MedEsthetics magazines offers business education and in-depth coverage of the latest noninvasive cosmetic procedures for physicians and practice managers working in the medical aesthetics industry.
Issue link: https://medesthetics.epubxp.com/i/123304
NEWS & EVENTS EPIDUO GEL APPROVED FOR CHILDREN 9 AND UP The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Epiduo Gel (adapalene 0.1%/BPO 2.5%) from Galderma Laboratories (galderma.com) to treat acne in children as young as nine years old. The gel was previously approved for patients 12 years of age and older. "Pediatricians and dermatologists are seeing a steady increase in children reaching puberty at an earlier age and, consequently, many children are dealing with acne sooner than traditionally observed," said Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego. The recent FDA approval is based on data from a 12-week multicenter, randomized, vehicle-controlled, double-blind pediatric study that evaluated the safety and efficacy of Epiduo Gel in 285 acne sufferers aged 9 to 11 years. Results showed that: • Epiduo is safe and effective in this younger population known to have more sensitive skin. The results of this pediatric clinical study were similar to those observed in prior Phase 3 clinical studies that included patients 12 years of age and older. • Nearly 70% of parents with children in the Epiduo Gel treatment group saw improvement in their child's acne compared to only 23% of parents with children on placebo. • Similar to the prior Phase 3 clinical studies for patients 12 years and older, common side effects reported in this study included skin burning sensation, skin irritation, skin discomfort, dry skin and erythema. SOLTA MEDICAL ACQUIRES SOUND SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIES Solta Medical (solta.com) has acquired Sound Surgical Technologies, a privately held company and developer of VASER ultrasound-based liposuction technology. Solta acquired the company for $25.5 million in Solta common stock and $5 million in cash. In addition, Sound Surgical unit holders are entitled to receive up to $9.5 million of contingent payments that would be paid in Solta common stock based on revenue from Sound Surgical products in 2013. David Holthe, current chairman of the management committee of Sound Surgical, will join the Solta Board of Directors. "With this acquisition, we have added another strong, complementary product to our broad portfolio of leading aesthetic brands and we have expanded our market opportunity," said Stephen J. Fanning, chairman, president and CEO of Solta Medical. "Sound Surgical's VASER product lines and other technologies utilizing low frequency ultrasound are innovative additions to our Liposonix and Thermage treatments, creating 64 MAY/JUNE 2013 | MedEsthetics significant cross-selling opportunities with Sound Surgical's plastic surgeon base and our core customer base of plastic surgeons and dermatologists." SUNEVA MEDICAL EXPANDS INTO SANTA BARBARA Suneva Medical (sunevamedical.com), a privately held aesthetics company based in San Diego, has opened an office in Santa Barbara. The move follows an expansion in the company's portfolio to include two best-in-class topical facial aesthetic products, ReFissa and ReGenica, and completion of critical milestones in its long-term five-year acne scar indication clinical trials for dermal filler ArteFill. "Santa Barbara has been home to some important and successful aesthetics companies and has generated a tremendous pool of experienced local professionals," said Nick Teti, chairman and CEO of Suneva Medical. "We have made several key hires in finance, marketing, clinical and regulatory over the past few months and will continue to recruit from the great local talent pool as we grow our business." NEW LEADERS TAKE OFFICE AT AAD The American Academy of Dermatology has introduced its new officers, who began their terms on March 5 at the conclusion of the AAD's 71st Annual Meeting in Miami. Dirk M. Elston, MD, FAAD, is now president of the AAD. He received his mediDIRK M. ELSTON, MD cal degree from Thomas Jefferson University Medical School in Philadelphia and is a past director of the department of dermatology at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania and the current director of the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology in New York. Dr. Elston will hold office for one year and is joined by vice president Lisa A. Garner, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She also maintains a private practice in Garland, Texas. "There are several opportunities and challenges confronting the Academy and dermatology, including changes that are coming as a result of health care reform," said Dr. Elston. "We have to work to ensure that these changes do not limit patients' ability to see a dermatologist to receive optimal care for their skin diseases." Four additional physicians began four-year terms as members of the AAD Board of Directors while in Miami. They include: • Robert T. Brodell, MD, FAAD, professor of dermatology and pathology and chief of the dermatology division in the department of otolaryngology and communicative sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in