New research is supporting the use of two innovative products for acne: a triple combination therapy and the first new molecule for acne in 40 years. In this Next Steps in Derm interview, in partnership with the ODAC Dermatology Conference, Brooklyn, N.Y., dermatologist Dr. Hilary Baldwin outlines the latest acne studies and how these new treatments are helping dermatology clinicians address the four pillars of acne pathophysiology. Learn the unique benefits of a new oral antibiotic – sarecycline — and how it’s helping patients achieve clear skin with a lower impact to the gut microbiome. Plus hear what’s in the pipeline: a freshwater sponge, fascin inhibitor, and a therapeutic acne vaccine. Dr. Baldwin’s always in the know about acne, so watch and make sure your acne treatment is up to date.
Further Reading
If you want to read more about acne, check out the following articles published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology:
Efficacy and Safety of Clascoterone Cream 1% for Acne Are Independent of Age and Sex
ABSTRACT
Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory skin condition affecting adolescents and adults of both sexes. Clascoterone cream 1% is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients ≥12 years of age based on the results of two Phase 3 trials (NCT02608450 and NCT02608476). This post hoc analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of clascoterone cream 1% in patient subgroups defined by age (adolescent vs adult) and sex (male vs female). Patients ≥12 years of age with mild-to-moderate acne applied clascoterone cream 1% or vehicle twice daily for 12 weeks. Efficacy was assessed from Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) treatment success and inflammatory, noninflammatory, and total lesion counts, and safety from frequency and severity of adverse events. Treatment with clascoterone cream 1% vs vehicle resulted in significantly greater IGA treatment success rates for all subgroups: at week 12, 47/287 (16.4%) vs 12/306 (3.9%) adolescent, 77/330 (23.3%) vs 29/309 (9.4%) adult, 32/226 (14.2%) vs 13/252 (5.2%) male, and 92/391 (23.5%) vs 28/363 (7.7%) female patients achieved IGA treatment success. Patients treated with clascoterone cream 1% vs vehicle in all subgroups also experienced significantly greater lesion count reductions. From baseline to week 12, clascoterone cream 1% treatment resulted in significantly larger reductions in lesion counts in adult vs adolescent patients; there were no statistically significant differences between male and female patients. Adverse events were similar across subgroups. These results further support the efficacy and tolerability of clascoterone cream 1% across the spectrum of patients ≥12 years of age with acne vulgaris.
ABSTRACT
Background: Acne pathophysiology and presentation may differ between pediatric/adolescent/young adult (9-24 years) and adult (≥25 years) patients. Fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1% (CAB) gel demonstrated superior efficacy to vehicle and component dyads with good safety/tolerability in 3 clinical trials of acne. This post hoc analysis evaluated the efficacy/safety of CAB in pediatric/adolescent/young adult (“younger”) vs adult participants.
Methods: In one phase 2 (NCT03170388) and two phase 3 (NCT04214652, NCT04214639) trials, participants aged greater than or equal to 9 years with moderate-to-severe acne were randomized to once-daily CAB or vehicle gel. Pooled data were analyzed for participants grouped by age: younger (9-24 years; n=515) and adult (greater than or equal to 25 years; n=142). Endpoints included the percentage of participants achieving treatment success (greater than or equal to 2-grade reduction from baseline in Evaluator’s Global Severity Score and clear/almost clear skin) and least squares mean percent change from baseline in inflammatory/noninflammatory lesions at week 12. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were evaluated throughout.
Results: At week 12, approximately half of CAB-treated participants in both age groups achieved treatment success (9-24: 50.6%; greater than or equal to 25: 49.0%) vs less than one-fourth with vehicle (15.7%; 20.6%; P<0.01, both). Across groups, CAB yielded >70% reductions in inflammatory/noninflammatory lesions vs 45% to 62% with vehicle (P≤0.001, all). For all endpoints, CAB efficacy was similar across age groups. Most TEAEs with CAB were of mild-to-moderate severity, and there were no age-related trends in safety/tolerability.
Conclusions: Fixed-dose, triple-combination CAB gel was efficacious and well tolerated in participants with moderate-to-severe acne, regardless of age. Approximately half of the participants achieved clear/almost clear skin, with >70% reductions in lesion counts.
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