LEO Pharma, a leader in medical dermatology, today launched ‘AD Days Around the World’, a global disease awareness campaign that highlights the experiences of people living with atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema.

AD is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterised by intense itch and eczematous lesions. The condition is the result of skin barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation, leading to chronic inflammation.

In collaboration with patient advocacy organisations in France, Italy, Germany and Spain, the campaign shares real patient stories to educate and inform people living with AD that, regardless of nationality or culture, there is hope, despite common everyday challenges.

The campaign features global patient advocate Ashley Ann Lora, who travels from the US to France, Italy, Germany and Spain to meet with and document the emotionally compelling stories of four women – Marjolaine, Laura, Julia and África – who are living with AD, each at a different stage in their lives.

Through in-depth interviews, the documentary-style videos show audiences what it is like to live with and navigate the challenges associated with AD.

Medical research charity LifeArc and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have launched a toolkit that aims to navigate the complex journey of medicines repurposing.

The toolkit will help researchers and charities to prepare for the key activities, potential challenges and important questions at each development stage on the repurposing journey, with the ultimate ambition of ensuring that patients get access to life-changing treatments faster.

Medicines repurposing offers new avenues for treating a range of common and rare diseases – it can reduce the costs and time frames, and is potentially a source of treatments. This journey of exploring other diseases, however, can be challenging.

Developed in consultation with scientific, industrial and regulatory experts, the toolkit signposts users to a wealth of existing information. It includes advice on the key issues for medicines repurposing at each development stage, such as research steps for demonstrating efficacy, the regulatory environment, patient engagement and accessing medicines.

Professor Patrick Chinnery, MRC’s clinical director, explained: “Having learned the challenges of repurposing first hand, I think this toolkit is enormously practical and valuable. The major opportunities presented by repurposing are speed, so medicines can reach patients faster, and lower costs, which is needed both within the NHS and lower-income countries.”