Optimized Oral Therapy

"Indeed, the anti-inflammatory properties of the tetracyclines are completely independent of their antimicrobacterial activity and are maintained at subantimicrobial (anti-inflammatory) doses."

- Diane Thiboutot, MD
(Professor of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine)

A Novel Oral Therapy

It may be possible to modify the pharmacokinetics of systemic antibiotics in a way that isolates their anti-inflammatory properties from their antimicrobial properties. By maintaining plasma concentrations within a defined therapeutic window—high enough for anti-inflammatory effect, yet low enough to avoid antibacterial activity—one might be able to achieve inflammatory, but not microbial, suppression.

A novel oral therapy with these characteristics could more precisely target the underlying pathophysiology of rosacea. Theoretically, such an agent could replicate the anti-inflammatory properties of established antibiotics, yet could:

• Eliminate the selective pressure that encourages antimicrobial-resistant bacterial strains to emerge
• Leave normal populations of bacterial microflora intact
• Minimize other adverse effects often associated with the administration of oral antibiotics

An agent designed to deliver the beneficial anti-inflammatory actions of systemic antibiotics without the detrimental antimicrobial effects could be a valuable tool for long-term rosacea management.

To learn more, download a video clip illustrating the mechanisms underlying the action of this optimized oral therapy (registration required to download video).