Ceragenix Pilot Study Results for EpiCeram®

Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals (OTCBB: CGXP) announced positive results from its investigator-blinded pilot study comparing the safety and efficacy of EpiCeram® Skin Barrier Emulsion to that of Elidel® cream from Novartis (NYSE: NVS), a standard non-steroidal therapy in the treatment of mild-to-moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD). Both EpiCeram® and Elidel® cream produced significant improvement in patients’ conditions after four weeks of treatment. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups treated with EpiCeram® compared to those treated with Elidel®.

Improvement in patient AD was a secondary endpoint of the study. Both treatments demonstrated a statistically significant reduction. Itching, a hallmark symptom of AD, was another secondary endpoint of the study. Both EpiCeram® and Elidel® cream produced significant relief from itching after 28 days of treatment, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two treatments in reduction of itching at this time point. The research was conducted by clinicians at the Oregon Health & Sciences University and the University of California School of Medicine, San Diego.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic childhood skin condition that may affect patients for many years. Dermatology agents currently used to treat atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin disorders have limitations of use due to various safety concerns. The use of EpiCeram® does not raise any of the safety concerns associated with the use of topical steroids or topical immunosuppressants.