Tazarotene 0.045% Lotion for Once-Daily Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Acne Vulgaris: Results from Two Phase 3 Trials

January 2020 | Volume 19 | Issue 1 | Original Article | 70 | Copyright © January 2020


Published online December 13, 2019

doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.3977THIS ARTICLE HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO ACCESS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS ARTICLE WITHOUT LOGGING IN. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PLEASE CONTACT THE PUBLISHER WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

Emil A. Tanghetti MDa, William P. Werschler MDb Terry Lain MD,c Eric Guenin PharmD PhD MPH,d Gina Martin MOT,E Radhakrishnan Pillai PhDe

aCenter for Dermatology and Laser Surgery, Sacramento, CA bUniversity of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA cUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX dOrtho Dermatologics, Bridgewater, NJ eBausch Health Americas, Inc., Petaluma, CA

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tazarotene has been extensively studied in clinical trials and is widely used to treat acne vulgaris (acne), with data suggesting that is one of the most potent topical retinoids. Irritation from the cream, foam, and gel formulations has limited its use in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a unique tazarotene 0.045% lotion formulation based on polymeric emulsion technology in subjects with moderate or severe acne. Methods: A total of 1614 subjects, 9 years and older were randomized to receive tazarotene 0.045% lotion or vehicle in two identical double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled 12-week studies evaluating safety and efficacy (inflammatory [papules and pustules] and noninflammatory [comedonal] lesion counts and using Evaluator Global Severity Scores [EGSS]). Treatment success was defined as at least a 2-grade improvement in EGSS and ‘clear’/’almost clear’ and efficacy assessed through reduction in lesion counts. In addition, patients completed a validated Acne-Specific Quality of Life (Acne-QoL) questionnaire. Safety, adverse events (AEs), and cutaneous tolerability were assessed throughout.

RESULTS: Tazarotene 0.045% lotion demonstrated statistically significant superiority to vehicle in reducing inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts at week 12. Mean percent reductions in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions were 55.5% and 51.4% (Study 1, both P<0.001 versus vehicle [45.7% and 41.5%, respectively]) and 59.5% and 60.0% (Study 2, both P<0.001 versus vehicle [49.0% and 41.6%, respectively]), with tazarotene 0.045% lotion at week 12. Treatment success was achieved by 25.5% (Study 1) and 29.6% (Study 2) of subjects treated with tazarotene 0.045% lotion (both P<0.001 versus vehicle [13.0% and 17.3%, respectively]). Improvements in QoL domain scores were consistently greater with tazarotene. Tazarotene 0.045% lotion was well-tolerated. The most common treatment-related AEs were application site pain (5.3%), dryness (3.6%), and exfoliation (2.1%).

CONCLUSION: Tazarotene 0.045% lotion provides statistically significant greater efficacy than vehicle in terms of lesion reduction and treatment success, with a highly favorable safety and tolerability profile in moderate-to-severe acne patients.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(1):70-77. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.3977

THIS ARTICLE HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO ACCESS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS ARTICLE WITHOUT LOGGING IN. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PLEASE CONTACT THE PUBLISHER WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

INTRODUCTION

Topical tazarotene 0.1% gel, foam and cream have been shown to be highly effective for the treatment of acne vulgaris (acne), both as monotherapy and in combination with other agents. Several studies have shown tazarotene to markedly reduce both comedonal and inflammatory facial acne lesions.1-13

All topical retinoids can produce irritant contact dermatitis during the first few weeks of application; with many patients experiencing erythema, scaling, dryness, burning, and pruritus that can vary in severity, that appear to be compound, quantity applied and vehicle dependent, and can be sufficiently symptomatic to reduce adherence with treatment.14 Although tazarotene is an effective topical retinoid to treat acne, as true with all retinoids, skin irritation can limit its usefulness.14 A new approach utilizing polymeric emulsion technology has been applied to the development of dermatological products. Upon topical application, the polymeric emulsion helps a uniform release of humectants, moisturizing/hydrating ingredients, and uniform distribution of micronized oil droplets containing active ingredient which helps control the delivery
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