PhRMA: More than 260 medicines in development to treat skin diseases

WASHINGTON — More than 200 drugs are under development in the United States for treating skin diseases, according to the country’s largest pharmaceutical industry trade group.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said Monday that the country’s drug makers were developing 263 medicines for skin diseases that affect more than one-third of the U.S population. A study by the Lewin Group found that the annual total cost of skin diseases was $39.3 billion in 2005.

According to the PhRMA, these include 69 drugs for skin cancers, including 63 for melanoma; 39 drugs for the autoimmune disorder psoriasis; 58 for skin and tissue infections; 13 for dermatitis; and eight for rosacea.