Azelaic Acid 15% Gel: In the Treatment of Papulopustular Rosacea

Authors: Frampton J.E.; Wagstaff A.J.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, Volume 5, Number 1, 2004 , pp. 57-64(8)

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Abstract:

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring, straight-chain dicarboxylic acid which is effective in the treatment of rosacea, presumably on account of its anti-inflammatory properties. utrif

In randomized, double-blind, multicenter studies involving patients with moderate papulopustular facial rosacea, twice-daily topical application of azelaic acid 15% gel to the face was significantly more effective than twice-daily administration of either its vehicle (two studies) or metronidazole 0.75% gel (one study) in reducing inflammatory lesion counts and erythema severity. However, neither active treatment had a clinically discernable effect on telangiectasia. utrif

In all three studies, azelaic acid 15% gel recipients experienced continuous decreases in lesion counts and erythema throughout the 12- to 15-week treatment periods. However, the effects of metronidazole 0.75% gel plateauxed after 8 weeks. utrif

In other efficacy assessments in these studies, azelaic acid 15% gel was superior to its vehicle and metronidazole 0.75% gel in both the investigators' global assessment of rosacea and the investigators' end-of-study evaluation of overall improvement, and superior to its vehicle in the patients' end-of-study evaluation of overall improvement. utrif

The most frequent treatment-related cutaneous adverse events during administration of azelaic acid 15% gel include burning/stinging/tingling and pruritus (itching); however, these events are predominantly transient in nature and mild-to-moderate in intensity.

Keywords: Adis Drug Profiles; Azelaic acid, therapeutic use; Antiacnes, therapeutic use; Rosacea, treatment

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Adis International Inc., Yardley, Pennsylvania, USA

Publication date: 2004-01-01