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College of Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences

UAMS-Developed Foot Therapy Cream Reaches Walmart Stores in Seven States

LITTLE ROCK – Omnibalm Daily Foot Therapy, a cream for general and diabetic foot care developed by Bill Gurley, Ph.D., a College of Pharmacy pharmaceutical sciences professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is now available in 121 Walmart stores across seven states.

Omnibalm Daily Foot Therapy is a non-greasy formula that softens and helps repair dry, cracked skin and keeps feet healthy and shoes smelling fresh. It is marketed by Balm Innovations LLC, a UAMS BioVentures startup company licensed to take UAMS inventions from laboratories to the marketplace.

Omnibalm can be found in the diabetic sections of many Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Discount Stores in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

Gurley’s inspiration for the cream came as the result of his own severe sunburn 27 years ago. His research led him to tea tree oil, which comes from Australia’s Melaleuca tree and has a long history as an effective treatment for many skin maladies.

“If you dig through the medical literature, tea tree oil has a lot of unique medicinal properties,” Gurley said. “It has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. And it also acts as a skin permeation enhancer, which allows skin cells to absorb it more quickly.”

Lydia Carson, president and CEO of Balm Innovations, learned of the cream while enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Executive M.B.A. program. Her own experience with the cream and the testimonials of others convinced her that it was a good business opportunity.

“We gave it to our friends and it worked on everybody; everybody loved it,” Carson said. “Even the skeptical people loved it. That’s when we realized it had to be out there in stores.”

As a UAMS BioVentures startup company, Balm Innovations has a license to market the cream, while a percentage of profits go back to UAMS and the inventor. Omnibalm is undergoing a clinical trial for use in preventing recurrent diabetic foot ulcers. More information can be found at Omnibalm.com.

In his 24 years at UAMS, Gurley has established himself as the nation’s foremost expert on the herb-drug interactions and the dangers of ephedra. His research, court testimony and national media exposure helped lead to the 2004 FDA ban on ephedra-based supplements.

UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the Translational Research Institute. It is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has more than 2,865 students and 785 medical residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including about 1,000 physicians and other professionals who provide care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS regional centers throughout the state. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com.

Cancer drug developed by UAMS professor awarded FDA approval

LITTLE ROCK — Valchlor, a breakthrough gel for treating lymphoma developed with the help of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy Professor Peter Crooks, Ph.D., recently won marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Valchlor gel is for the topical treatment of stage 1A and 1B mycosis fungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Developed by Ceptaris Therapeutics, the gel is the first and only FDA-approved topical formulation of mechlorethamine, commonly known as nitrogen mustard. Patients can apply Valchlor once a day, and it dries on the skin.

Mycosis fungoides is the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It has no cure, and its cause is unknown. The malignant T-cells migrate to the skin, causing lesions to appear. Lesions first appear as a rash and then may grow into disfiguring tumors.

“The big problem with this skin condition is that if it is not treated, the affected T-cells can move into the lymph system,” said Crooks, who worked on the drug before joining UAMS as chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy. “Not only does Valchlor help treat people who have these lesions from a fungal source or ionizing radiation, with early diagnosis it can prevent CTCL.”

Crooks was a cofounder and chief scientific officer (CSO) of Yaupon Therapeutics, the company that later became Ceptaris, which is located in Malvern, Penn. He began developmental work on Valchlor in 2004. He helped solved such problems as how to chemically stabilize the drug in the topical gel formulation, and how to keep it from entering a patient’s bloodstream. He stepped down as CSO of the company in 2011 when he joined UAMS.

During his work on Valchlor, Crooks said he learned a tremendous amount about drug development, manufacturing and the FDA approval process. He is applying that knowledge to new research and new projects at UAMS, such as clinical development of new drugs for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), the most common form of leukemia, and for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the Translational Research Institute. Named best Little Rock metropolitan area hospital by U.S. News & World Report, it is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has more than 2,800 students and 790 medical residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including about 1,000 physicians and other professionals who provide care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS regional centers throughout the state. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com.

UAMS, Kroger Invite Public for Free Oct. 5 Health Screenings Statewide

LITTLE ROCK – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy students and Kroger invite the public for free health screenings at 29 Kroger pharmacies throughout the state Oct. 5.

The screenings will include blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checks and will be held on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at all Kroger pharmacy locations in Batesville, Blytheville, Benton, Cabot, Conway, England, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Russellville and West Memphis. At select locations, pharmacy students are partnering with students from the UAMS Department of Dietetics and Nutrition to offer nutrition and weight loss counseling.

This is the third year of the partnership, with nearly 100 students screening more than 1,100 patients at Kroger locations statewide last year. All screening supplies are being provided by Kroger, while all screenings will be conducted by UAMS College of Pharmacy students.

“We are proud to partner again with the UAMS College of Pharmacy and to have their expertise working with our valued pharmacy customers,” said Joe Bell, marketing and public affairs specialist with the Kroger Delta Division in Memphis. “We want our pharmacies to have open, friendly and personal relationships with the people they serve. This is a fantastic way for us to show customers that we care about their health.”

The event kicks off a series of activities sponsored by the UAMS College of Pharmacy student group – the American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists – to celebrate American Pharmacists Month.

“The theme again for this year is, ‘Know your medicine, know your pharmacist,’” said Eddie Dunn, Pharm.D., associate professor of pharmacy practice. “By sending our students out into pharmacies to offer a public service, we feel like we’re promoting active and beneficial relationships with pharmacies and their customers.”
UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the Translational Research Institute. Named best Little Rock metropolitan area hospital by U.S. News & World Report, it is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has more than 2,800 students and 790 medical residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including about 1,000 physicians and other professionals who provide care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS regional centers throughout the state. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com.

Two New UAMS Researchers Win Funding for Asthma, Cardiovascular Studies

LITTLE ROCK – Two University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) researchers, Joshua Kennedy, M.D., and Elvin Price, Pharm.D., Ph.D., are the newest recipients of the UAMS Translational Research Institute KL2 Scholar Career Development Awards, which will provide them with salary and research support for two years. The pair of new investigators was selected from a competitive pool of applicants this summer. Kennedy is striving to reduce asthma-related hospitalizations by reducing the exacerbating effects of cold viruses on asthma. Price is studying promising genetic predictors that he hopes will help doctors prescribe the right cardiovascular medicines for their patients. The prestigious national KL2 program supports promising new researchers to advance their research so they can compete for more sustained federal funding. “We had an excellent group of applicants and we are excited to have Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Price as our 2013 KL2 Scholars,” said Curtis Lowery, M.D., director of the Translational Research Institute and principal investigator for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) that supports the KL2 Scholar program. “We hope the KL2 Award will help jumpstart their research careers and put them on a path toward sustained NIH funding to further their research.” Kennedy and Price are among 13 KL2 Award recipients selected by the Translational Research Institute since 2010. The award helps them quickly develop their research programs with 75 percent salary support (up to $52,000 a year) that allows dedicated time to their research. They receive up to $25,000 a year in research funds, as well as travel funds, graduate-level tuition support, and assistance from mentors. Price earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and his doctorate in clinical pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Florida in Gainesville. Kennedy, a Hot Springs native, is an internal medicine and pediatrics physician who earned his medical degree and completed residency training at UAMS. He joined the UAMS faculty in July after completing his allergy and immunology fellowship at the University of Virginia.

UAMS Welcomes High School Students For Pharmacy Camp

By: Jocelyn Tovar, KARK 4 NEWS

They were up to their elbows in first hand medical experience.

Pharmacy camp at UAMS for high school students who applied from all over the state.

“To get an introduction to pharmacy and what it would be like to be a pharmacist as they prepare for their careers,” said Christel Cater the recruiting specialist for the college of pharmacy.

She said it’s a great opportunity for seniors as they prepare to graduate high school.

“In this lab it’s like a fake doctor’s office and they’re learning how to take blood pressure,” said real pharmacy student Melanie Sasse who helped them through the labs.

She’s there answer their questions, giving them a leg up from students who don’t get the opportunity.

“The fact they get to experience the daily routines lets them know this is something they’ll be passionate in the future,” she said.

So they’ll know exactly what it is they’re working for and why it’s important to work hard to attain it.

UAMS Graduates 891 New Health Care Professionals, Presents Gov. Beebe with Honorary Degree

LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) awarded certificates and degrees today to 891 graduates of its five colleges and Graduate School during its commencement ceremony at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.

Diplomas were presented to 162 in the College of Medicine; 203 in the College of Nursing; 117 in the College of Pharmacy; 45 in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; 92 in the Graduate School and 272 from the 21 academic programs that make up the College of Health Professions.

During the ceremony UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., presented Gov. Mike Beebe an Honorary Doctorate of Medical Arts and Humane Letters. Beebe has been a longtime UAMS supporter, from his 20 years as a state senator, a term as state attorney general and through two terms as governor.

UAMS Researchers: Smartphone Apps Could be the Answer

May 10, 2013 | Smart phones could be part of the answer to a $100 billion problem facing the health care industry involving patients who don’t fully adhere to their prescribed medicine regimens, according to researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy.

But the potential that smartphone medication adherence applications hold is a largely untested and unregulated science. That’s what a team of researchers at the UAMS College of Pharmacy is trying to change after a first-ever study of its kind that evaluated features of medical adherence apps and identified the possibilities the technology holds. The complete study was published in the March-April edition of the prestigious Journal of American Pharmacists Association.

Howell Foster Educates the Public about Dangers of Doubling Up on Cold, Allergy Meds on KARK

LITTLE ROCK, AR — It’s a time of the year many doctors admit can be tricky for patients, when the cold season isn’t quite over, yet the allergy season is already underway.

There are a few ways to treat both, but many aren’t aware of the dangers of treating them with over the counter medications.

Plants are blooming, but then there’s a cold snap, then warm weather followed by rainy days.

Doctors say the weather can throw your immune system for a loop this time of year.

“If you have allergy symptoms with a cold, you’re probably feeling pretty miserable,” Dr. Howell Foster, Director of Arkansas Poison Control Center says.

Dr. Foster says it’s not impossible to have symptoms for both at the same time, but treating both is where it gets tricky.

“They may actually duplicate the same drug in both products,” he says.

Sticking with over the counter medications with only one ingredient can help cut the risk of doubling up on certain ingredients.

“In a young, fairly healthy adult, duplicating therapy isn’t’ really a problem,” he says.

However, in younger or older patients, it can be a serious concern, which is why he suggests you always ask a pharmacist if you are taking multiple medications.

“If it’s later at night and you’re in Kroger and pharmacy is closed, feel free to call us and we’ll help you out,” Dr. Foster says.

The Poison Control Center is never more than a phone call away.

Dr. Foster says to remember that doubling up on certain ingredients in medications can be the same as driving under the influence, which is another reason to check with your doctor.