SPIE Photonics West Presentations to Show BioPharmX was First to Visualize Minocycline on the Skin Using Multiphoton Microscopy

MENLO PARK, Calif., Jan. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BioPharmX Corporation (NYSE MKT: BPMX), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing products for the dermatology market, will share details of a new two-photon fluorescence microscopy technique to visualize minocycline skin penetration along with research that correlates the new visualization method with the company's clinical data.

The research will be presented during two sessions at SPIE Photonics West, the world's largest multidisciplinary event for photonics, Jan. 28 and 29 in San Francisco.

The two presentations are:

• "Visualization of drug distribution of topical minocycline in human facial skin with fluorescence microscopy," at 11:40 a.m. on Jan. 28.  BioPharmX Associate Scientist Maiko Hermsmeier will explain how, for the first time, BioPharmX was able to visualize minocycline in human skin and the pilosebaceous unit by inducing fluorescence in minocycline through a nonlinear optical approach with two-photon excitation.
• "Optical microscopy of targeted drug delivery and local distribution in skin of a topical minocycline," at 8:50 a.m. on Jan. 29. Kin F. Chan, executive vice president of research and technology at BioPharmX, will discuss a potential practical application for the newly developed process in guiding future clinical trials using two-photon fluorescence microscopy.

The Photonics West event attracts more than 20,000 people to hear the latest research and find the latest devices and systems driving technology markets, including state-of-the art medical technologies.

"It is always an honor to present new research to eminent colleagues, but this is particularly exciting because we believe our novel use of two-photon fluorescence microscopy may hold significant potential for the medical and scientific communities for translational research," said Kin F. Chan, executive vice president of research and technology at BioPharmX.  "We believe it can be used to visualize and eventually quantify the distribution of multiple drugs. This is important because it promises a major advance to researchers working to optimize the frequency, dosage and timing of topical drug treatments."

Chan's presentation will show how two-photon fluorescence microscopy was used to confirm data from BioPharmX's BPX-01 Phase 2a clinical trial. The trial demonstrated that the company's unique topical minocycline gel formulation delivered adequate minocycline to the appropriate site to target P. acnes. Prior to initiation of clinical studies, traditional fluorescence microscopy technique and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) were used to optimize the drug delivery system and to confirm optimal treatment dose and timing of BPX-01.  Traditional fluorescence microscopy was limited in sensitivity while MALDI is too costly and time-consuming for rapid optimization. The novel multi-photon imaging approach has the potential to overcome both deficiencies.

BPX-01[1] is the first and only stable hydrophilic (non-oil-based) topical gel with fully solubilized minocycline that can penetrate the skin to deliver the antibiotic to where acne develops in the pilosebaceous unit. The company's studies are designed to confirm whether BPX-01 can effectively treat acne with lower, and potentially safer, dosages of the antibiotic.

BioPharmX recently announced the completion of enrollment in the OPAL (tOPicAL Minocycline Gel) study – a Phase 2b dose-finding clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of BPX-01 for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

The 12-week, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, three-arm, vehicle-controlled OPAL study involves 225 individuals, aged 9 to 40, who have moderate-to-severe inflammatory, non-nodular acne vulgaris.

The American Academy of Dermatology calls acne the "most common skin condition in the United States," affecting 40 million to 50 million Americans. The U.S. market for acne medications is estimated at $10 billion. 

About BioPharmX® Corporation
BioPharmX Corporation (NYSE MKT: BPMX) is a Silicon Valley-based specialty pharmaceutical company that seeks to provide products through proprietary platform technologies for prescription, over-the-counter and supplement applications in dermatology and women's health. To learn more about BioPharmX, visit www.BioPharmX.com.          

Forward-Looking Statement
The information in this press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. This press release contains forward-looking statements about the company's expectations, plans, intentions and strategies, including, but not limited to, statements regarding, whether BPX-01 can effectively treat acne with lower, and potentially safer, dosages of the antibiotic, and whether the use of two-photon fluorescence microscopy will be useful in guiding future clinical trials, enable BioPharmX to visualize and eventually quantify the distribution of multiple drugs, promote optimization of the frequency, dosage and timing of topical drug treatments, and overcome deficiencies in traditional fluorescence microscopy including limitations in sensitivity, cost, and time. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "plan", "expect," "anticipate," "believe," or similar expressions that are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include those described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made only as of the date hereof and the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

BioPharmX is a registered trademark of BioPharmX, Inc.

[1] Caution: BPX-01 is a new drug limited by federal (or United States) law to investigational use.

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SOURCE BioPharmX Corporation