FDA OKs Stiefel's Veltin for treatment of acne

Durham, N.C. - Stiefel, based here, has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for Veltin gel for topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients at least 12 years old, the online Pharmaceutical Business Review reports.

Veltin is a water-based gel that combines tretinoin and clindamycin phosphate. Stiefel officials say clinical trials showed Veltin to be more effective than tretinoin gel, clindamycin gel and vehicle gel at reducing the total number of acne lesions; more effective than tretinoin gel and vehicle gel at reducing the number of inflammatory acne lesions; and more effective than clindamycin gel and vehicle gel at reducing the number of noninflammatory acne lesions at 12 weeks.

Stiefel expects to make the topical gel available by prescription later this year.