Advitech - Natural Products for Psoriasis

Advitech is a Canadian publicly-traded health sciences and technology company (TSX-V: AVI), of dairy-sourced proprietary and evidence-based natural health products.

PREVENTION OF IMMUNE-MEDIATED INFLAMMATORY DISORDERS

Advitech's products target dermatology and Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disorders (IMIDs): serious chronic conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (eczema), rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

IMIDs affect millions of people every day, and health conditions like psoriasis affect more than six million people in the USA alone.

Advitech's main platform, XP-828L (commercialised under the name Dermylex™), is a patented technology to extract growth factors and other bioactive peptides from whey proteins. These growth factors and peptides can modulate the immune system, helping prevent IMIDs like psoriasis.

Advitech's core expertise is the identification and extraction of bioactive molecules contained in dairy products like whey. Both the composition and the processes are patent-protected in the USA, Europe and several other countries.

XP-828L IMMUNO-MODULATOR TECHNOLOGY

Advitech's technology platform applies to several immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. This group of biologically-interconnected diseases share common inflammatory pathways and are characterised by immune deregulation resulting in acute or chronic inflammation, which causes injury to the body.

XP-828L is a patented composition of growth factors, among which is TGF-ß 2, obtained from whey using a patented process. Growth factors are naturally-occurring molecules in the body that stimulate cell growth, differentiation, migration, and cytokine production.

Immune-mediated inflammatory disorders are characterised by disproportioned proliferation and differentiation of T lymphocytes. However, certain growth factors can inhibit this reaction. In vitro experiments showed that XP-828L modulates the immune system by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2), thus improving Th1 related disorders like psoriasis (see picture one).

DERMYLEX™ ORAL SOLUTION FOR PSORIASIS

Dermylex is a patented oral product that addresses the needs of psoriasis sufferers. Dermylex represents an attractive option for consumers concerned with the long-term side effects of conventional drugs, and those who wish to improve their quality of life with an easy-to-use oral product (nutritional information, see picture two).

Dermatologists, general practitioners, pharmacists and healthcare professionals can use Dermylex as an adjunct treatment for patients using topicals or systemic medications, an alternative therapy for patients who experience side effects or have compliance issues with topicals, and to extend the remission period between topicals or systemic medications.

After a promising open-label clinical study on Dermylex in 2004 (see picture three), in 2005 Advitech conducted a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study on 84 patients to confirm its efficacy and safety. Patients responding to Dermylex saw an improvement of their psoriasis after 56 days that was maintained over at least 56 additional days by using the same dosage (see pictures four and five).

When compared to the placebo group, the Dermylex treated group had reduced Physician Global Assessment (PGA) scores, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), itching sensation and Body Surface Area (BSA).

An improvement in the PASI scores that approached statistical significance was observed after 56 days on the Dermylex treatment, while no change occurred in the placebo group. Moreover, almost 30% of the patients in the Dermylex-treated group achieved a mean PASI improvement of 59% after 112 days.

On the PGA scale, 21.4% of patients treated with Dermylex experienced a reduction in the severity of their condition by at least one level.

For the Dermylex-treated group, the percent change was statistically significant between day 56 and day one. In addition, improvements versus placebo at day 56 showed a major clinical trend in favour of the Dermylex-treated group. Lastly, more than 25% of the Dermylex treated group showed a mean BSA improvement of 50% after 112 days.

For the Dermylex-treated group, absolute change in the itching sensation was statistically reduced after 112 days compared to day one.

Dermylex is the only oral natural health product available to manage psoriasis. Its efficacy is supported by clinical data (PASI, PGA and BSA), and it is a safe product (no side effects have been reported during clinical trials or since its commercialisation). Its active ingredient is derived from a natural source: especially selected whey from a dairy source.

Available in a convenient, easy-to-swallow caplet form, Dermylex balances the immune function and acts not just on visible skin surface – as do other basic natural products and most topical therapies – but also as an oral product, by way of systemic diffusion.