Reporters learned today that the acne therapeutic vaccine independently developed by Wescare Biotech in collaboration with West China Hospital of Sichuan University has officially received approval for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), becoming my country's first acne therapeutic vaccine to enter the clinical stage. This breakthrough not only marks a crucial step forward for my country in the field of acne immunotherapy, but also brings new hope for treatment to people worldwide who have long suffered from acne.
Acne, commonly known as "pimples," is no longer a simple "teenage nuisance." Data shows it is the eighth most prevalent infectious disease globally, affecting over 9.4% of the population. In my country, the incidence rate is 8.1%, and over 95% of people experience acne at some stage of their lives, with 3%–7% of patients suffering from permanent scarring. More concerning is the significant impact acne has on patients' mental health—studies show that approximately 90% of patients experience a decline in quality of life, and over half suffer from mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, developing safe and effective new treatments is urgently needed.
The large patient population has spurred a vast market demand. According to Global Market Insights, the global acne treatment market is projected to grow from $9.9 billion in 2022 to $17.5 billion in 2032, representing a CAGR of 5.86%. However, current mainstream treatments have many limitations: topical antibiotics easily lead to drug resistance, retinoids are highly irritating to the skin of some individuals, oral isotretinoin may cause mood side effects, and physical therapies such as phototherapy are not only expensive but may also damage normal skin. These treatments primarily focus on antibacterial and sebum reduction, failing to address the core issues of high recurrence rates and strong patient dependence, leaving clinical needs largely unmet.
This newly approved acne therapeutic vaccine breaks through the bottlenecks of traditional treatments with its innovative technology. This innovative recombinant protein vaccine, constructed using genetic engineering technology, targets key virulence factors specifically expressed by pathogenic Propionibacterium acnes . Its antigen has undergone protein structure optimization, reducing toxicity and improving safety while retaining good antigenicity. This therapeutic vaccine has several unique advantages: precise targeting of the pathogenic subtype, without affecting the symbiotic flora, helping to maintain the skin's microecological balance; and long-term immune protection through a single vaccination schedule. Non-clinical studies have shown that this vaccine can induce high-titer specific IgG antibodies lasting for more than 12 months, effectively neutralizing virulence factors, enhancing the macrophage 's ability to clear bacteria, significantly reducing acne inflammation and skin lesions, and decreasing Propionibacterium acnes colonization. Furthermore, it shows better relapse prevention than existing commercially available drugs, while demonstrating good safety and tolerability.
According to reports, this vaccine is particularly suitable for four groups of people: patients who do not respond well to conventional treatments or experience frequent relapses; high-risk individuals prone to relapse, such as those with oily skin or large hormonal fluctuations; patients who wish to reduce their dependence on long-term topical or oral medications, especially those who are resistant to or intolerant of antibiotics; and individuals with sensitive immune responses who experience repeated flare-ups even with low bacterial loads due to an overactive immune response. "Compared to traditional treatments, these patients often face challenges such as significant side effects, unstable efficacy, and high relapse rates. Vaccination is expected to provide long-term immune protection, offering a completely new solution for acne treatment," explained a representative from Wesker.
Notably, this recombinant protein acne vaccine, the first of its kind in China to target a subtype of Propionibacterium acnes, was jointly developed by Wesker Biosciences and West China Hospital of Sichuan University , fully demonstrating the strong capabilities of industry-academia-research collaboration in China's innovative vaccine field. The research team has established a complete technical platform encompassing antigen design, adjuvant optimization, and production quality control, providing solid support for the rapid transition of the vaccine from the laboratory to clinical application.
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Forbes: but think of all the stock buybacks they could have done with that money instead!
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For the first time, China has approved the clinical trial application of a domestically developed acne therapeutic vaccine.
https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20251118A04DB500?suid=&media_id=Reporters learned today that the acne therapeutic vaccine independently developed by Wescare Biotech in collaboration with West China Hospital of Sichuan University has officially received approval for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), becoming my country's first acne therapeutic vaccine to enter the clinical stage. This breakthrough not only marks a crucial step forward for my country in the field of acne immunotherapy, but also brings new hope for treatment to people worldwide who have long suffered from acne.
Acne, commonly known as "pimples," is no longer a simple "teenage nuisance." Data shows it is the eighth most prevalent infectious disease globally, affecting over 9.4% of the population. In my country, the incidence rate is 8.1%, and over 95% of people experience acne at some stage of their lives, with 3%–7% of patients suffering from permanent scarring. More concerning is the significant impact acne has on patients' mental health—studies show that approximately 90% of patients experience a decline in quality of life, and over half suffer from mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, developing safe and effective new treatments is urgently needed.
The large patient population has spurred a vast market demand. According to Global Market Insights, the global acne treatment market is projected to grow from $9.9 billion in 2022 to $17.5 billion in 2032, representing a CAGR of 5.86%. However, current mainstream treatments have many limitations: topical antibiotics easily lead to drug resistance, retinoids are highly irritating to the skin of some individuals, oral isotretinoin may cause mood side effects, and physical therapies such as phototherapy are not only expensive but may also damage normal skin. These treatments primarily focus on antibacterial and sebum reduction, failing to address the core issues of high recurrence rates and strong patient dependence, leaving clinical needs largely unmet.
This newly approved acne therapeutic vaccine breaks through the bottlenecks of traditional treatments with its innovative technology. This innovative recombinant protein vaccine, constructed using genetic engineering technology, targets key virulence factors specifically expressed by pathogenic Propionibacterium acnes . Its antigen has undergone protein structure optimization, reducing toxicity and improving safety while retaining good antigenicity. This therapeutic vaccine has several unique advantages: precise targeting of the pathogenic subtype, without affecting the symbiotic flora, helping to maintain the skin's microecological balance; and long-term immune protection through a single vaccination schedule. Non-clinical studies have shown that this vaccine can induce high-titer specific IgG antibodies lasting for more than 12 months, effectively neutralizing virulence factors, enhancing the macrophage 's ability to clear bacteria, significantly reducing acne inflammation and skin lesions, and decreasing Propionibacterium acnes colonization. Furthermore, it shows better relapse prevention than existing commercially available drugs, while demonstrating good safety and tolerability.
According to reports, this vaccine is particularly suitable for four groups of people: patients who do not respond well to conventional treatments or experience frequent relapses; high-risk individuals prone to relapse, such as those with oily skin or large hormonal fluctuations; patients who wish to reduce their dependence on long-term topical or oral medications, especially those who are resistant to or intolerant of antibiotics; and individuals with sensitive immune responses who experience repeated flare-ups even with low bacterial loads due to an overactive immune response. "Compared to traditional treatments, these patients often face challenges such as significant side effects, unstable efficacy, and high relapse rates. Vaccination is expected to provide long-term immune protection, offering a completely new solution for acne treatment," explained a representative from Wesker.
Notably, this recombinant protein acne vaccine, the first of its kind in China to target a subtype of Propionibacterium acnes, was jointly developed by Wesker Biosciences and West China Hospital of Sichuan University , fully demonstrating the strong capabilities of industry-academia-research collaboration in China's innovative vaccine field. The research team has established a complete technical platform encompassing antigen design, adjuvant optimization, and production quality control, providing solid support for the rapid transition of the vaccine from the laboratory to clinical application.
Forbes: but think of all the stock buybacks they could have done with that money instead!