TAZAROTENE GEL, A NEW RETINOID, FOR TOPICAL THERAPY OF PSORIASIS - VEHICLE-CONTROLLED STUDY OF SAFETY, EFFICACY, AND DURATION OF THERAPEUTIC EFFECT

Background: Topical therapy providing initial improvement and maintena nce of effect after treatment of the large majority of patients with L imited, mild to moderate psoriasis is not presently available. Previou s topical retinoids have generally been either ineffective or too irri tating for therapy of psoriasis.Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate a new topical retinoid, tazarotene, in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis during treatment and posttreatment periods. Methods: In a d ouble-blind manner, 324 patients were randomly selected to receive taz arotene 0.1% or 0.05% gel, or vehicle control, once daily for 12 weeks and were then followed up for 12 weeks after treatment. Results: Of t he total, 318 patients could be evaluated. Tazarotene gels were superi or Gn < 0.05) to vehicle, often as early as treatment week 1, in all e fficacy measures: plaque elevation, scaling, and erythema; treatment r esponse; percentage treatment success (patients with greater than or e qual to 50% improvement); and time to initial success. Efficacy was eq uivalent on target lesion sites (trunk or limbs and knees or elbows) a nd overall. A sustained therapeutic effect was observed for 12 weeks a fter treatment. Tazarotene gel was cosmetically acceptable. There was low systemic absorption, limiting toxicity to local irritation. Conclu sion: Once-daily tazarotene was effective and safe as a topical monoth erapy for plaque psoriasis, providing rapid reduction of signs and sym ptoms.