September 2nd, 2010
A study into the protective value of the hair on human heads has revealed that short hair shields the underlying scalp from ultraviolet (UV) radiation better than long hair.
Researchers from the University of Southern Queensland measured the amount of solar UV radiation able to penetrate to the skin on the scalp through both short and long hair. They compared the conditions of a human head in full sun and under shade; then that of a head tilted towards the sun in full sunlight. The amount of UV radiation reaching the scalp beneath the hair was compared to that reaching a bald scalp. Read the rest of this entry »
August 17th, 2010
Recently, we discussed allelic variations (defects) in the MC1R receptor (see this post). These variations, most prominent in red haired coloured (RHC) individuals, have been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer.
New research from the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands has delivered further bad news for individuals with red hair: they are at a higher risk of recurrent basal cell carcinoma (BCC) skin cancer. Read the rest of this entry »
August 13th, 2010
When assessing new therapeutic goods through clinical trials, researchers must obtain information on the degree of a patient’s physical response to therapy. This data then undergoes detailed statistical analyses in order to determine the safety and efficacy (effectiveness) of the drug or treatment.
Central to Clinuvel’s clinical trial design, and the value of these studies, is measurement of the severity of phototoxic reactions (adverse reactions to light or UV radiation) in trial patients. In order to do this accurately, a symptom severity scale has been developed based on the method of ‘Likert scaling’.
Read the rest of this entry »
July 23rd, 2010
New research reveals that beach umbrellas may not provide the level of sun protection that, to date, many had assumed they would. According to researchers from the University of Valencia in Spain, while beach umbrellas block most of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation coming directly from the sun, a percentage of the scattered or reflected UV radiation still reaches beneath the shelter.
Prolonged exposure to UV radiation has been shown to have a variety of detrimental health effects on humans, including; sunburn, immune system suppression, ocular damage (cataracts), premature skin aging and the development of skin cancers. The solar UV radiation directly from the sun and its encircling light only makes up approximately 40% of the total radiation which may reach a person’s skin at ground level. The other 60% comes from the surrounding sky, it may be reflected from the surface of nearby objects, such as buildings, trees and sand, or it may be scattered by the molecules which make up the air. This reflected UV radiation is known as ‘diffuse radiation’ and is able to penetrate horizontally through unobstructed sections of the sky.
Read the rest of this entry »
July 16th, 2010
Skin colour is one of the most obvious and most variable traits humans possess. As visual creatures, people readily observe these differences in one another. Anthropologist, Dr. Nina Jablonski, and colleague George Chaplin have unraveled the mystery behind the diversity of this distinguishing characteristic in their article, ‘Human skin pigmentation as an adaptation to UV radiation’. The pair have presented the first complete theory of skin colour as an evolutionary adaptation.
Paeleotologists have long known that human ancestors once had bodies covered with dense hair. Several theories on the evolution of the present ‘hairless condition’ exist. In this case, the authors suggest this was in response to hot conditions and the need to lose body heat upon physical activity. As naked beings, their once-protected skin became exposed to a multitude of environmental elements, including abrasion, infection, various chemicals and weather conditions. At the same time as the disappearance of the majority of body hair, humans evolved skin that was a more resilient barrier to such hazards and also contained the protective pigment eumelanin (melanin).
Read the rest of this entry »
July 14th, 2010
Today’s announcement of the results of CUV017 has brought with it a stream of updates from Clinuvel, on the website, YouTube and beyond.
In this post we summarise the days releases and developments.
Read the rest of this entry »
July 12th, 2010
As previously discussed on the blog, Good Manufacturing Practice, or GMP is a vital consideration for pharmaceutical manufacture and quality control. This means that the processes, equipment, active ingredients, documentation and training are controlled and of a high standard prior to a drug being approved. To be in compliance with GMP, regulations should ensure that the drug substance is of adequate quality, when used in humans and becomes available commercially.
Ultimately, quality protects the public and ensures that the reality of a drug sold or prescribed is an accurate reflection of the claims and ingredients made not only on the label, but also of the exact nature of the formulation that was approved through rigorous clinical trials and analysis.
Read the rest of this entry »
July 9th, 2010
Clinuvel Non-Executive Director Jack Wood discusses the selection of SurModics Inc as Clinuvel’s first commercial manufacturing partner for SCENESSE®. Click here to listen.
July 8th, 2010
This morning Clinuvel announced a significant milestone in its development program for SCENESSE®: the signing of the first manufacturing agreement for the final drug product with SurModics, Inc., a leading provider of drug delivery technologies to the healthcare industry. It has taken over eight years for Clinuvel to reach this milestone. In this time, the company has refined SCENESSE’s active ingredient – afamelanotide – and arrived at a final injectable drug product which controls its release to achieve an optimal photoprotective response in patients.
Read the rest of this entry »
