Rosacea is a common, chronic inflammatory cutaneous disorder of unknown origin that affects the face and is characterized by transient or persistent central facial erythema, visible blood vessels, and eruption of inflammatory papules and pustules. Secondary features include burning or stinging, edema, plaques, a dry appearance, ocular manifestations (ranging from mild dryness and irritation to sight-threatening keratitis) and hypertrophy of the sebaceous glands of the nose. Four distinct subtypes have been described: erythematotelangiectatic type rosacea; papulopustular rosacea; phymatous rosacea and ocular rosacea.

Rosacea affects approximately 10% of the population. It is estimated that approximately 14 million Americans have rosacea , although many of them are undiagnosed. The prevalence of rosacea is highest among fair-skinned individuals between 30 and 50 years of age. The disease affects greater numbers of women than men, although it may be more severe in men. While not a life-threatening disorder, rosacea can have a significant impact on quality of life. Left untreated, rosacea can have important social, psychological and even professional repercussions for the patient.

There is no cure for rosacea, and treatment is designed to prevent flare-ups and control signs and symptoms. Because the disease differs in both symptoms and severity from one patient to another, an individualized treatment strategy will often be devised. Initially treatment may involve systemic or oral antibiotics as well as topical therapeutics to achieve disease control, after which time topical treatment will be continued to maintain remission. Light or laser therapy may be indicated to remove visible blood vessels, while surgery may be indicated in cases of extreme disfigurement of the nose in patients with phymatous rosacea. Equally important is the identification and avoidance of environmental and physiological factors that cause disease flare-ups. Topical corticosteroids are contraindicated, as they may exacerbate the disease.
Research into new treatments for rosacea has led to the identification of a small number of promising new compounds, which include the macrolide antibiotic BAL-19403, the IMPACS compounds COL-1 and COL-3, and the plant-derived compound CX-452. It is evident that further research is needed in order to develop effective therapies for rosacea.

“Rosacea”, posted September 22, 2005, is the latest title in the steadily growing Drug R&D Backgrounders series. This series, inaugurated in March 2000, now includes 83 fully illustrated, disease-specific reports incorporating up-to-date information on diseases, their prevention, diagnosis and treatment, encompassing both marketed drugs and those in the pipeline. These reports are also incorporated into Integrity®, where they are known as Disease Briefings and are further enhanced by links to other knowledge areas including product records, literature and more. Drug R&D Backgrounders are a dynamic information source. Key product information (chemical structures and the development status presented in an easy-to-consult tabular format) and the latest headlines are automatically retrieved from DailyDrugNews.com and knowledge-based databases and incorporated in Drug R&D Backgrounders on a daily basis. New text describing new results, newly discovered mechanisms, etc., is added on an ongoing basis.