TWi Biotechnology, Inc. (6610 TWO), a clinical stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of repositioned drugs for unmet medical needs, announced that on April 4, 2024, the first patient was dosed in its phase 2/3 trial of AC-203 for the treatment of generalized epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) at Premier Specialists Pty Ltd in Australia.

AC-203 is a topical ointment for skin use. It is currently under a phase 2/3 international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, vehicle-controlled trial with open-label extension evaluating the efficacy and safety of diacerein for the treatment of generalized EBS.

There are approximately 500,000 patients with EB (also called butterfly disease) worldwide, most of whom have the subtype of EBS. There are currently no effective medications for EBS and the current standard of care for EBS is supportive, which includes daily wound care, pain or itch management, and protective dressing or bandaging.