By Hannah Muehlberger

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (together “Sun Pharma”), announced the launch of a consumer-directed advertising campaign for WINLEVI (clascoterone) cream 1%, featuring board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee, popularly known as Dr. Pimple Popper. Running on Connected TV (CTV), a medium that delivers content via streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Apple TV, the campaign features three different spots, paid social media, and online video display ads.

To celebrate Acne Awareness Month, Sun Pharma together with spokesperson Dr. Sandra Lee (a.k.a. Dr. Pimple Popper) hosted a special dinner at Sant Ambroeus in New York. Guests and the Pimple Popping Star discussed Sun Pharma’s newest campaign, featuring Dr. Lee, which highlights the role of sebum (oil) in causing acne breakouts. Dr Sandra Lee answered questions regarding acne, sebum, hormones, and Sun Pharma’s topical prescription product targeting sebum. All while mingling with some of the city’s top industry insiders and specialists. The elegant dinner provided a unique opportunity for Dr. Lee to discuss her recent collaboration with Sun Pharma and highlight the innovative campaign that uses humor to address the role of sebum in causing acne. Set against the chic backdrop of Sant Ambroeus Brookfield, Dr. Lee mingled with some of the city’s top industry insiders and specialists, answering questions about all things acne-related.

The new campaign focuses on the role of sebum as a main cause of acne, which is the most prevalent skin condition in the U.S., affecting up to 50 million Americans and 80% of people at some point during their lives.1,2 Sebum is an oily wax that protects and moisturizes skin, but too much of it feeds bacteria inside the skin, causing inflammation and acne lesions. WINLEVI is the first and only FDA-approved topical acne treatment available in the U.S. that targets sebum production in the skin.

Andy Nelson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Medical Dermatology, Sun Pharma explained how “extensive market research shows that teenagers do not want to talk about their acne, so we sought to demystify sebum as an underlying cause of the condition and to encourage young people to have more dialogue about it…We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Dr. Sandra Lee, whose persona as ‘Dr. Pimple Popper’ fits well with our use of humorous and relatable content to connect with teens. Moreover, the extensive reach of CTV will help us educate and engage a broad audience about WINLEVI and the role of sebum in the acne cycle.”

WINLEVI is an FDA-approved prescription cream that works by targeting sebum (oil) production in your skin to control future breakouts. It does this by acting on acne hormones, called androgen, in your skin. Acne hormones control the amount of sebum produced in your skin, which leads to acne. WINLEVI only works on androgen in your skin; it does not affect hormone levels in your body. 

In clinical studies, twice-daily use of WINLEVI showed improvement in acne, including:

• Noticeable reduction in acne as early as Week 4
• Clear or almost clear skin at Week 12
• Reduced pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads at Week 12
• The most common side effects of WINLEVI cream include reddening, scaling or dryness, and itching of the skin being treated. These are not all of the possible side effects of WINLEVI cream.

Photography Credit: Sophie Sahara