A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech-oak family Fagaceae. The genus Betula contains 30 to 60 known taxa of which 11 are on the IUCN 2011 Red List of Threatened Species. They are typically short-lived pioneer species and are widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in northern areas of temperate climates and in boreal climates. Birch wood is used for a wide range of purposes.
Betula pendula, commonly known as silver birch, warty birch, European white birch, or East Asian white birch, is a species of tree in the family Betulaceae, native to Europe and parts of Asia, though in southern Europe, it is only found at higher altitudes. Its range extends into Siberia, China, and southwest Asia in the mountains of northern Turkey, the Caucasus, and northern Iran. It has been introduced into North America, where it is known as the European white birch or weeping birch and is considered invasive in some states in the United States and parts of Canada. The tree can also be found in more temperate regions of Australia.
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare medical conditions that result in easy blistering of the skin and mucous membranes. Blisters occur with minor trauma or friction and are painful. Its severity can range from mild to fatal. Inherited EB is a rare disease with a prevalence in the United States of 8.2 per million live births. Those with mild cases may not develop symptoms until they start to crawl or walk. Complications may include esophageal narrowing, squamous cell skin cancer, and the need for amputations.
DEBRA is the name of an international medical research charity dedicated to securing effective drug treatments and ultimately cures for every type of epidermolysis bullosa, with national groups in over 40 countries including in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Birch bark or birchbark is the bark of several Eurasian and North American birch trees of the genus Betula.
Ustekinumab, sold under the brand name Stelara among others, is a monoclonal antibody medication developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, for the treatment of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, targeting both IL-12 and IL-23.
Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica or dystrophic EB (DEB) is an inherited disease affecting the skin and other organs.
Collagen alpha-1(VII) chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the COL7A1 gene. It is composed of a triple helical, collagenous domain flanked by two non-collagenous domains, and functions as an anchoring fibril between the dermal-epidermal junction in the basement membrane. Mutations in COL7A1 cause all types of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, and the exact mutations vary based on the specific type or subtype. It has been shown that interactions between the NC-1 domain of collagen VII and several other proteins, including laminin-5 and collagen IV, contribute greatly to the overall stability of the basement membrane.
Junctional epidermolysis bullosa is a skin condition characterized by blister formation within the lamina lucida of the basement membrane zone.
Bromelain, a concentrate of proteolytic enzymes from the pineapple plant, is used in medicine. It is approved in the European Union for the debridement of severe burn wounds under the brand name Nexobrid. It was developed by MediWound.
Scioderm, acquired by Amicus Therapeutics in 2015, was a rare disease company focused on developing a treatment for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic disease characterized by extremely fragile skin and recurrent blister formation. There are currently no approved therapies for EB. Scioderm was developing a topical treatment known as SD-101, or Zorblisa, aimed at triggering wound reduction and closure, and a reduction in body surface area coverage of blisters and lesions.
Capmatinib, sold under the brand name Tabrecta, is an anticancer medication used for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have a mutation that leads to the exon 14 skipping of the MET gene, which codes for the membrane receptor HGFR.
Rimegepant, sold under the brand name Nurtec ODT among others, is a medication used for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and the prophylactic/ preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. It is taken by mouth to dissolve on or under the tongue. It works by blocking CGRP receptors.
Pemigatinib, sold under the brand name Pemazyre, is an anti-cancer medication used for the treatment of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma). Pemigatinib works by blocking FGFR2 in tumor cells to prevent them from growing and spreading.
Tirbanibulin, sold under the brand name Klisyri, is a medication used for the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) on the face or scalp. It functions by inhibiting both tubulin polymerization and Src kinase signaling. It is potentially effective in impeding the development of squamous cell carcinoma in situ.
Tebentafusp, sold under the brand name Kimmtrak, is an anti-cancer medication used to treat uveal melanoma. Tebentafusp is a bispecific gp100 peptide-HLA-directed CD3 T cell engager. Tebentafusp is given by intravenous infusion.
Mosunetuzumab, sold under the brand name Lunsumio, is a monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of follicular lymphoma. It bispecifically binds CD20 and CD3 to engage T-cells. It was developed by Genentech.
Spesolimab, sold under the brand name Spevigo, is a monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). It is an interleukin-36 receptor (IL-36R) antagonist. It is given via injection into a vein.
Beremagene geperpavec, sold under the brand name Vyjuvek, is a gene therapy for the treatment of wounds. Beremagene geperpavec is the first approved gene therapy to use herpes-simplex virus type 1 as a vector. Beremagene geperpavec is a genetically modified herpes-simplex virus used to deliver normal copies of the COL7A1 gene to the wounds.
