A-101, a Proprietary Topical Formulation of High-Concentration Hydrogen Peroxide Solution: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled, Parallel Group Study of the Dose-Response Profile in Subjects With Seborrheic Keratosis of the Face.

BACKGROUND: Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a common benign skin tumor, yet no topical treatments are approved in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the proprietary, stabilized, high-concentration hydrogen peroxide-based topical solution A-101 (32.5% and 40% concentrations) for treatment of facial SK lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study, eligible subjects were randomly assigned to receive up to 2 treatments of A-101 40%, A-101 32.5%, or vehicle solution applied to a single facial SK lesion. The primary efficacy assessment was the Physician's Lesion Assessment (PLA), a validated 4-ordinal scale. RESULTS: The primary end point, the mean reduction in PLA grade from baseline to Day 106 was 1.7 for A-101 40%, 1.4 for A-101 32.5%, and 0.1 for vehicle (p < .001, both concentrations vs vehicle). Lesions for 68%, 62%, and 5% of subjects, respectively, were judged to be clear or near clear (p < .001, both concentrations vs vehicle). Local skin reactions were predominantly mild and transient. No subjects discontinued because of treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: A-101 solution demonstrated efficacy in treating SKs on the face. Greater magnitude of effect was seen with the 40% concentration than the 32.5% concentration. A-101 solution had a favorable safety and tolerability profile at both concentrations.

Pharmacokinetics of ingenol mebutate gel under maximum use conditions in large treatment areas.

PURPOSE: Actinic keratoses (AKs) exist on a continuum with squamous cell carcinoma and can occur as sub-clinical and clinically visible lesions in cancerized fields on sun-damaged skin. Ingenol mebutate effectively treats AKs on areas up to 25 cm2, but actinic keratosis can affect larger areas of skin. This trial evaluated systemic exposure and safety of ingenol mebutate gel on larger areas of skin under maximum use conditions. METHODS: Phase I, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled, non-randomized trial. Patients received ingenol mebutate gel for three consecutive days on approximately 250 cm2 of sun-damaged skin on the full face (0.027%), the scalp (0.027%), or arm (0.06%). RESULTS: Of 61 patients, 10 (face =8; arm =2) had ingenol mebutate in whole blood at subnanomolar levels (0.235-0.462 nM). The assayed metabolites were below the lower limit of quantification. Local skin responses increased during Days 1-4 and declined thereafter, approaching baseline by Day 16. Most adverse events were pain/pruritus of mild or moderate intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Subnanomolar systemic exposure to ingenol mebutate was measured after application of the gel to approximately 250 cm2 on the full face, scalp, or arm under maximum use conditions. No clinically relevant systemic adverse reactions were observed, and local skin responses were manageable.

Lack of significant anti-inflammatory activity with clindamycin in the treatment of rosacea: results of 2 randomized, vehicle-controlled trials.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of the face. The objective of the studies described here was to evaluate the efficacy of clindamycin in the treatment of rosacea. Two multicenter, randomized, vehicle-controlled, phase 2 studies were conducted in participants with moderate to severe rosacea. Study A was a 12-week dose-comparison, 5-arm, parallel group comparison of clindamycin cream 1% or vehicle once or twice daily and clindamycin cream 0.3% once daily. Study B was a 2-arm comparison of twice daily clindamycin gel 1% versus vehicle gel. A total of 629 participants (study A, N=416; study B, N=213) were randomized. The results of these studies indicated that clindamycin cream 0.3% and 1% and clindamycin gel 1% were no more effective than the vehicle in the treatment of moderate to severe rosacea, suggesting clindamycin has no intrinsic anti-inflammatory activity in rosacea.

Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Once-Daily Dapsone Gel, 7.5% in Patients With Moderate Acne Vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Reducing the dosing frequency of topical acne treatments to once daily may improve adherence. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of 3 formulations of once-daily dapsone gel, 7.5% and of twice-daily dapsone gel, 5% over 28 days in patients with moderate acne vulgaris. METHODS: This phase 1, multicenter, parallel-group study randomized males and females aged 16 to 35 years to 1 of 3 dapsone gel, 7.5% formulations (DAP-11078, DAP-11079, or DAP-11080 double-blind; applied once daily) or to dapsone gel, 5% (investigator-blinded only, applied twice-daily). Blood samples were collected for PK assessments of dapsone and its metabolites, N-acetyl dapsone (NAD) and dapsone hydroxylamine (DHA), before the morning dose on days 1, 7, 14, 18, 21, 26, 27, and 28, and at several follow-up time points (days 29-32). Safety profile assessments included adverse events (AEs), physical examinations, laboratory tests, and local tolerability assessments. RESULTS: Steady-state dapsone, NAD, and DHA concentrations were reached within 7 days of the first dose in all treatment groups. Daily systemic exposures of the 3 dapsone gel, 7.5% formulations were approximately 25% to 40% lower than that for dapsone gel, 5%, and these differences were statistically significant. Among the 3 dapsone gel, 7.5% formulations, the highest daily exposure of dapsone (per the AUC) was observed with DAP-11080, with respective Cmax and AUC0-24 being approximately 28.6% and 28.7% lower relative to dapsone gel, 5%. Most AEs were mild to moderate in intensity. The safety profiles for all 3 formulations of once-daily dapsone, 7.5% gel and twice-daily dapsone gel, 5% were similar following 28 days of topical administration. All 4 dapsone formulations were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated lower systemic exposure with all 3 once-daily dapsone gel, 7.5% formulations than with twice-daily dapsone gel, 5%. All 4 formulations were well tolerated and demonstrated similar safety profiles.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(10):1250-1259.

Efficacy of Secukinumab on Moderate-to-severe Plaque Psoriasis Affecting Different Body Regions: a Pooled Analysis of Four Phase 3 Studies.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of psoriasis varies with the body region affected. In addition, patients have different perceptions of disease improvement and treatment satisfaction based on the location of skin clearance with treatment. The monoclonal antibody secukinumab selectively targets interleukin-17A-a central cytokine of psoriasis-and provides rapid and sustained clearance for moderate-to-severe psoriasis affecting all body regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of secukinumab on moderate-to-severe psoriasis affecting the trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs. METHODS: Data were pooled from four phase 3 studies. To be included in the analysis for each body region, patients were required to have a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score ≥12 for that body region and psoriasis covering ≥10% of the surface area of that region. Secukinumab was administered at Baseline, Weeks 1, 2 and 3, and then every 4 weeks from Week 4 to 48. RESULTS: Across the trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs, initial PASI subscore responses were sustained to Week 52. At Week 52, trunk (T) PASI 90/100 responses were achieved by 78.4%/71.1% of patients receiving secukinumab 300 mg, respectively, and by 66.3%/56.9% of patients receiving secukinumab 150 mg, respectively. At Week 52, upper limb (UL) PASI 90/100 responses were achieved by 67.3%/59.1% of patients receiving secukinumab 300 mg, respectively, and by 50.3%/43.3% of patients receiving secukinumab 150 mg, respectively. At Week 52, lower limb (LL) PASI 90/100 responses were achieved by 63.9%/55.3% of patients receiving secukinumab 300 mg, respectively, and by 45.1%/36.4% of patients receiving secukinumab 150 mg, respectively. A 50% reduction in mean PASI subscore occurred after 2.8, 2.9, and 3.4 weeks with secukinumab 300 mg on the trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs, respectively. CONCLUSION: Secukinumab provided robust and sustained efficacy for moderate-to-severe psoriasis affecting the trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs. FUNDING: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT01365455, NCT01358578, NCT01555125, and NCT01636687.

Efficacy and Safety of Once-Daily Dapsone Gel, 7.5% for Treatment of Adolescents and Adults With Acne Vulgaris: First of Two Identically Designed, Large, Multicenter, Randomized, Vehicle-controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of acne vulgaris (acne) with dapsone gel, 5% requires twice-daily dosing, and some patients may not adhere to this regimen.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a new, once-daily formulation of dapsone gel, 7.5%, with a 50% higher dapsone concentration, versus vehicle over 12 weeks in patients with acne.
METHODS: This 12-week, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, multicenter clinical trial enrolled patients with moderate acne aged 12 years and older with 20 to 50 inflammatory lesions and 30 to 100 noninflammatory lesions on the face, and an acne grade of 3 (moderate) on the Global Acne Assessment Score (GAAS). Patients were randomized to receive topical dapsone gel, 7.5% or vehicle once daily for 12 weeks. Investigators assessed GAAS success rate (proportion of patients with GAAS of 0 or 1) and percent change from baseline in inflammatory, noninflammatory, and total lesions.
RESULTS: The intent-to-treat population comprised 2102 patients, 1044 in the dapsone gel, 7.5% group and 1058 in the vehicle group. At week 12, 29.9% of patients in the dapsone gel, 7.5% group and 21.2% in the vehicle group (P<.001) had GAAS success. Mean inflammatory lesions decreased by 55.5% and 49.0%, noninflammatory lesions decreased by 44.4% and 38.4%, and total lesions decreased by 48.7% and 42.4% in the dapsone gel, 7.5% and vehicle groups (all P<.001), respectively, at week 12. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the dapsone gel, 7.5% (19.1%) and vehicle (20.6%) groups. Most events in both groups were mild or moderate in severity. Most patients receiving dapsone gel, 7.5% and vehicle had a severity rating of "none" for stinging/burning, dryness, scaling, and erythema scales at all time points.
CONCLUSIONS: Dapsone gel, 7.5% applied topically once daily is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment for acne.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(5):553-561.

The efficacy and safety of tavaborole, a novel, boron-based pharmaceutical agent: phase 2 studies conducted for the topical treatment of toenail onychomycosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential efficacy, safety, and optimal dosing concentration of tavaborole, a novel, boron-based pharmaceutical agent with broad-spectrum antifungal activity, for the treatment of onychomycosis of the toenail due to dermatophytes. METHODS: One double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled study (study 1) and two open-label studies (studies 2 and 3) examined the efficacy, safety, and optimal dosing concentration of tavaborole topical solution applied once daily or three times weekly for 180 days at concentrations of 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, or 7.5%. Patient cohort 3 of study 2 received open-label tavaborole 5.0% once daily for 360 days. All three studies assessed day 180 treatment success, defined as complete or partial clinical evidence of clear nail growth plus negative fungal culture. RESULTS: A total of 336 patients were included in the intent-to-treat (ITT) or modified ITT populations and efficacy analyses across the 3 studies. In study 1, treatment success rates at day 180 were higher with tavaborole 2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5% vs vehicle (27%, 26%, and 32% vs 14%, respectively; slope P=0.030). In cohort 3 of study 2, 7% of patients achieved treatment success with tavaborole 5.0% at day 360. Negative culture rates at day 180 in study 1 were numerically higher for tavaborole 2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5% vs vehicle (slope P=0.046). Application-site reactions of general irritation, erythema, scaling, and stinging/burning were most common with tavaborole 7.5%, were generally mild to moderate, and resolved with treatment discontinuation and/or a reduction in dosing frequency. No systemic safety concerns were observed. CONCLUSION: Tavaborole solution demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety in phase 2 clinical studies. Based on these findings, tavaborole topical solution, 5% was further investigated in larger, more definitive phase 3 studies. Results from these completed phase 3 studies will provide additional evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of tavaborole in the treatment of toenail onychomycosis.

Efficacy and safety of once-daily luliconazole 1% cream in patients ≥12 years of age with interdigital tinea pedis: a phase 3, randomized, double-blind,vehicle-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Interdigital tinea pedis is one of the most common clinical presentations of dermatophytosis. OBJECTIVE: This phase 3 study evaluated the safety and efficacy of luliconazole cream 1% in patients with tinea pedis. METHODS: A total of 321 male and female patients aged ≥12 years with tinea pedis and eligible for modified intent-to-treat analysis were randomized 1:1 to receive luliconazole cream 1% (n=159) or vehicle (n=162) once daily for 14 days. Efficacy was evaluated at days 28 and 42 (i.e., days 14 and 28 posttreatment) based on clinical signs (erythema, scaling, pruritus) and mycology (KOH, fungal culture). The primary outcome was complete clearance at day 42. Safety evaluations included adverse events and laboratory assessments. RESULTS: Complete clearance at day 42 was achieved in 26.4% (28/106) of patients treated with luliconazole cream 1% compared with 1.9% (2/103) of patients treated with vehicle (P< 0.001). Similar safety profiles were obtained for luliconazole cream 1% and vehicle. LIMITATIONS: This study was conducted in a relatively small population under controlled clinical trial conditions. CONCLUSION: Luliconazole cream 1% applied once daily for 14 days is well tolerated and more effective than vehicle in patients with tinea pedis.

Improvement in facial erythema within 30 minutes of initial application of brimonidine tartrate in patients with rosacea.

BACKGROUND: Brimonidine tartrate (BT) 0.5% gel demonstrated significantly greater efficacy versus vehicle gel once-daily for the treatment of moderate to severe erythema of rosacea. OBJECTIVES: To assess the 30-minute speed of onset of topical BT 0.5% gel in reducing facial erythema in Phase III studies as measured by subject and clinician assessments of erythema. METHODS: Two Phase III, randomized, controlled studies with identical design in which subjects with moderate erythema of rosacea (study A: n=260; study B: n=293) were randomized 1:1 to apply topical BT 0.5% or vehicle gel once-daily for 4 weeks. Evaluations included severity of erythema based on Clinician's Erythema Assessment (CEA) and Patient's Self-Assessment (PSA) prior to study drug application and at 30 minutes after application on days 1, 15, and 29. RESULTS: 97.7% and 96.6% of subjects reported normal study completion for studies A and B, respectively. The percentage of subjects achieving a 1-grade improvement in both CEA and PSA was significantly increased at 30 minutes post-dosing with BT 0.5% gel compared to vehicle gel on visit days (day 1: 27.9 vs 6.9%, P <0.001; day 15: 55.9 vs 21.1%, P <0.001; Day 29: 58.3 vs 32.0%, P <0.001 for BT 0.5% gel vs vehicle) in study A. Similar results were shown for study B. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily topical BT gel 0.5% is not only efficacious at reducing facial erythema but also exhibits response within 30 minutes of application in a significant number of patients throughout both Phase III studies.

A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of luliconazole cream 1% once daily for 7 days in patients aged ≥ 12 years with tinea cruris.

BACKGROUND: Tinea cruris, a pruritic superficial fungal infection of the groin, is the second most common clinical presentation for dermatophytosis. OBJECTIVE: This phase 3 study evaluated the safety and efficacy of topical luliconazole cream 1% in patients with tinea cruris. METHODS: 483 patients were enrolled and 256 male and female patients aged ≥12 years with clinically evident tinea cruris and eligible for modified intent-to-treat analysis were randomized 2:1 to receive luliconazole cream 1% (n=165) or vehicle (n=91) once daily for 7 days. Efficacy was evaluated at baseline and at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 based on mycology (potassium hydroxide, fungal culture) and clinical signs (erythema, scaling, pruritus). The primary outcome was complete clearance at day 28 (21 days posttreatment). Safety evaluations included adverse events and laboratory assessments. RESULTS: Complete clearance was obtained in 21.2% (35/165) of patients treated with luliconazole cream 1% compared with 4.4% (4/91) treated with vehicle (P<0.001). The safety profile of luliconazole cream 1% was similar to vehicle. LIMITATIONS: The study was conducted under controlled conditions in a relatively small population. CONCLUSION: Luliconazole cream 1% applied once daily for 7 days is more effective than vehicle and well tolerated in patients with tinea cruris.

Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics of Ingenol Mebutate 0.05% Gel Applied to Treatment Areas up to 100cm(2) on the Forearm(s) of Patients with Actinic Keratosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine safety, tolerability, and systemic absorption of ingenol mebutate 0.05% gel applied for two consecutive days to treatment areas up to 100cm(2) on the forearm(s) of patients with actinic keratosis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Two studies are reported: a Phase 1, multicenter, open-label, dose-area escalation cohort study (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00659893) and a Phase 2, double-blind, vehicle-controlled pharmacokinetic study (http://clinical trials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00852137). PARTICIPANTS: The Phase 1 study included male patients (n=65), mean age 68.1 years; the Phase 2 study included both male and female patients (n=16), mean age 63.3 years. MEASUREMENTS: In the Phase 1 study, patients assigned to escalating dose-area cohorts were evaluated for local skin responses, adverse events, and any other relevant safety data. In the pharmacokinetic study, blood samples were collected pre-dose and for up to 24 hours after administration on Day 2, and analyzed for ingenol mebutate and its primary metabolites. In both studies, safety assessments were performed on Days 2, 3, 8, 15, 29, and 57 (study end). RESULTS: In the Phase 1 study, most adverse events were mild, and all treatment-related adverse events resolved before the end of the study. The 100cm(2) treatment area showed a small increase in the overall intensity of mean composite local skin response scores. There was no quantifiable systemic exposure to ingenol mebutate or its primary metabolites. CONCLUSION: Ingenol mebutate 0.05% gel has a good safety profile when applied to treatment areas up to 100cm(2) with acceptable tolerability and local skin responses. There is no systemic absorption following application to areas of 100cm(2).

Safety and pharmacokinetics of efinaconazole 10% solution in healthy volunteers and patients with severe onychomycosis.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the systemic exposure and pharmacokinetics of efinaconazole 10% solution and assess the potential for drug-drug interaction (DDI) in human volunteers and onychomycosis patients following topical administration. METHODS: Two single-center, open-label studies in healthy volunteers and severe onychomycosis patients. Efinaconazole 10% solution was applied topically to all 10 toenails (0.42 mL total daily dose volume); administered as single and then 7 daily doses to 10 healthy volunteers, and once daily for 28 days to 19 severe onychomycosis patients. Plasma concentrations of efinaconazole and its major metabolite H3 were determined by LC-MS-MS at multiple timepoints. Safety evaluations were carried out throughout both studies. RESULTS: The mean peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) of efinaconazole and H3 were 0.54 and 1.63 ng/mL, respectively, in healthy volunteers; and 0.67 and 2.36 ng/mL, respectively, in patients. Both parent drug and metabolite accumulated following repeat dosing, and reached steady state in plasma by 14 days. Efinaconazole was well tolerated in both studies; no drug-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Efinaconazole 10% solution resulted in very low systemic exposures to efinaconazole and H3 when applied topically at maximum use conditions to healthy volunteer and onychomycosis patients' toenails. Efinaconazole is a CYP inhibitor like other azole antifungals, and its lowest ki is 91 ng/mL for CYP2C9, a >130-fold higher concentration than the mean steady state Cmax observed in patients. The Cmax/ki ratio was 0.007, well below the threshold for clinical DDI evaluation as recommended in regulatory guidances, thereby suggesting efinaconazole 10% solution has remote potential for drug-drug interactions.

Efficacy and safety of once-daily topical brimonidine tartrate gel 0.5% for the treatment of moderate to severe facial erythema of rosacea: results of two randomized, double-blind, and vehicle-controlled pivotal studies.

BACKGROUND: Brimonidine tartrate, a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist with potent vasoconstrictive activity, was shown to reduce erythema of rosacea. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of topical brimonidine tartrate gel 0.5% for the treatment of erythema of rosacea. METHODS: Both studies were randomized, double-blind, and vehicle-controlled, with identical design. Subjects with moderate to severe erythema of rosacea were randomized 1:1 to apply topical brimonidine tartrate gel 0.5% or vehicle gel once-daily for 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week follow-up phase. Evaluations included severity of erythema based on Clinician's Erythema Assessment and Patient's Self-Assessment, as well as adverse events. RESULTS: Topical brimonidine tartrate gel 0.5% was significantly more efficacious than vehicle gel throughout 12 hours on days 1, 15, and 29, with significant difference observed as early as 30 minutes after the first application on day 1 (all P<.001). No tachyphylaxis, rebound or aggravation of other disease signs were observed. Slightly higher incidence of adverse events was observed for topical brimonidine tartrate gel 0.5% than for vehicle; however, most of the adverse events were dermatological, mild, and transient in nature. LIMITATIONS: These data generated in controlled trials may be different from those in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily brimonidine tartrate gel 0.5% has a good safety profile and provides significantly greater efficacy relative to vehicle gel for the treatment of moderate to severe erythema of rosacea, as early as 30 minutes after application.

Luliconazole for the treatment of interdigital tinea pedis: A double-blind, vehicle-controlled study.

Tinea pedis (TP) typically is treated with topical antifungal agents. Luliconazole, a novel imidazole drug, is shown to be as or more effective in vitro and in vivo than bifonazole, terbinafine, and lanoconazole. Two treatment durations with luliconazole cream 1% were evaluated for treatment of TP. Participants with interdigital TP were randomized (N= 147) and treated with either luliconazole or its vehicle for either 2 or 4 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was the proportion of participants achieving complete clearance 2 weeks following completion of treatment. In the 2-week active treatment group, complete clearance was achieved in 26.8% (11/41) of participants versus 9. 1% (2/22) in the 2-week vehicle group at 2-weeks posttreatment. In the 4-week active treatment group, 45.7% (16/35) achieved complete clearance versus 10.0% (2/20) in the 4-week vehicle group at 2-weeks posttreatment. Twenty-three adverse events (AEs) were reported; most were mild (56.5% [13/23]) to moderate (26. 1% [6/23]) in severity. All reported AEs were determined to be unrelated (78.3% [18/23]) or unlikely related (21.7% [5/23]) to the study medication. The results of this study indicate that luliconazole cream 1% applied once daily for either 2 or 4 weeks is safe and effective for treatment of TP. More importantly, the antifungal effects of luliconazole persist for several weeks, resulting in increased rates of mycological cure.

Tazarotene foam versus tazarotene gel: a randomized relative bioavailability study in acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tazarotene, a retinoid pro-drug, is available in gel, cream and foam for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. This single-centre, randomized, open-label study assessed relative bioavailability of its active metabolite tazarotenic acid after dosing of tazarotene foam or gel. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Subjects with moderate-to-severe acne received a mean, once-daily dose of 3.7 g tazarotene foam or gel applied to face, chest, upper back and shoulders. Blood samples were collected pre-dose on multiple days and multiple time points over a 72-h period to measure plasma tazarotenic acid and tazarotene. RESULTS: Mean tazarotenic acid area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum measured plasma concentration (Cmax) values were significantly higher for gel versus foam. Cmax occurred within 5-6 h after dosing, with an apparent terminal elimination half-life (t½) of 18-22 h. Accumulation was observed upon repeated dosing with steady-state conditions achieved at day 20. Mean tazarotene concentrations were also higher following gel application versus foam. Both foam and gel demonstrated an acceptable safety profile. CONCLUSION: Tazarotene foam, 0.1 % is an alternative to gel with less systemic exposure.

Treatment with a novel topical nanoemulsion (NB-001) speeds time to healing of recurrent cold sores.

BACKGROUND: Current topical therapies for cold sores are only marginally beneficial due to poor skin penetration. We assessed the safety and efficacy of a novel topical antiviral nanoemulsion (NB-001) with high tissue bioavailability. OBJECTIVES: The primary endpoint was the time to lesion healing. METHODS: 482 subjects with recurrent cold sores were randomized to self-initiate treatment with either vehicle or NB-001 (0.1%, 0.3% or 0.5%) at the first signs or symptoms of a cold sore episode. Lotion was applied 5 times per day, approximately 3 to 4 hours apart, for 4 days. Time to lesion healing was correlated with NB-001 bioavailability determined in human cadaver skin. RESULTS: Subjects treated with 0.3% NB-001 showed a 1.3-day improvement in the mean time to healing compared to vehicle (P=0.006). This was consistent with human cadaver skin data indicating that the 0.3% nanoemulsion had the highest bioavailability, compared to 0.1% and 0.5% emulsions. No significant safety or dermal irritation concerns or systemic absorption were noted with any of the doses. CONCLUSIONS: Topical NB-001 (0.3%) was well tolerated and highly efficacious in shortening the time to healing of cold sores. The improvement in time to healing was similar to that reported for oral nucleoside analogues, but without systemic exposure. Topical agents for recurrent herpes labialis (cold sores) reduce healing time by one half day, compared to oral therapies that speed healing by a day or more. A topical antiviral nanoemulsion was well tolerated and improved cold sore healing time by over a day compared to vehicle control. Nanoemulsion (NB-001) could represent a more efficacious topical treatment for recurrent cold sores.

Efficacy and safety of clindamycin-tretinoin gel versus clindamycin or tretinoin alone in acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Topical combination therapy containing a retinoid and an antimicrobial is an effective treatment for acne vulgaris. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new topical formulation containing clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and tretinoin 0.025% solubilized in an aqueous-based gel (CT gel). METHODS: 1,649 participants were randomized 2:2:2:1 to 12 weeks of double-blind treatment with CT gel, clindamycin, tretinoin, or vehicle gel administered once daily. RESULTS: Significantly more participants achieved 2-grade or greater improvement on the Investigator's Static Global Assessment score with CT gel versus clindamycin, tretinoin, or vehicle gel. CT gel produced a significantly greater reduction in absolute number of total lesions versus all other treatment groups, in total and noninflammatory lesions versus clindamycin, and in total and inflammatory lesions versus tretinoin. Local tolerability was similar to that of tretinoin alone; signs and symptoms of irritation were most notable at week 2. There were no more adverse events with CT gel than with tretinoin gel. CONCLUSION: CT gel is more effective than clindamycin or tretinoin monotherapy, with a safety and tolerability profile similar to that of tretinoin.

Short-term combination therapy and long-term relapse prevention in the treatment of severe acne vulgaris.

Few long-term treatment regimens for severe acne vulgaris have been investigated in clinical trials. Data were combined from two consecutive, randomized, double-blind, controlled studies to evaluate the efficacy, safety and subject satisfaction of four nine-month regimens in severe acne vulgaris treatment. Subjects were first randomized to receive doxycycline (DCN) and adapalene 0.1% - benzoyl peroxide 2.5% (A/BPO) or vehicle once daily for 12 weeks. Subjects who had at least 50% global improvement were subsequently randomized to receive A/BPO or its vehicle once daily for 24 weeks. Over nine months, there were four regimens: A/BPO and DCN followed by A/BPO, vehicle and DCN followed by A/BPO, A/BPO and DCN followed by vehicle, and vehicle and DCN followed by vehicle. Among the four regimens, A/BPO and DCN followed by A/BPO led to the highest percentage of subjects rated "clear" or "almost clear" (50.0% vs. 40.4%, 26.2% and 25.0%, respectively), biggest reduction in total lesion counts (76% vs. 70%, 51% and 47%, respectively) and greatest subject satisfaction (85.0% vs. 75.5%, 63.3% and 52.4%, respectively) at week 36. It provided a faster onset of action compared to groups started with vehicle and DCN (P<.05 at week 2). Subjects receiving A/BPO and DCN followed by vehicle experienced deterioration once the active treatment was discontinued. All regimens were safe and well-tolerated. In conclusion, efficacious initial therapy and long-term treatment are both important. An initial combination therapy with adapalene-BPO and DCN followed by longer-term adapalene-BPO treatment is an efficacious and satisfactory new regimen for severe acne subjects.

A multicenter, randomized, vehicle-controlled phase 2 study of blue light photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinic acid HCl 20% topical solution for the treatment of actinic keratoses on the upper extremities: the effect of occlusion during the drug incubation period.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) of the face and scalp. A recent small study has suggested that ALA-PDT can be effective for AKs of the dorsal hands/forearms. However, studies designed to provide sufficient statistical power to test this hypothesis are lacking in the literature. OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare the safety and efficacy of blue light ALA-PDT vs blue light placebo vehicle (VEH) in the treatment of AKs of the upper extremities and to evaluate the effect of occlusion after application of ALA vs VEH. METHODS: ALA or VEH was applied to both dorsal hands/forearms for the 3-hour incubation period before blue light treatment (10 J/ cm2). One extremity of each subject was covered with occlusive dressing during the incubation period. Treatment was repeated at week 8 if any AK lesions remained. RESULTS: The median AK lesion clearance rate at week 12 was 88.7% for extremities treated with occluded ALA (ALA+OCC), 70.0% for extremities treated with nonoccluded ALA, 16.7% for extremities treated with occluded VEH (VEH+OCC), and 5.6% for extremities treated with nonoccluded VEH (P<.0001). ALA+OCC resulted in a significantly higher clearance rate compared with the nonoccluded extremity at weeks 8 (P=.0006) and 12 (P=.0029). Thirty-four percent (12/35) of extremities treated with ALA+OCC had complete clearance of lesions at week 12 compared with 0% (0/35) of extremities treated with VEH+OCC (P=.0002). The safety pro!le in this study is consistent with previously reported side effects of the therapy. CONCLUSION: Blue light ALA-PDT following a 3-hour incubation appears efficacious for AK clearance of the upper extremities. Incubation using an occlusive dressing significantly increases the efficacy of the procedure and also increases the incidence and severity of some acute inflammatory side effects of PDT.

Tretinoin gel microsphere pump 0.04% plus 5% benzoyl peroxide wash for treatment of acne vulgaris: morning/morning regimen is as effective and safe as morning/evening regimen.

Topical tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) are often prescribed in combination for the treatment of acne vulgaris; however, these products have not traditionally been administered simultaneously because of the potential for tretinoin degradation by BPO as well as the instability of tretinoin in daylight. The primary objective of this randomized, investigator-blinded, 12-week, phase 4 trial was to determine non-inferiority of a once-daily morning combination regimen of 5% BPO wash + tretinoin gel microsphere (TGM) 0.04% pump versus a sequential regimen (BPO in the morning/TGM in the evening) in patients > or = 12 years old with moderate facial acne vulgaris. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in total acne lesions; the primary safety endpoint was the change in cutaneous irritation scores. The 247 participants (mean age: 18.5 years) were randomized to either the morning/morning regimen (n = 123) or the morning/evening regimen (n = 124). The morning/morning regimen was determined to be non-inferior to the morning/evening regimen in reduction of total acne lesions. The tolerability of both regimens was comparable. The morning/morning regimen is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with moderate acne vulgaris.