Acne-QoL domains were summarized using descriptive statistics with no imputation of missing values. Cutaneous safety and tolerability assessments were summarized using descriptive statistics. AEs were recorded and classified using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) terminology. Imputations were not made for missing safety data.
RESULTS
A total of 1614 patients were randomized in the two phase 3 studies. Of those, 684 were pediatric patients aged 10-17 years and were included in this pooled analysis (ITT population: 10-13 years, n=136; 14-17 years, n=548). Among these patients, more than 90% completed the study (Figures 1A and 1B). The most common reasons for study discontinuation were lost to follow up, patient request, and adverse events. The pediatric safety population comprised 676 patients; 8 patients were excluded due to absence of post-baseline safety evaluations.
Baseline patient demographics and disease characteristics are presented in Table 1. The majority of patients in the 10-13-year age group were female (64.0%) and in the 14-17-year age group, most patients were male (57.5%). More than 85% of patients in both age groups had moderate disease (EGSS 3), though the older age group had slightly worse disease severity given the higher mean number of inflammatory lesions and greater percentage of patients with severe disease (Table 1).
Efficacy
At week 12, among patients 10-13 years of age, more patients in the tazarotene 0.045% lotion arm achieved treatment success versus vehicle (22.9% vs 7.1%; P<0.05). Similarly, in patients aged 14-17 years, more patients treated with tazarotene 0.045% lotion achieved treatment success versus vehicle (24.4% vs 11.3%; P<0.001; Figure 2). At weeks 4 and 8, while more patients in the tazarotene 0.045% lotion arm achieved treatment success versus vehicle, there were no significant differences between tazarotene 0.045% and vehicle for any age group (data not shown).
Tazarotene 0.045% lotion also provided significant reductions in inflammatory lesion counts versus vehicle in both pre-adolescent and adolescent patients. Specifically, at week 12, there