Dermatology

Mouse studies identified nine S. aureus and host factors as targets for treatment of dermatitis associated with S. aureus infections. In primary mouse and human keratinocytes treated with supernatants from S. aureus cultures, knockout of S. aureus psmA1, psmA2, psmA3 or psmA4 decreased keratinocyte cell death compared with normal expression of the four genes. In a mouse model of S. aureus infection-induced dermatitis, systemic knockout of IL-1 receptor, IL-36R or MYD88 alone, systemic double knockout of IL-17A and IL-17F, or bacterial knockout of psmA1 through psmA4 decreased disease scores and epidermal thickness compared with normal expression of the nine genes. Also in the model, systemic knockout of IL-1 receptor plus a mAb targeting IL-36R decreased disease scores compared with either strategy alone or no treatment. Next steps could include identifying and testing inhibitors of the S. aureus psmA targets in the models.

Amgen Inc., Horizon Pharma plc and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB market Kineret anakinra, an IL-1 receptor antagonist, to treat rheumatoid arthritis and have the compound approved to treat arthritis. Amgen and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum also market Kineret to treat CIAS1-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) and have the compound in Phase II testing to treat acute gout...