Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

Note: This story was updated April 3, 2025, to correct that enrollment criteria in Europe differs from criteria at other sites. A Phase 2/3 clinical trial testing AC-203 (diacerein 1% ointment) in people with epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is recruiting participants. The trial, EBShield (NCT06073132), seeks to enroll…

Castle Creek Biosciences has secured $75 million in financing to support a Phase 3 trial testing its gene therapy to promote wound healing in people with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). The royalty financing agreement for Castle Creek‘s treatment, D-Fi, was led by Ligand Pharmaceuticals, which made…

France-based pharma company Theravia has obtained rights to an experimental molecule that may be used to treat epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The molecule, known as DCN-tCRK, was discovered by scientists at Tampere University, in Finland. Under the new licensing agreement, Theravia will be in charge of further drug development…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to decide whether or not to approve the cell therapy pz-cel (prademagene zamikeracel) for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) by April 29, 2025. Abeona Therapeutics, the developer of pz-cel, announced that the FDA has agreed to review a…

Pain is a frequent problem for people with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), and available medications are often not sufficient to control it, a study reported. “Pain is an almost universal symptom across all types of RDEB,” the researchers wrote, noting that worse pain “generally correlates with worse quality…

Treatment with SNT-6935, an experimental compound that acts to reduce the activity of an enzyme that breaks down proteins, reduced skin damage in a lab model of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), a study showed. The study, “Granzyme B inhibition reduces autoantibody-induced dermal–epidermal separation in an ex…

Scientists have devised a new, more efficient method to create gene-edited stem cell therapies for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). “Solving critical bottlenecks, we refine a practical and simplified … protocol for the generation of genetically corrected … skin grafts … for the long-term healing of DEB patient wounds,” the…

Both bone marrow transplant and treatment with stem cells derived from bone marrow may help ease symptoms in some people with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), although a bone marrow transplant carries substantial greater safety risks. That’s according to the review study “Bone marrow transplantation and bone marrow-derived…

Dupilumab, an injection therapy approved for certain inflammatory disorders, may be an effective option to help ease itch and reduce blistering in people with different subtypes of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). That’s according to a study, “Dupilumab improves itch and blistering in different subtypes of epidermolysis bullosa,”…

An inflammatory signaling molecule called interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced at high levels in skin wounds of people with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), a new study reports. Its findings indicate that a molecular feedback loop involving another protein called serum amyloid A (SAA) drives excessive production of IL-6 in…

Abeona Therapeutics said its gene-corrected cell therapy, called pz-cel (prademagene zamikeracel), for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), is on track for a May 25 decision from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the company is addressing concerns raised during a plant inspection. The FDA conducted a…

Almirall has licensed rights to develop and commercialize ZKN-013, an experimental oral treatment for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) and junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB). As part of the deal, Almirall is making an up-front payment of $3 million to ZKN-013’s original developer Eloxx Pharmaceuticals. Eloxx…