SATURDAY

November 8

SESSION 3

2:00 – 2:15

DERMATOLOGIC USES OF THALIDOMIDE AND IMIDS

David Stirling

Thalidomide was approved in 1998 for the treatment the cutaneous manifestations of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL), an inflammatory/immunologic complication of Leprosy. As the biology of this unique drug unfolds it has prompted the investigation of the drug in many dermatological and non-dermatological conditions.

As new clinical and laboratory data emerges this new information is being channeled in two ways. Firstly, clinical trials are planned for thalidomide including dermatological conditions such as apthous ulcers in HIV patients, sarcoidosis and scleroderma. Secondly the thalidomide data is being used as a road map for the development of new analogs. These analogs, known as IMiDs, are considerably more potent than thalidomide, but have fewer side effects than the parent molecule.

Thalidomide seems to have activity in a variety of dermatological disorders and initial data with the IMiDs suggests that these novel drugs will also be active in dermatological indications.