Fraxel in The Media

Reliant Technologies Announces Over $1 Million Joint Research and Development

 
Studies Will Expand Use of Breakthrough Laser Technology in Dermatological Treatments such as those that led to the industry-leading Fraxel family of products
Mountain View, CA—March 30, 2007. Reliant Technologies, Inc. today announced it is underwriting breakthrough research to expand the science of fractional skin treatment in search of new laser-based therapies for dermatological conditions.
The company announced it will provide more than $1 million in research funding over three years to the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), whose Wellman Center for Photomedicine will undertake the research, including clinical studies that test cutting-edge technology developed at MGH and Reliant.
"This important funding will help us find new ways to optimize the benefits of fractional skin treatment technology for a broad array of skin conditions," said Dr. Dieter Manstein of MGH's Wellman Center, who is the principal investigator for the fractional technology research grant. "We want to ensure that this therapy is widely available to help patients around the world."
Fractional skin treatment is growing in popularity as it has proven to offer safe and effective treatments for a number of conditions. Reliant's flagship product, the Fraxel® SR laser, was developed through an earlier collaboration between MGH and Reliant. In 2004, Reliant was the first company to introduce a commercial product based on the science of fractional skin treatment, licensed exclusively from MGH. Since that introduction, Reliant's fractional skin resurfacing product line, marketed as Fraxel® -brand laser systems, has become the category leader in the laser skin rejuvenation market.
"This research is critical to expand the use of fractional skin treatment throughout the dermatological community," said Len DeBenedictis, Reliant's chief technology officer. "Only through rigorous studies can we confidently continue to develop the kinds of breakthrough products that physicians have come to expect from Reliant. Collaborating with the Wellman Center, the leader in photo medicine in the treatment of skin conditions, ensures that the science and the technology we develop will be well-grounded and effective."
"This successful collaboration with MGH has led to a revolution in dermatology," DeBenedictis said. "We look forward to continuing our partnership as we develop the important science of fractional resurfacing that we believe will lead to the development of safer and more effective products."
Laser treatments for dermatology typically involve using a laser to wound the skin and stimulate a natural healing process to produce new, healthy skin. The science of fractional skin treatment takes that process one step further by creating thousands of microscopic treatment zones in each square inch of skin. Each microscopic treatment zone is so small that it heals very quickly through interactions with healthy skin surrounding each treatment zone. The result is a very safe treatment with a lower risk of side effects and less discomfort than other laser treatments. Since the treatment zones are microscopic, they can be treated much more intensely than would be possible with the larger treatment zones of conventional laser products.
Dr. Rox Anderson, Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital's Wellman Center for Photomedicine and a member of the Harvard Medical School dermatology department faculty, described the technology as "nothing short of a revolution for safe and effective treatments in dermatology. These tools are something the dermatology community has wanted for some time. Reliant has done a great job implementing this technology and we're very glad that we'll be able to continue working with them to develop this fundamental new science."
About Reliant Technologies, Inc.
Reliant Technologies develops clinical solutions to repair and restore aging and environmentally damaged skin. Reliant is dedicated to providing the most advanced research, engineering and products to the global aesthetic marketplace. The Company's laser device is used primarily by aesthetic physicians to treat acne scars, melasma, periorbital wrinkles, pigmented lesions, surgical scars and photo-damaged skin of the face and body. Reliant pioneered the development of fractional laser resurfacing which relies on novel high speed scanning systems and the Intelligent Optical Tracking® system to produce safe and effective results with minimal recovery time. Reliant is headquartered in Mountain View, California. For more information and physician referrals, visit www.fraxel.com.
The Fraxel laser family has quickly become the industry standard for aesthetic laser skin treatment. Because of its gentle, non-invasive approach to skin resurfacing, Fraxel lasers are safe and effective in treating all skin types and all areas of the face and body. The Fraxel laser has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of pigmented lesions, melasma, periorbital wrinkles, acne scars, surgical scars, skin resurfacing and soft tissue coagulation.