Carocell Bio founder Dr. Mike Davies
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis (AD), affects 15-20% of children and 1-3% of adults worldwide. It is more than just an occasional rash, but a long-term condition that causes constant itching, redness and irritation of the skin. For many, the real difficulty is not just dealing with flare-ups, but managing the condition long-term and coping with the side effects of treatments that are supposed to help.
Traditional eczema treatments, such as topical steroids, have some major drawbacks. They can thin the skin, increase the risk of infection, and cause other problems when absorbed into the bloodstream. Despite these concerns, they remain the preferred choice because, as of now, there is no better option.
Carocell Bio is an early-stage biotechnology company committed to developing safer and more effective treatments for eczema. Its lead product, JEL3108, is a novel, patent-protected peptide that has shown great potential in preclinical studies for the treatment of eczema and other skin-related diseases. JEL3108 differs from conventional treatments in that it treats inflammation at its source, rather than just temporarily controlling symptoms.
Unlike traditional treatments that focus on controlling flare-ups, JEL3108 works by preventing recurrence of inflammation after an initial flare-up. The goal is to develop a topical ointment that can be used safely on a daily basis, providing long-lasting eczema relief while potentially slowing skin aging – an advantage not available with current eczema treatments.
Dr. Mike Davis, founder of Carocell Bio, explained: “Our peptide-based solution not only blocks inflammation, but can be used repeatedly to prevent recurrence of the disease, providing long-term relief for people with eczema.”
At the heart of Carocell Bio’s innovation lies JEL3108’s mechanism of action. The peptide binds to a specific enzyme at the top of the inflammatory cascade, acting as an allosterically binding MAP kinase inhibitor. This class of compounds has proven difficult to control with small molecules, but JEL3108’s unique ability to bind to the enzyme allosterically—attaching at a different location than traditional small molecule binding sites—avoids the pitfalls of past approaches, effectively stopping inflammation and preventing the recurrence of the positive feedback loop that often leads to flare-ups.
The key benefit of this approach is its safety: JEL3108 breaks down rapidly into naturally occurring amino acids once applied to the skin, making it safe for daily use without the long-term risks of steroid treatment.
Carocell Bio is currently 18 months to two years away from clinical trials for JEL3108. Once clinical trials are initiated, clinical proof of concept is expected to be achieved in approximately four years from the initial investment. Thereafter, the company plans to license the product to a large pharmaceutical company for further development and marketing.
“We showed in our human cell studies that JEL3108 almost completely eliminated inflammation, even in highly irritated cells,” explains Dr Mike Davies. “We compared JEL3108 with traditional topical steroids in biopsies from patients with eczema. The results were clear: our peptide was faster and more effective, returning the skin to normal in a fraction of the time.”
In addition to eczema, Carocell Bio hopes to develop follow-on products to treat other skin-related conditions. The company’s cosmeceuticals, designed to slow skin aging, could provide a whole new market for its technology, helping to reduce visible signs of aging by addressing inflammation, a key factor in skin deterioration.
“Our long-term vision is to use our peptide technology to treat not only eczema, but also other skin conditions and aging,” said Mike. “We see great potential in this area and we are excited about the possibilities.”
Carocell Bio’s approach represents a major breakthrough in treating eczema and other skin conditions. With its innovative peptide-based therapeutics, the company is developing a safer, more effective alternative to steroids and other traditional treatments. As Carocell Bio advances its clinical trials and launch plans, the future of eczema care and overall skin health looks brighter than ever. For more information, visit carocellbio.com.