Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate formulations for psoriasis: an overview of the options and efficacy data

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Psoriasis is a very common chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting up to 3% of the general population with 75% of the psoriasis subjects being affected by a mild form of disease. Hence, topical therapy is the most frequent employed treatment in psoriasis also because it can be easily combined with systemic therapy. In this context, calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD) fixed-dose association represents the first-line treatment due to its efficacy and once-daily application. Different Cal/BD formulations, such as ointment, gel (topical suspension), and aerosol foam, are approved by US Food and Drug Administration.

Areas covered

For this review, relevant English literature (trials, real-life studies, case series, and reviews) regarding Cal/BD different formulations efficacy in psoriasis was searched for through to 28 January 2020. The following database were consulted: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, EBSCO, and clinicaltrials.gov.

Expert opinion

Cal/BD formulations are efficacious treatment for psoriasis. Cal/BD aerosol foam shows a higher efficacy compared to Cal/BD ointment or gel formulations, appearing as a game-changer in psoriasis therapy not only for mild disease but also for moderate psoriasis as well as in selected severe cases in combination with systemic treatments.

KEYWORDS:

• Aerosol foam
• calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate
• efficacy
• gel
• psoriasis
• ointment
• treatment

Article highlights

• Topical therapy is the most commonly employed treatment in psoriasis.

• Fixed-dose combination of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD) represents the first-line choice in topical psoriasis treatment.

• Approved fixed-dose Cal/BD formulations are represented by ointment, gel (topical suspension), and aerosol foam.

• Cal/BD formulations have been shown to be superior to their single constituents alone.

• Cal/BD aerosol foam efficacy is higher with respect to Cal/BD ointment or gel.

• Cal/BD aerosol foam is a game-changer in mild to moderate psoriasis treatment.

Declaration of interest

M Megna acted as speaker or consultant for Novartis, Eli Lilly, and Abbvie. G Fabbrocini acted as speaker or consultant for Janssen, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Abbvie. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

One peer reviewer is a speaker and advisor for Pfizer, Abbvie, Lilly, Novartis, Ortho-Dermatologics, Sun Pharma and Leo Pharma. One peer reviewer is involved in clinical trials with Leo Pharma. One peer reviewer has been PI/SI and/or speaker and/or advisor for Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Leo Pharma, Pfizer, MSD, Abbvie, Biogen Amgen, Sandoz. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.