Quoin Pharmaceuticals to Begin Clinical Study for Peeling Skin Syndrome

Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on creating treatments for rare and orphan diseases, has announced the commencement of an investigator-led clinical study in New Zealand. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of QRX003, a topical lotion, in treating a pediatric patient suffering from Peeling Skin Syndrome (PSS). PSS is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis with no current approved treatments or cures.

This clinical study represents a significant step forward for Quoin Pharmaceuticals. Michael Myers, CEO of Quoin, expressed enthusiasm about expanding QRX003's application to PSS, highlighting that the product’s mechanism of action could be beneficial for this debilitating disease. The company hopes that QRX003 might be the first approved treatment for PSS, given that no other clinical studies for this syndrome are currently recruiting or dosing subjects.

QRX003 is Quoin’s most advanced pipeline product and is already being tested in two late-stage clinical trials in the United States as a potential treatment for Netherton Syndrome (NS). These studies, conducted under an open Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA, aim to address the clinical needs of NS patients, who suffer from excessive skin shedding due to a lack of the protein LEKTI. QRX003 is designed to normalize skin shedding and strengthen the skin barrier.

The new study in New Zealand will expand QRX003’s potential use to another rare disease, PSS. In PSS patients, the corneodesmosin gene (CDSN) is defective, leading to excessive shedding of the epidermis, severe pain, and chronic itching. Current management of PSS involves using over-the-counter emollients to alleviate symptoms, but there is no approved treatment available.

Quoin Pharmaceuticals is actively evaluating additional clinical sites in other countries to further explore QRX003's potential. The company’s strategy involves broadening the clinical testing of its products to include various rare and orphan disease indications. Besides Netherton Syndrome and Peeling Skin Syndrome, Quoin's innovative pipeline includes treatments targeting Palmoplantar Keratoderma and Epidermolysis Bullosa, among others.

Quoin emphasizes the comprehensive nature of QRX003 as a "whole body, whole life" therapy aimed at breaking the cycle of skin inflammation and barrier disruption. The company's efforts reflect its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs and improving the lives of patients with rare diseases.

Through its ongoing clinical trials and expansion into new studies, Quoin Pharmaceuticals aims to create effective therapies that can significantly impact patients' quality of life. By advancing QRX003 and other pipeline products, the company hopes to pioneer new treatments in the realm of rare and orphan diseases, offering hope to patients who currently have limited or no therapeutic options.