Avotermin (Juvista), a scar removal drug, being developed by Renovo

Avortemin, a new drug that can remove scarring to ‘unsightly levels’ is currently being developed by Renovo.

Given the brand name Juvista, avotermin is human recombinant transforming growth factor ?3 (TGF?3).

Avortemin is showing great potential in removing or reducing existing scars. Avotermin can do more good in terms of removing or not leaving even traces of scar tissue when administered before surgical operations, according to trial results published in the medical journal The Lancet.

The drug avotermin / Juvista is injected under the skin at the site of the wound before and after an incision is made or surgery is carried out on an existing scar. 

Patients – and even their physicians – are highly concerned about scarring. Even relatively minor scars and those that can be concealed by clothing, make them uneasy. Furthermore, both patients and their physicians value any opportunities to remove or minimize scarring.

While a range of scar treatment paradigms have been evaluated, no single therapy has been adopted as a universally accepted standard of care and, currently, there are no marketed pharmaceuticals for the prophylactic reduction of scarring.

Avotermin is the clinical application of human recombinant transforming growth factor ?3 (TGF?3), a key protein involved in scar-free healing observed in embryos. Controlled, double-blind, randomized phase I/II clinical studies have shown that avotermin, administered as an intradermal injection at the time of surgery, leads to both short-term and longer-term (at ?12 months) improvements in the appearance of scars compared with placebo and standard wound care, reports  the latest edition of The Lancet (11 April 2009, vol 373, pages 1264-1274).

“Some people got a really dramatic effect, where the scar was almost imperceptible,” said Professor Mark Ferguson, from the University of Manchester. Prof Ferguson is also the co-founder and CEO of  Renovo.

“We had to tattoo temporary markers to either end of the cut because 12 months later we couldn’t see where the scar was. If the drug continues to work and be approved it could be used in surgeries, following trauma and burns, from road traffic accidents to elective surgery and cosmetic procedures.”

Juvista (avotermin) is now in phase 3 development in Europe, with the first EU trial due to report in the first half of 2011.

Renovo is a biopharmaceutical product company based in Manchester, United Kingdom)and a leader in the discovery and development of drugs to improve the appearance of scars and enhance wound healing. Renovo has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Shire to develop and commercialise Juvista for the prevention and reduction of scarring. The agreement covers every country throughout the world except Member States of the European Union, the rights to which have been exclusively retained by Renovo.