BELLAFILL® RECEIVES FDA APPROVAL FOR TREATMENT OF ACNE SCARS

  • Bellafill® is the only filler on the market approved in the U.S. for the correction of acne scars
  • Proven safe and effective in a well-controlled clinical study, Bellafill® addresses an unmet need for millions who suffer from acne scarring
  • Bellafill® is a simple in-office treatment that offers immediate correction and lasting results

San Diego, CA (Jan. 6, 2015)—Suneva Medical, Inc., a privately-held aesthetics company, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the dermal filler, Bellafill®, for the treatment of acne scars. Bellafill® represents a significant clinical advancement as the only filler on the market approved for this disfiguring skin condition. Acne is the most common skin disorder in the U.S., affecting 40-50 million people1 and up to 95% of people with acne may go on to suffer from scarring.2 Bellafill® was studied extensively prior to its FDA approval and proven to be safe and effective for the correction of moderate to severe, atrophic, distensible facial acne scars on the cheek in patients over the age of 21 years.

“These types of acne scars affect millions of people and can have a profoundly negative impact on their self-esteem and self-confidence,” said Nicholas L. Teti, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Suneva Medical. “The results of this rigorous clinical study prove that Bellafill® reduces the appearance of acne scars—providing a solution to this widespread skin condition that previously had limited treatment choices. Bellafill® can have a transformational effect on a patient’s appearance and in turn, we hope an improvement in quality of life.”

In an independent study, more than 70% of respondents felt their acne scars negatively impacted their self-confidence, with 92% indicating self-confidence would be restored or improved if their acne scars were healed.3 To help treat disfiguring acne scars, Bellafill® adds volume to the skin to lift and smooth out pitted acne scars to the level of the surrounding skin. The long-lasting treatment is a simple, in-office procedure with minimal to no downtime.

“In the dermatology field, we regularly see patients who live with the burden of acne scarring—a physical and emotional burden that leads many to feel depressed, less energetic and less social. With Bellafill® , we have a tremendous opportunity to remedy acne scars and help patients live a happier, healthy life,” said Dr. Ava Shamban, Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at UCLA, and an investigator in the Bellafill® acne scar study. “The level of acne scar correction Bellafill® achieves is truly impressive and I greatly look forward to using this proven treatment option with patients.”

Joana, a clinical study subject, expressed how treatment with Bellafill® has affected her: “Bellafill® has improved my skin, it has lifted it up … and I just feel more positive. I feel more secure about myself. I feel more beautiful going out on the streets and just mingling with people. I feel more confident.”

Clinically and Statistically Significant Results

FDA approval of Bellafill® was based on the outcomes of a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled pivotal study in which subjects were treated with Bellafill® at 10 U.S. clinical centers. Bellafill® was found to be a safe and effective treatment when compared to subjects treated with a Control saline injection.

The study required a high threshold for success in which the primary effectiveness endpoint was proven superior for subjects treated with Bellafill® compared to Control at 6 months. A responder was defined as a subject who had 50% or more of treated acne scars improve by two or more points on a validated 4-point Acne Scar Rating Scale (ASRS). At 6 months, the response rate for Bellafill was 64% vs. 33% for Control (p=.0005). Bellafill® continued to show effectiveness by an unblinded assessment at 12 months (71%).

Secondary effectiveness endpoints were evaluated, where both investigators and subjects were asked to evaluate appearance on a Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale that was blinded through 6 months and unblinded at 12 months. Both groups rated appearance as improved, reaching statistical significance at every timepoint after the touch-up period (at week 4) through 6 months. On the Physician Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (PGAIS) 84% of subjects were rated as improved at 6 months and 98% were improved at 12 months by an unblinded assessment. On the Subject Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (SGAIS), 77% of subjects rated their appearance as improved at 6 months and 83% rated their appearance as improved at 12 months. In addition, subjects were asked to rate their level of satisfaction with acne scar correction treatment on a Subject Assessment of Scar Correction scale (SASC). At 6 months (blinded), 84% of subjects were satisfied while 90% were satisfied at 12 months (unblinded).

To learn more about Bellafill® and find a licensed provider in your area, please visit www.bellafill.com, or more information on Suneva Medical, visit www.sunevamedical.com/old.

About Suneva Medical, Inc.

Suneva Medical, Inc. is a privately-held aesthetics company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing novel, differentiated products for the general dermatology and aesthetic markets. The innovative aesthetics leader markets Bellafill®, the only dermal filler on the market that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the correction of nasolabial folds and moderate to severe, atrophic, distensible facial acne scars on the cheek in patients over the age of 21 years. The company markets Bellafill® in the U.S. and Canada; ArteFill® in South Korea and Singapore; Regenica® skin care in the U.S. and Canada; ReFissa® tretinoin cream in the U.S. ArteFill® was rebranded to Bellafill® in the U.S. to reflect the transformational outcomes this unique product can provide to patients seeking correction of their acne scars and nasolabial folds. For more information, visit www.sunevamedical.com/old.

  1. American Academy of Dermatology, http://www.aad.org
  2. Layton et al. A Clinical Evaluation of Acne Scarring and Its Incidence. Clin Exp Dermatol 1994;19:303-8
  3. Formula PR Independent Study, 2013

Important Safety Information

Bellafill®
Bellafill® is indicated for the correction of nasolabial folds and moderate to severe, atrophic, distensible facial acne scars on the cheek in patients over the age of 21 years. Patients who have had a positive reaction to the Bellafill® Skin Test, have a history of severe allergies, have known bovine collagen allergies, are allergic to lidocaine, have bleeding disorders or are prone to thick scar formation and/or excessive scarring should not receive Bellafill®. The safety of Bellafill® for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or in patients under 21 has not been established. You may experience temporary swelling, redness, pain, bruising, lumps/bumps, itching, and discoloration at the treatment site. These side effects are usually transient and typically resolve within 1–7 days. You may experience lumps/bumps/papules that may occur more than one month after injection and that may persist. Less common side effects include rash and itching more than 48 hours after treatment, persistent swelling or redness, lumps/bumps, acne, and increased sensitivity at treatment sites. Infrequently, granulomas may occur and may be treated by your licensed physician provider. Be sure to call your licensed provider immediately if you notice any unusual skin reactions around the treatment area. Based on the 5-year Post-Approval Study on nasolabial folds with 1,008 patients, long-term safety of Bellafill® for up to 5 years has been established.

PUREGRAFT
This product is certified as a medical device in the European Union under the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC by SGS CE0120, exclusively for the indication of autologous fat transfer. Other non-medical uses ascribed to this device such as aesthetic body contouring are not within the scope of CE certification, and users should be aware product performance and/or safety has not been evaluated by SGS for those purposes.

Suneva Medical HD PRP
REGULATORY STATUS: FDA-cleared 510(k) Class II medical device. Healeon HD PRP is designed to be used for the safe and rapid preparation of autologous platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) from a small sample of peripheral blood at the patient point of care. The PRP is mixed with autograft and/orallograft bone prior to application to a bony defect for improving handling characteristics. 510(k) number: BK170136

Silhouette Instalift
Silhouette lnstaLift® is indicated for use in mid-face suspension surgery to temporarily fixate the cheek sub-dermis in an elevated position.

IMPORTANT SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
The Silhouette InstaLift device should not be used in patients with any known allergy or foreign body sensitivities to plastic/ biomaterial or in situations where internal fixation is otherwise contraindicated, (e.g. infection.) The device should also not be used in patients appearing to have very thin soft tissue of the face in which the implant may be visible or palpable.

Like all procedures of this type there is a possibility of adverse events, although not everybody experiences them. These adverse events include but are not limited to infection, minimal acute inflammatory tissue reaction, pain (which may be temporary or persistent in nature), swelling and edema, transient hematoma or bruising and transient rippling or dimple formation. For further safety or product information, please consult your physician.

For more safety information, please consult with your physician and the patient labeling that can be found by visiting our website www.bellafill.com.
Toll-free call (U.S. & Canada): 844-Bellafill (844-235-5234).
Local calls: 858-550-9999. International calls: ++ 858-550-9999.