Lindus Health and Acinonyx Bio Launch Trial for Benzoyl Peroxide Alternative in Acne Treatment

Lindus Health, a company known for conducting faster and more reliable clinical trials, has announced a collaboration with Acinonyx Bio. Acinonyx Bio, a biotechnology firm, has developed a unique topical cream composed mainly of plant-based ingredients that fight bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The partnership will focus on a clinical trial to evaluate the cream’s effectiveness in treating inflammatory acne.

Inflammatory acne, characterized by red, swollen, and painful blemishes, affects approximately 50 million people in the United States. This skin condition not only causes physical discomfort but also psychological stress due to its persistent nature and potential for permanent scarring. The primary target of the study is the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), which significantly contributes to the development of inflammatory acne.

Previous in vitro studies revealed that Acinonyx Bio’s topical cream, named ACX, can kill P. acnes as quickly as benzoyl peroxide, a common acne treatment. However, benzoyl peroxide has recently been scrutinized for containing a carcinogen, prompting consumers to seek safer alternatives. Unlike benzoyl peroxide, ACX does not contain this carcinogen. The cream also reduces sebum production, unclogs pores, and absorbs quickly into the skin, resulting in a rapid clinical effect.

The upcoming clinical trial will involve patients with moderate to severe inflammatory acne. Conducted under a decentralized clinical trial (DCT) model, this study will allow participants to engage in the research from their own homes. Over a six-week period, participants will use the topical cream, provide photographic evidence for medical assessment, and give feedback on the cream's effectiveness and their satisfaction with the product.

Lindus Health will manage the entire study, handling everything from protocol development to regulatory submissions, recruitment, monitoring, and data management. They will use digital advertising to recruit patients and will design a dedicated study website containing all relevant trial information. Patients will complete pre-screening and consent forms via Lindus Health's proprietary eClinical platform, CitrusTM.

Michael Young, co-founder of Lindus Health, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, "Our involvement underscores our commitment to bringing safe and effective dermatological therapies to market. Inflammatory acne can significantly reduce quality of life, and we are excited to leverage our technical and service-based capabilities in another dermatology study."

Alex Michalow, CEO of Acinonyx Bio, also shared optimism about the collaboration. "We are incredibly excited to work with Lindus Health to bring our study to life and potentially offer a safer alternative for individuals suffering from inflammatory acne," he said.

If positive results are achieved, this trial could highlight the potential of ACX as a novel treatment for improving the appearance of inflammatory acne.

Lindus Health, named after James Lind, the pioneer of clinical trials, has conducted over 90 trials across the US, UK, and Europe. They have tackled conditions such as diabetes, asthma, acne, social anxiety, major depressive disorder, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, and insomnia. The company has raised over $24M from notable investors and continues to innovate in the field of clinical trials.

Acinonyx Bio was founded by a practicing doctor who developed an antimicrobial technology using primarily food-grade, plant-based ingredients. Their unique approach shows high efficacy against various bacteria, fungi, and viruses.