An easier way to tan

A new Australian drug claims to provide a natural tan without the need for sun, or the use of solariums or a bottle.

It's the size of a grain of rice, but the implant stimulates and increases the skin's pigmentation; international trials are finding skin becomes visibly darker in as little as 48 hours.

Dr Philippe Wolgen is the Chief Executive of Clinuvel, the company behind the drug, and says, "We've got a drug that brings about and activates pigmentation and melanin in the same fashion as we would develop under sunny conditions in the summer."

Each dose lasts 60 days, and then you'll return to your natural colouring.

If it's approved by the Government, the drug will only be administered by a doctor.

"The best decision we made was to keep the company here so we can brand it Australian. We've got the quintessential Australian product, you're exporting that and I think that's an important message," Dr. Wolgen said.

While the drug's cosmetic benefits will be attractive to many, its use treating severe UV-related skin diseases has doctors excited.

As head of Dermatology at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Dr George Varigos has more than 20 patients trialling the drug known as CUV 1647.

Transplant patients, who are more susceptible to skin cancers because of weakened immune systems, have been the first to give it a go.
"Improving that carpet of pigment to be darker and protecting from subsequent sun exposure, is a likely significant factor that's going to improve their outcome," Dr. Varigos said.

It's just been announced that the phase three trial of the drug has been successful.

Interim results revealed 14 patients suffering E.P.P., a genetic disorder causing UV and light intolerance in the skin, achieved good outcomes.

"The progress that we would see and hope for would be that these people would not be shadow walkers, not jump into the shadows, not park into the shadow side of a car park, but park in normally and walking through the sun, wearing sandals and wearing clothing appropriate for the day," Dr. Varigos said.

101 patients in Melbourne and Europe are trialling it.

"By the end of this year 2009, we will be applying for marketing approval in one of the four global markets and then it's in the hands of the regulators for them to assess the data and see whether we've done our homework well," Dr. Wolgen said.

It could be that sun baking, fake tans and solariums become things of the past, as could a lifetime of pain and suffering for anyone sensitive to sunlight.