Staphylococcus Epidermidis for the Topical Treatment of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor-Induced Dermal Toxicity

The study investigates the use of ATR04-484, a topical ointment containing S. epidermidis strain SE484, for treating EGFR inhibitor-induced dermal toxicity, which affects up to 90% of patients on EGFR-targeting cancer therapies. The ointment was tested on reconstructed human epidermis and pig skin, showing significant inhibition of both methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus growth in therapeutic and prophylactic settings. ATR04-484 reduced MRSA growth by 1 log in therapeutic settings and up to 5 logs in prophylactic settings. Additionally, it effectively reduced IL-36γ levels, an inflammatory marker, to levels comparable to untreated skin, with a dose-dependent effect. These findings suggest ATR04-484 has a promising preclinical profile for managing dermal toxicity associated with EGFR inhibitors.