Intrinsic aging of skin

There has been increasing evidence for different rates of natural aging in humans and one of the best organs to study human aging is skin. Studies have demonstrated anti-aging effects of topical agents (such as creams, gels, lotions, or ointments) and one of them, retinol or vitamin A, was shown to decrease fine wrinkling in skin of older individuals. Additionally, studies of retinol in humans have largely occurred in white populations and so this study aims to focus on skin aging in individuals of East Asian descent as they represent a majority of the world population. This study aims to better characterize the molecular basis of rejuvenation effects and to potentially discover new topical agents with similar and/or more effective preservation of skin youthfulness.

The primary purpose of this study is to assess the safety profile of RCS-01 injections as compared to placebo injections. This study will also measure the impact these injections will have on skin markers related to aging through evaluation of gene expression profiles.
30 participants will be selected for this study based on their health status, current/past medications, and ability to adhere to protocol-related requirements. At the first visit and after providing informed consent, participants are evaluated against the study inclusion/exclusion criteria and provide blood samples for screening assessments (including virology). If suitable for study participation, participants will provide a biopsy from the scalp from which RCS-01 will be prepared and will have four treatment evaluation sites identified on their buttocks, two on each side.
Study participants will be randomized to one of two treatment subgroups. Participants in the RCS-01 Subgroup (n=24) will receive injections of RCS-01 or placebo or a 'sham' injection (a needle penetration without injection of liquid). Participants in the the Placebo Subgroup (n= 6) will be randomized to receive only injections of placebo or sham injections.
Baseline evaluations of subjects' overall health and skin condition at treatment sites on their buttocks will be performed before receipt of injections at Day 0. In addition to injections delivered at Day 0, the pre-selected treatment evaluation sites will receive intradermal injections of RCS-01 or placebo (cryomedium) or a sham injection four (4) and eight (8) weeks after Day 0 according to a randomization schedule for a total of three (3) injections per treatment site.
All participants will return to the clinic for at least 9 visits during the 52-week follow-up period to monitor long-term safety. At the 12-week time point, 18 randomly-selected participants from the RCS-01 Subgroup will provide biopsies from all injection sites for analysis of skin markers related to aging. At the 26-week time point, the remaining participants will provide biopsies of all injection sites for histopathological analysis.

This is an early phase study comparing two fixed dose of the study compound ELAPR and a Restylane® Vital Light (control), by multiple intradermal injections to a 3cm x 3cm area of the upper arm dermis. All subjects will receive three treatments, 3 weeks apart. Each treatment will consist of 16 injections in total, each 10mm apart in a grid formation over a 3cm x 3cm area of the mid - to deep dermis of the medial aspect of the upper arm. Each injection will consist of 20-30ul of product delivered using a 30Gx¼" needle.