REVIEW   Free access

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2020 April;155(2):212-9

DOI: 10.23736/S0392-0488.20.06492-5

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate aerosol foam in the treatment of psoriasis: new perspectives for the use of an innovative topical treatment from real-life experience

Gabriella FABBROCINI ¹ ✉, Esteban DAUDEN ², Ahmad JALILI ³, Anthony BEWLEY ⁴

¹ Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy; ² Department of Dermatology, de la Princesa University Hospital, Madrid, Spain; ³ Dermatology and Skin Care, Bürgenstock Medical Center, Lucerne, Switzerland; ⁴ Barts Health NHS Trust, Department of Dermatology, Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leytonstone, UK

The fixed-dose combination of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD foam) in aerosol foam formulation is approved for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, and showed prompt onset of action, persistent efficacy and safety both in clinical trials and in real-life studies. The use of Cal/BD foam and its future perspectives of use were discussed during the symposium “Go beyond with topical treatment in psoriasis”, held at the 2019 World Congress of Dermatology. We herein present the key topics of the symposium, namely the importance of Cal/BD foam in overcoming poor adherence, the possibility of a proactive (long-term) management of psoriasis and its potential role beyond mild psoriasis. Furthermore, proper adherence to treatment is crucial to achieve optimal clinical outcomes. In clinical trials and real-life experiences, Cal/BD foam has proven to have a fast onset of action and a good benefit/risk ratio due to increased efficacy and similar safety profile compared with other Cal/BD formulations. Given its chronic nature, psoriasis requires a long-term management, also due to the presence of underlying ‘silent’ inflammation that persists beyond resolution of flares. Cal/BD foam appears a favorable treatment for long-term management, and a specific trial is ongoing to investigate this new proactive approach. Lastly, evidence both from clinical studies and real-life experiences supports the use of Cal/BD foam in patients with moderate-to-severe disease, and this approach also showed greater effectiveness over some non-biologic systemic treatments. Therefore, Cal/BD foam may be considered as the new gold standard in topical therapy for patients with plaque psoriasis.

KEY WORDS: Betamethasone dipropionate, calcipotriol drug combination; Aerosols; Psoriasis