Hair Loss News

Trial Drug Promises Improved Post-Surgical Scar Appearance
by Joe Tillman

Date Added: December 6, 2006

Renovo Group, leading scar prevention researcher and biopharmaceutical company, completed Phase 2 of Juvista trials reported in October of 2006. Injected at the time of surgery, Juvista is demonstrating marked improvement in the appearance of post-surgical scarring. The phase 2 results were confirmatory results supporting positive phase 1 results.

The 12 month post-surgery, random, double blind study indicates that scar improvement is permanent. In the study, Juvista was effective when administered once at the time of surgery or twice at the time of surgery and the following day.

According to the study, Juvista has been administered to over 1000 people and has a high safety and tolerability profile.

In the study, 6 1cm cuts were made through the skin, in the same surgery session, under the participant’s left arm. The incisions were treated with Juvista, placebo, or standard treatment. Incision sites were photographed once a month for 12 months and the appearance of the scarring was rated by plastic surgeons that examined the scars, and a panel of laypersons. Scars treated with Juvista showed marked improvement over those treated by standard care or placebo.

Juvista is a therapeutic use of human recombinant TGF 3 (Transforming Growth Factor) that is known to have a role in the development of embryonic skin. The same transforming growth factor is present at much lower levels in adults whose wounds form a scar.

Such a drug would be a boon to the aesthetic surgical field and a welcome relief to patients, as scarring is always an issue of concern. Juvista Phase 2 results showed "efficacy in the reduction of scarring in large open wounds whose margins are not approximated and sutured". One wonders just how much improvement in scar appearance could be achieved by coupling Juvista with advanced wound closure methods such as the trichophytic closure technique employed by Hasson & Wong.