BioPharmX Corporation, a Silicon Valley pharmaceutical company, released phase 2b clinical data showing its investigational drug BPX-01 2% reduces acne lesions by 59 percent with no drug-related adverse events – and suggesting it may also lessen lesions’ severity. BPX-01 2% topical minocycline gel was superior in reducing the number of lesions in patients with moderate-to-severe acne, compared to vehicle (59 versus 44 percent). Evaluations using a five-point investigator’s global assessment scale also showed more two-grade improvements, compared to vehicle (29.2 versus 17.6 percent). Researchers detected no minocycline in patients’ bloodstreams, except for a single outlier whose level was one tenth that of oral minocycline.