Palomar to Help Combat Razor Bumps

BURLINGTON, Mass., Feb 18 -- Palomar Medical Technologies Inc. announced today it has been awarded a $2.5 million research contract by the Department of the Army to develop a light-based self-treatment device for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), commonly known as razor bumps, which it says is "the most significant dermatologic disease in the US Army, affecting combat readiness, unit cohesion and individual morale of over 50 percent of African American and Hispanic military personnel."

The project will begin Feb. 23 and is scheduled to last through Sept. 22, 2005.

"The importance of a solution to the PFB problem is increasing along with the changing demographics of the military," Palomar said. "The percentage of African Americans and Hispanics in the services is currently twice that in the civilian population and growing."

The contract is being awarded by the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program of the Office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs to private and public organizations having demonstrated capability in solving "military relevant" medical problems.

Michael Smotrich, Palomar's CTO, said, "Over the past six years, Palomar has invested in the development of technology necessary for the realization of a compact, safe, cost effective, self-treatment light-based system having applications in dermatology. The PFB program is an ideal extension of this technology to address a military problem."

For more information, visit: www.palomarmedical.com