Tacrolimus a tangible treatment option for psoriasis

Tacrolimus cream is an effective treatment option for patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, according to phase II data presented at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) [Washington, District of Columbia, US; February 2007]. The randomised, double-blind study showed that twice-daily applications of tacrolimus cream 0.1% and 0.5% were associated with significantly higher treatment success rates, compared with cream vehicle alone; the proportions of patients achieving a Physician's Static Global Assessment (PSGA) rating of clear or almost clear after 8 weeks of therapy were 31% and 34% in the tacrolimus cream 0.1% and 0.5% groups, respectively, compared with 12% in the group receiving vehicle alone. An interim analysis of a phase IV, multinational, observational cohort study evaluating the tolerability of tacrolimus ointment [Protopic] 0.1% and 0.03% in paediatric patients with atopic dermatitis was also presented at the meeting; investigators involved in the study concluded that "the data to date confirm the established safety profile of tacrolimus ointment", with no serious treatment-related adverse events reported so far.