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Biological Agents for Controlling Excessive Scarring

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Abstract

The potential of various biological agents to reduce or prevent excessive scar formation has now been evaluated in numerous in-vitro studies, experimental animal models and preliminary clinical trials, in some cases with particularly promising results. Perhaps prominent among this group of biological agents, and, to some degree, possibly representing marketed compounds already being used ‘off label’ to manage excessive scarring, are the tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonist etanercept, and immune-response modifiers such as IFNα2b and imiquimod. Additional assessment of these novel agents is now justified with a view to reducing or preventing hypertrophic scars, keloid scars and the recurrence of post-excision keloid lesions.

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Acknowledgments

Editorial assistance for the preparation of this manuscript was provided by Stephanie Blick of inScience Communications. This assistance was funded by Pfizer. Dr Berman did not receive any financial support for the preparation of this manuscript. Dr Berman received honoraria as a monitor of the speakers’ bureau of Graceway, Sanofi-Aventis and Astrellas and he acted as an investigator for Amgen.

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  1. Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1444 NW 9th Ave,, Miami, FL 33136, Florida, USA

    Brian Berman

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Berman, B. Biological Agents for Controlling Excessive Scarring. AM J Clin Dermatol 11 (Suppl 1), 31–34 (2010). https://doi.org/10.2165/1153419-S0-000000000-00000

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