title: Use of a psoriasis plaque test in the development of a gel formulation of calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate for scalp psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy and safety of calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate ointment in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris has consistently been demonstrated in several clinical trials. For treatment of scalp psoriasis, more convenient formulations are required. Therefore, new lipophilic alcohol-free gel formulations containing calcipotriol (50 µg/g) and betamethasone (0.5 mg/g; as dipropionate) (two-compound gels) for treatment of scalp psoriasis were developed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the optimal gel formulation by evaluating the antipsoriatic effect in a psoriasis plaque test model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The use of a psoriasis plaque test enables investigation of the antipsoriatic effect of several formulations and compounds in a limited number of patients, and is a useful method for predicting treatment efficacy in psoriasis vulgaris. Five different gel vehicles were investigated in two plaque test studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The optimised two-compound gels showed superior antipsoriatic effect over marketed betamethasone dipropionate solution. The results suggest that use of the psoriasis plaque test early in the development process can improve the development of topical formulations for dermatological use and can be a beneficial tool for selecting the most promising formulations for further clinical studies in psoriasis vulgaris.
authors: Centre de Pharmacologie Clinique Appliquée à la Dermatologie (CPCAD), Hôpital de l'Archet, Nice, France.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Queille-Roussel
authors: Vibeke
authors: V
authors: Hoffmann
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Enevold
authors: Cecilia
authors: C
authors: Ganslandt
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012535:Scalp; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005782:Gels; D009824:Ointments; C055085:calcipotriene; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol