An Oklahoma pharmaceutical skin care company thinks it has set itself apart in the crowded dermatology market with a line of safe, natural topical therapeutics for various inflammatory skin conditions that it plans on taking to a national market this year.
DermaMedics LLC’s products contain a phytochemical called Therosol, which has natural anti-inflammatory and antiaging properties, and can provide psoriasis, acne, rosacea and eczema pain relief. Because the active ingredient is a naturally occurring compound found in household staples like basil and nutmeg, it relieves pain and itching without the potentially toxic side effects associated with topical corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, and is safe for pediatric use, said founder and CEO Bryan Fuller.
The company is targeting a $1.5 million series B round of financing so that it can expand its sales force and take its products, currently sold to medical professionals in eight states, nationwide. Fuller said the company has already raised $1.4 million and will likely close an oversubscribed round soon. Formed in 2009, it’s received investments from at least nine investors including SeedStep Angels, a group of Oklahoma City and Tulsa angel investors.
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Therosol has also been formulated into products used to prevent radiation burns in cancer patients and relieve symptoms after certain cosmetic procedures. One of the biggest target markets for the company is pediatrics, Fuller said, because the current over-the-counter anti-itch creams on the market can have toxic effects on babies. A few topical immunomodulator even carry black-box warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because of potential cancer risk.
Fuller said he thinks the company has been successful because it takes the products directly to the physicians, who then distribute it over-the-counter to patients. Once its market has been expanded to include medical providers in all of the U.S. states, the company may turn to neighborhood pharmacies, he said. The ultimate goal, he added, is to be acquired by a major skincare company.
