Wrinkles, baldness, oily skin, and acne are not life-threatening diseases, but many people suffering from these conditions would describe them as affecting the quality of their lives and are therefore seeking and willing to pay for a treatment that works. When they have blemishes or symptoms of aging skin/scalp, consumers report that they feel their appearance can adversely affect their self-perception, personal relationships, and even future career potential.
Life quality conditions can be not only uncomfortable and embarrassing for sufferers - they're also expensive. Pfizer's Dermatology TA is dedicated to developing new prescription medicines to help close the gap in the availability of effective skin care products, bringing clinically proven treatments, backed by rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness, to patients.
Indications for medicines currently in phases of development, from Phase I through recent approval:
Alopecia
The loss of hair, or baldness. Often caused by heredity or hormonal imbalance, Alopecia eventually affects most men as they age as well as some women, especially after menopause. Pfizer aims to develop novel, effective treatments through three unique mechanisms: potassium-channel openers, thyromimetics, and antiandrogens.
Wrinkles
Lines or creases in the skin.Caused by aging and sun exposure, wrinkles affect everyone to some degree as they get older. Pfizer's goal is to develop an effective wrinkle-reducing product, that is significantly more active than any of the "standard" retinoids on the market, with a good tolerability profile and much less invasive than currently offered wrinkle-reducing procedures.
Oily skin/Acne
Excessively oily skin and pimples on the skin. Caused by overproduction of sebum and inflammation of the follicular canal, oily skin and acne negatively impact the social and emotional quality of life for many teenagers and adults.To address the gap in the market for a topical prescription drug that reduces oil with no serious side effects, Pfizer is exploring several early-stage compounds in its pipeline indicated for oily skin and mild-to-moderate acne. These compounds target the skin's sebaceous glands and reduce the oily substance, called sebum—the 'food' that acne-causing bacteria feed on—produced by these glands.
Skin Improvement
Blotchy changes in the color of the skin or scarring of the skin. Skin changes can result from aging (age spots) or hormonal changes ("melasma"—a dark "mask" that often appears on the faces of pregnant or hormone-exposed women). In addition, scarring can occur as the result of surgery, trauma, or the effects of inflammatory conditions such as acne.