THERAPEUTIC MARKETS

Actinic Keratosis

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a pre-cancerous skin condition which appears as dry, scaly, rough-textured patches or lesions on the skin that arise due to frequent and intense exposure to ultraviolet light, predominantly from sunlight. These lesions form in the outermost layer of the skin and can vary in size from a pinhead to around an inch in diameter. The lesions grow slowly, taking years to develop, and typically cause no signs or symptoms other than the surface changes to the skin. However, if left untreated, 2-5 percent of these lesions develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer that can be fatal. In addition, the presence of AK is indicative of extensive sun damage to the skin, which is a risk factor for other forms of skin cancer.

An AK patient may have a life time of treatment as the majority of patients will have multiple lesions with additional lesions appearing in the future. AKs are the most common precancerous skin lesions worldwide. The disease prevalence increases significantly with age. The treatment of AK is the most common dermatologic procedure performed in the out-patient setting. Based on a 2005 study by the Lewin Group, there are 8.2 million annual office visits in the US for the treatment of AK which affects more than 58 million Americans. The annual cost to the U.S. for treatment and management of AK is $1.2 billion.