Epiduo Forte shows reduced acne lesions, risk of scarring in trial data

16-year old male subject

Epiduo Forte

Results from a phase four trial demonstrated that Epiduo Forte Gel (adapalene 0.3%, benzoyl peroxide 2.5%, Galderma) decreased active acne lesions and thus may reduce the risk of acne scarring, according to a news release.

The OSCAR trial is a multicenter, randomized, investigator-blinded, vehicle-controlled, intra-individual study aimed at studying the efficacy of Epiduo Forte in the treatment of moderate-to-severe acne. Over 24 weeks versus vehicle (p<0.0001), there was demonstrated acne lesion reduction as soon as the first week. After 24 weeks, a larger percentage of patients treated with gel had Investigator’s Global Assessment of clear or almost (64.2 percent vs. 19.4 percent vehicle, p<0.0001).

The efficacy in acne lesion treatment over a short time frame means a reduced risk of atrophic acne scarring, according to the company. The overall Scar Global Assessment improved by week 24 in portions of patients’ faces that were treated with the gel (32.9 percent clear/almost clear vs. 16.4 percent vehicle, p<0.01.

Further, the company reporte that in a patient satisfaction survey more than 90 percent of patients treated with Epiduo Forte compared to 59 percent treated with vehicle were satisfied to very satisfied.

“While significant advances have been made in treating acne, there is an unmet need to understand how we can best reduce the risk of acne scarring,” Jerry Tan, M.D., said in the news release. He is a paid Galderma consultant, principal investigator of the OSCAR trial and a fellowship certified specialist in dermatology, University of Western Ontario. “Results from the OSCAR study show that treating acne lesions early and effectively with Epiduo Forte Gel can reduce the risk of atrophic acne scars.”

Results of the study were published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.