title: A pilot study of the safety and efficacy of picolinic acid gel in the treatment of acne vulgaris.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cost limitations, adverse effects or lack of efficacy limit the use of current topical therapies in mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the safety and efficacy of picolinic acid, a novel zinc finger therapy, in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty subjects with mild to moderate acne vulgaris were treated at our centre during an open-label study with 10% picolinic acid gel (PCL-016) twice daily to the face over 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients completed the 12-week open-label study. A reduction of 58.2% (P < 0.001) in mean total lesion count, 55.5% (P < 0.001) in mean inflammatory lesion count and 59.7% (P < 0.005) in noninflammatory lesion count was seen in this population. No serious adverse events or clinically significant changes in laboratory values were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this study suggest that 10% picolinic acid gel applied twice daily may be safe and effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. michael.heffernan@wright.edu
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Anadkat
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005782:Gels; D010848:Picolinic Acids; C030614:picolinic acid