Fibrocell Science in Exton is seeking approval from the FDA to start human testing of its experimental treatment for scleroderma, a rare autoimmune skin disorder, writes John George for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

FCX-013 is being developed as a potential treatment for moderate-to-severe localized scleroderma. The Chester County company estimates that around 90,000 patients nationwide are currently affected.

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Scleroderma is a chronic disease that causes the body to produce too much collagen. This, in turn, causes a thickening of the skin and connective tissue. While not fatal, it can adversely affect a person’s quality of life due to changes in skin appearance and the way it affects joints.

“Adequate treatment options do not exist for this vulnerable patient population,” said John Maslowski, Fibrocell’s CEO. “We are committed to developing our novel gene therapy candidate to address this important unmet medical need of patients suffering from this chronic, painful, and debilitating disorder.”

Read more about the new treatment in the Philadelphia Business Journal here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of Fibrocell Science here.

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