title: Early onset of action and efficacy of a combination of calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate in the treatment of psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate are topical treatments for psoriasis vulgaris. Their mode of action is different. Improved risk/benefit may result with concomitant use of the two compounds together. A new vehicle has been created with the objective of obtaining optimal stability of both calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate in the combination product.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We compared the clinical efficacy of a fixed combination of calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate in a new vehicle to calcipotriene in the new vehicle, betamethasone in the new vehicle, and the new vehicle alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an international, multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, 4-week study in patients with psoriasis vulgaris amenable to topical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean percentage reduction in PASI from baseline to end of treatment was 73.2% in the combination group (n = 301), 48.8% in the calcipotriene group (n = 308), 63.1% in the betamethasone dipropionate group (n = 312) and 28.8% in the new vehicle group (n = 107), (P < .001). The mean percentage reduction in PASI during the first week was 48.1%, 28.4%, 41.4%, and 21.5%, respectively (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination product of calcipotriene 50 microg/g and betamethasone dipropionate 0.5 mg/g in the new vehicle shows superior efficacy with a more rapid onset of action than the new vehicle containing either constituent alone in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.
authors.affiliation: Probity Medical Research, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. kapapp@probitymedical.com
authors.forename: Kim A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guenther
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boyden
authors.forename: Frederik Grønhøj
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Rauno J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Harvima
authors.forename: Jean Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Guilhou
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Peter C M
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
authors.forename: Leif I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Hanssen
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tegner
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burg
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; C055085:calcipotriene; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol