title: Significant one week efficacy of a calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate scalp formulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A two-compound scalp formulation containing calcipotriol (50 μg/g) and betamethasone (0.5mg/g; as dipropionate) (Xamiol, Taclonex Scalp) has been shown to be an effective and safe treatment for scalp psoriasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of the two-compound scalp formulation after 1 week of treatment. methods: Pooled data from two large pivotal phase III trials with 2920 patients receiving once-daily treatment for up to 8 weeks with either the two-compound scalp formulation (n = 1108), betamethasone dipropionate (n = 1118), calcipotriol (n = 558), or the vehicle (n = 136) were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of patients who had 'absent' or 'very mild' disease according to Investigator's Global Assessment after 1 week of treatment was significantly higher with the two-compound scalp formulation (30.6%) compared to betamethasone (24.1%; P < 0.001), calcipotriol (10.0%; P < 0.001) or vehicle (6.9%; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This data indicates that the two-compound scalp formulation demonstrated significant efficacy already after 1 week, with a faster onset of effect than either of the individual components in the same vehicle, in the treatment of scalp psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: G B E
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Jemec
authors.forename: P C M
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enevold
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ganslandt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C055085:calcipotriene; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol