelial cell migration, angiogenesis, and cell survival, and by decreasing inflammation, apoptosis, and scarring. It also modulates cytokines, including those that cause itching. Thymosin ß4 promotes faster repair in various chronic human wounds, including pressure ulcers, stasis ulcers, and epidermolysis bullosa lesions. The faster healing time with increased keratinocyte migration and angiogenesis and reduction in both inflammation and scarring are especially important for epidermolysis bullosa patients who suffer from slow healing and inflammation that leads to itching, infections, pain, fluid loss, scarring, and tissue damage. These multiple mechanisms of action support thymosin ß4's role in accelerating dermal repair and suggest the potential to treat various types of severe wounds, including epidermolysis bullosa patients who suffer from frequent blistering wounds that can be life threatening. There is an urgent need at this time to develop a therapeutic, such as thymosin ß4, for epidermolysis bullosa. Despite progress in gene/stem cell therapy, there is no cure for this disease and careful wound management is the standard of care.