Pimecrolimus - long-term management of inflammatory skin diseases

Novartis Pharmaceuticals' pimecrolimus [ASM 981, SDZ ASM 981], an investigational agent for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, recently generated considerable interest at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology [Washington, DC, US; March 2001]. Inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, are highly prevalent, chronic diseases that frequently impair patients' quality of life (QOL). The mainstay of therapy is topical corticosteroids, which are of limited long-term clinical use because of associated adverse effects. Novartis-sponsored studies presented at the meeting evaluating pimecrolimus for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and chronic hand dermatitis showed a positive treatment effect.