Industry Observation I Preclinical data released on transdermal curcumin in the treatment of sickle cell disease

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As the world's highest hematology event, the 65th Annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) will be held in San Diego, USA, from December 9 to 12, 2023. This conference shares the latest research results, treatments, clinical trials and other information related to blood disorders. The publication of preclinical data on transdermal curcumin in the treatment of sickle cell disease has attracted wide attention.

Preclinical results showed a steady reduction in pain, an increase in red blood cell stability, and a reduction in inflammatory markers.

December 11, 2023 (PRNewswire) Vascarta, Inc. (Vascarta) announced new study results presented at the American Society of Hematology meeting in San Diego showing that Vascarta's novel transdermal formulation of curcumin reduces pain symptoms in humanized mice with sickle cell disease. Several features of human sickle cell pain, including an abnormal sensitivity to mechanical stimulation and cold, were measured in these humanized mice with sickle cell disease. After just a few hours of treatment in cold conditions, the mice experienced a significant reduction in pain, and this effect persisted throughout the 21-day test period. At room temperature, starting 14 days after the first treatment, the mice experienced less pain.
Mice treated with transdermal curcumin also showed strong evidence of enhanced red blood cell stability, including reduced hemolysis and improved hemocytometry, REDOX balance, and energy production. In addition, both the liver and spleen showed evidence of improved health. Anti-inflammatory activity was demonstrated by a reduction in several inflammatory markers, including the inactivation of activated mast cells, which are an important cause of chronic pain.
Unlike oral curcumin, Vascarta's transdermal curcumin gel has high bioavailability; Therefore, apply a drop to the abdomen every other day to achieve the therapeutic effect.
"This transdermal curcumin formulation represents a potentially safe and easy-to-administer new approach to sickle cell disease that could be used not only to prevent or treat chronic pain, but also to treat many other clinical complications caused by red blood cells," said lead investigator Prof. Kalpna Gupta (University of California, Irvine).
Professor Joel Friedman (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, inventor of Vascarta's patented transdermal drug delivery technology) said, "The positive results for sickle cell treatment are consistent with multiple other preclinical studies, These studies show that transdermal curcumin has a proven therapeutic effect on pain, inflammation, cytokine storms, endothelial integrity, hypertension, aging and other conditions."

About human sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder that primarily affects African Americans and Hispanics in the United States, with approximately 50% of affected individuals suffering from chronic pain.

Vascarta is a start-up pharmaceutical company dedicated to exploring effective transdermal drug delivery to address inflammation and blood disorders.
Vascarta transdermal curcumin gel has a solubility more than 100 times greater than conventional curcumin topics and enhances deep penetration of curcumin into the skin when applied topially (US Patent 11,484,493). For other topical curcumin preparations, the low concentration and lack of deep penetration results in curcumin being confined to the vaseless superficial layer of the skin, resulting in little or no systemic delivery to the circulatory system. The resulting waterless and highly stable Vascarta curcumin gel is not only able to penetrate into the skin longer than traditional gel, cream or ointment techniques, but, unlike curcumin oral solution, it can quickly and efficiently enter capillaries, even the smallest and tiniest blood vessels.

Curcumin is a bright yellow compound isolated from the turmeric plant (Zingiberaceae). Turmeric has traditionally been used in botanical pharmacy as a traditional medicine to treat skin and gastrointestinal inflammation, control weight and indigestion. Curcumin is recognized as a safe compound by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have evaluated the safety of the compound, with curcumin not detected in the serum of healthy subjects taking 8,000 mg per day and only low levels detected in two subjects taking 10,000 or 12,000 mg per day. No harmful effects were observed in any of the subjects and 12,000 mg per day is safe for healthy individuals.
Curcumin shows poor bioavailability due to its low solubility and low stability in water, and most of the products provided by the global curcumin market are nutritional supplements, and few drugs have been approved for listing.

Image source: Internet

Over the past decade, researchers have experimented with new pharmaceutical approaches to improve the bioavailability of curcumin using nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, solid dispersions, emulsions, and microspheres. The development of transdermal, quantitable curcumin preparations that can quickly enter the subcutaneous microcirculation system into the systemic circulatory system can make efficient use of API, and solve the limitations of drug delivery methods such as high oral dose inefficiency and gastrointestinal stimulation and injection on vascular stimulation.

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