NEWS AND ANALYSIS

Face by Galderma: AR application for practitioners to visualise skin treatments in real-time

Galderma has announced the launch of an augmented reality (AR) application that will help medical aesthetic practitioners and patients to visualise skin treatments at the planning stage.With the application – Face by Galderma – aesthetic practitioners can evaluate a patient’s face in real-time. Face by Galderma uses the company’s Five Facet Assessment that takes skin quality, facial shape, facial symmetry, facial proportions and contour into consideration along with animation and emotional expression.This will help practitioners to understand priority areas and develop a customised plan for each patient.

The company has developed the application in collaboration with Crisalix, a leading 3D aesthetic simulation tech company. Face by Galderma will be available in the US and Brazil in the first half of 2023. It will be rolled out across Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Canada and Asia throughout 2023.

Aesthetic medical market size to reach US$ 45.91 billion by 2029

A recent report by Fortune Business Insights predicts that the medical aesthetics market will reach US$ 45.91 billion by 2029.The market size for medical aesthetics has been on the rise over the past few years because of increased demand for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.

One of the factors driving the medical aesthetics market is consciousness among people about their appearance and thus, looking for safe, non-invasive ways to improve their looks.Another reason is the growing ageing population.According to the report, key players in the medical aesthetics market are focused on investing in research and development activities to expand their product portfolio and improve their market position.

The report highlights that North America dominates the global medical aesthetics market, followed by Asia-Pacific and Europe. Countries such as Japan, India and Thailand have a high demand for botulinum toxin treatments and dermal fillers.The increasing popularity of medical aesthetics procedures in these regions is expected to drive the growth of the market in the coming years.

Non-ablative fractional lasers may prevent non-melanoma skin cancer: Study

Non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) treatments may help prevent the development of non-melanoma skin cancer, according to a study from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital.

For the study – published in Dermatologic Surgery – Mathew Avram, MD, JD, Director of the Mass General Dermatology Laser & Cosmetic Center along with his colleagues studied patients who had undergone successful treatment of facial keratinocyte carcinoma. According to the researchers, such patients have a 35 per cent risk of having a subsequent keratinocyte carcinoma within three years and a 50 per cent risk within five years.

For the research, 43 patients received NAFL and 52 others were included in the control group that did not receive NAFL treatment. The researchers followed up with both groups for more than six years and found that the rate of facial keratinocyte carcinoma development in the NAFL group was 20.9 per cent. However, the rate of facial keratinocyte carcinoma in the patients from the control group was 40.4 per cent, indicating that patients treated with NAFL had about half the risk.

However,Avram said that further research is required to critically assess the role of NAFL in skin cancer prevention, to understand the duration of its protective effects and to determine optimal treatment parameters.

Eris Lifesciences to acquire nine dermatology brands from Glenmark Pharma

Indian pharmaceutical company Eris Lifesciences said it will acquire nine dermatology brands from Glenmark Pharma. The move will reportedly cost the company about Rs 1,800 crore (approximately US$ 240 million). According to Eris Lifesciences, the move will help expand its presence in the anti-fungal and anti-psoriasis segments, thus complementing its existing portfolio of products in the dermatology space in India and Nepal. Among the brands that the company plans to buy include Onabet, Halobate, Sorvate, and Demelan.

This acquisition will likely strengthen Eris Lifesciences’ position in the Indian dermatology market, while Glenmark will be able to focus on its core business areas and reduce its debt. Both companies stand to benefit from this transaction, which is expected to close in the next few months.

This move highlights the ongoing consolidation in the Indian pharmaceutical industry, as companies look to expand their product portfolios and strengthen their market positions. The Indian pharmaceutical market is a highly competitive and rapidly growing market, with a large population and a growing middle class driving demand for healthcare products and services.

Hina Khan and Sahil Khan launch French fat-freeze technology at Queens by Dr Umaira

Amid busy schedules and hectic days, fitness has becomes even more critical. Addressing the same, Dr Umaira has launched the latest French technology on the third anniversary of her clinic; Queens by Dr Umaira.This cutting-edge technology offers an innovative solution for individuals looking to freeze fat and achieve their desired body shape without undergoing invasive procedures.The technology uses cooling technology to freeze fat cells, which are then naturally eliminated from the body over time. The procedure is non-invasive and does not require any surgery, making it a popular choice for those looking for a convenient and safe fat-removal solution. During the launch, Hina Khan and Sahil Khan spoke about the importance of body positivity and how this technology provides individuals with a safe and effective solution for achieving their desired body shape.They also wished Dr Umaira good luck for her latest endeavour.

Doctors at Delhi hospital reconstruct thumb from toe in microsurgery

Doctors at New Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital successfully rejoined three fingers and reconstructed a thumb using microsurgery techniques.The patient had lost his thumb and three fingers in an accident at his workplace.

A 44-year-old factory worker, the patient had severed his fingers and lost his thumb in a workplace accident.The surgical team at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital performed the complex procedure by reattaching the severed fingers and using a toe from the patient’s foot to create a new thumb.The surgery required intricate microsurgical techniques, including the use of a microscope and specialised instruments, to reattach blood vessels and nerves. To reconstruct the patient’s missing thumb, the doctors reportedly transferred the second toe finger from the right foot of the patient and grafted it at the severed thumb’s place.The microsurgery lasted for 10 hours and the doctors reimplanted his three fingers by joining the blood vessel, nerve, bones and tendons under a microscope.

Sun Pharma to acquire US-Based Concert Pharmaceuticals

India’s Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd said it plans to acquire US-based Concert Pharmaceuticals Inc for US $576 million. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Sun Pharma’s presence in the US market – the largest pharmaceutical market in the world.

Concert Pharmaceuticals is a late-stage biotechnology company that specialises in developing deuruxolitinib, a potential best-in-class oral JAK inhibitor to treat alopecia areata. It also has a pipeline of drugs that are currently in various stages of development, including treatments for CNS disorders, respiratory diseases, and kidney diseases.

The acquisition will help strengthen Sun Pharma’s expansion and presence in the US market.The company has been focusing on expanding its product portfolio in the US and has been actively pursuing strategic acquisitions.

The acquisition of Concert Pharmaceuticals is also expected to provide Sun Pharma with access to Concert’s innovative drug development platform that will likely generate a pipeline of new drug candidates.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023. Following the acquisition, Concert Pharmaceuticals will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Pharma.

Amit Shukla appointed as Alma India’s General Manager

Healthcare company Alma Medical has announced the appointment of Amit Shukla as its new General Manager. Shukla previously held senior leadership positions at several leading companies.

In his new role, Shukla will be responsible for overseeing Alma India’s operations, including sales and marketing, research and development, and manufacturing. He will also be responsible for driving the company’s growth strategy and ensuring that it continues to meet the needs of its customers.

Shukla, who has been in the dermatology and aesthetic industry for 22 years, holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mumbai University. He reportedly has been responsible for growing the aesthetic injectable market in India for dermal fillers, toxins, and ultrasound devices for the past 12 years.

The appointment of Shukla as general manager is a significant step for Alma Medical Private Limited as it continues to grow and expand its business. The company is wellpositioned to continue providing high-quality healthcare products and services to its customers. It said it is optimistic about the future with Shukla on board and looks forward to the growth and expansion of the company under his leadership.

Entod Pharmaceuticals opens R&D centre in Navi Mumbai

In a bid to expand its innovation capability, Entod Pharmaceuticals has opened a research and development (R&D) facility in Navi Mumbai. The centre will focus on new product development, formulation and molecular research in dermatology, ophthalmic and ENT.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research approved the research facility in Navi Mumbai and it was inaugurated by Entod Pharmaceuticals group chairman Kishore Masurkar.The latest facility includes advanced equipment and analytical and formulation research tools.

Nikkhil K Masurkar, Entod Pharmaceuticals CEO, reportedly said the latest R&D facility will allow the company to manufacture “life-changing medicines” to patients. It will also help chart the company’s growth.

Indian pharmaceuticals should focus on expanding their R&D and inventions to advance their businesses, Nikkhil K Masurklar said, adding that India’s G20 presidency will likely encourage innovation and increase the numbers of researchers. This will also aid in public and private spending on R&D.

Acne in preadolescent children linked to higher BMI: Study

Higher body mass index (BMI) in preadolescent children is associated with acne and the prevalence is greater in girls than in boys, according to a research published in Pediatric Dermatology.

The team examined 643 preadolescents aged from 7 to 12 with acne between 2010 and 2018 to understand the relationship of BMI and acne. The researchers matched two age- and sex-matched controls without acne were randomly selected for each patient. The researchers found that preadolescent girls had higher incidence of acne compared with boys. They also noted that the incidence of acne increased with age.“Preadolescents with acne are more likely to be obese than those without acne. Those with higher BMIs are more likely to be given systemic treatment,” the researchers stated in the study.

The study was reportedly supported by the National Institute on Aging and the Rochester Epidemiology Project.

Global aesthetic medical devices market expected to reach US$ 35, 000 million

The global aesthetic medical devices market is expected to reach US$ 35,000 million at a CAGR of 9.6 per cent between 2022 and 2032, according to a report published by Future Market Insights.

Factors driving the growth of the market are technologically advanced devices and minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments. Growing number of people looking to improve their appearance, such as reducing signs of aging like loose skin around the eyes, jowls, and cheeks, or improving dry and rough skin, boosting the demand for aesthetic medical treatments.

According to the report, the North America market is expected to grow at a 9.5 per cent CAGR between 2022 and 2032, Asia-Pacific is likely to grow at 8.7 per cent and Europe at 9 per cent.

“People now have easy access to information thanks to the rise in popularity of social media and the internet. People are becoming more aware of the availability of cosmetic procedures as information becomes more readily available. With an increase in the number of social media users and more awareness, the worldwide aesthetic medical devices market is expected to develop in the next few years,” the report stated.

Hyderabad’s Ambrosia Clinic undergoes rebranding

Actress Amala Akkineni recently launched the new logo of Ambrosia Clinic, a leading aesthetic treatments facility in Hyderabad’s upscale Banjara Hills. Ambrosia Clinic has been undergoing a brand relaunch and the logo launch has been a part of that rebranding.

Ambrosia Clinic, founded by Dr Priti Shukla, has been at the forefront of medical aesthetics with a focus on aesthetic medicine, dermatology and aesthetic surgery. The facility offers medical, surgical and aesthetic technology and also provides a wide variety of safe options and experts to cater to patients’ needs.

The clinic has been undergoing rebranding to reaffirm its commitment to holistic aesthetics by adapting inclusive treatment modalities. Dr Shukla started practice in Hyderabad in 2001 and is a multi-gold medallist in MBBS. Specialising in aesthetic surgery of face and body, she received her MCh Plastic Surgery from Osmania Medical College.