Written for dermatologists by dermatologists. Indexed by the US National Library of Medicine.

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Drug Treatments for Skin Disease Introduced in 2002

Drug Class	Generic/Trade/ Company Names	Indication	Approving Regulatory Agency
Anti-acne	Benzoyl Peroxide, Clindamycin Topical Gel DUAC® Stiefel Laboratories	For the treatment of acne vulgaris. This product is already available in Canada as Clindoxyl® Gel.	US FDA
		For the treatment of acne vulgaris.	UK Medicines
	Clindamycin, Zinc Zindaclin™ Gel Access Pharmaceuticals		Control Agency
	Isotretinoin Accutane® Hoffman-LaRoche	Approval of updated labeling warning of the risk of musculoskeletal adverse effects. The new warning states that the link to Accutane® has not been established, but that care should be taken and the drug should be used no longer than the recommended duration of therapy.	US FDA
	Tazarotene 0.1% Cream Tazorac® Allergan	Approved for two additional indications: for the treatment of acne vulgaris and photodamaged skin.	TPP – Canada
Antibacterial Agents	Tretinoin Gel Microsphere Retin-A® Micro 0.04% Ortho Neutrogena	A lower dose formulation using A.P. Pharma’s Microsponge® technology for the treatment of acne.	US FDA
Anticonvulsant Agent	Linezolid Injection, Tablets & Oral Suspension Zyvox Pharmacia	Additional indication approved for the treatment of Gram-positive infections in infants and children, which include complicated skin and skin structure infections and nosocomial pneumonia.	US FDA
Antifungal Agents	Gabapentin Neurontin® Pfizer	For the management of post-herpectic neuralgia, or pain in the area affected by herpes zoster after the disease has been treated. This product is also indicated as an addon treatment for partial epileptic seizures.	US FDA
	Docosanol 10% Cream Avanir Pharmaceuticals/ GlaxoSmithKline	Approved as an OTC topical treatment for cold sores.	Korea Food and Drug Administration
	Ketoconazole 2% Cream Ketoderm® OptimaPharma	For the treatment of fungal infections of the skin. It is a prescription product that is bioequivalent to Nizoral® Cream (McNeil Consumer Products).	TPP - Canada
	Voriconazole, IV & Oral Vfend® Pfizer	For treatment in immunocompromised patients with xinclude acute invasive aspergillosis; fluconazoleresistant invasive Candida; and serious fungal infections caused by Scedosporium spp. and Fusarium spp.	CPMP/EMEA (Europe)
Antihistamines	Cetirizine HCl Zyrtec® Pfizer	Approved for pediatric use to treat year round allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria in infants > 6months of age.	US FDA
	Desloratadine Syrup & Disintegrating Tablets Schering-Plough	For the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria in patients >2 years of age (syrup) and >12 years of age (disintegrating tablets).	CPMP/EMEA (Europe)
	Desloratadine 5mg. Tablets Clarinex® Schering-Plough	Approved for additional indications to treat chronic idiopathic urticaria and symptoms of allergies caused by indoor and outdoor allergens in adults and children > 12 years of age.	US FDA
	Loratadine Claritin® Schering-Plough	Approved as an OTC treatment for chronic idiopathic urticaria, or chronic hives of unknown cause.	US FDA
	Loratadine 10mg. Tablets Claritin® Schering-Plough KK	For the treatment of allergic rhinitis, chronic idiopathic urticaria and itching associated with skin diseases in adults and children 15 years and older.	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare – Japan
Antipsoriatic Agents	Clobetasol Propionate Foam Olux® Connetics	Expanded label approved to include the short-term topical treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque-type psoriasis of non-scalp regions excluding the face and intertriginous areas.	US FDA
	Etanercept Enbrel® Wyeth	For the treatment of active and progressive psoriatic arthritis in adults.	CPMP/EMEA (Europe) US FDA
Antiviral Agents	Naturally Derived Alpha Interferon Viragen	For the additional indication of treating patients afflicted with any and all diseases in which patients were, or became resistant to treatments using recombinant (synthetic) interferon.	Swedish Medical Products Agency
	Salicylic Acid 15% Trans-Ver-Sal® Wart Removal Patch Bradley Pharmaceuticals	For the treatment and removal of warts.	Swedish Medical Products Agency
	Valacyclovir HCl Valtrex® GlaxoSmithKline	For the additional indication of treating cold sores in healthy adults at a dosage of 2gm po, twice daily, for 1 day.	US FDA
Atopic Dermatitis	Pimecrolimus Elidel® Novartis	For the treatment of Atopic dermatitis in patients from as young as 3 months of age through to adulthood.	CPMP/EMEA (Europe) US FDA
Depigmenting Agents	Hydroquinone, Tretinoin & Flucinolone Acetonide Cream Tri-Luma® Galderma Laboratories	For the short-term treatment of moderate-to-severe melasma of the face in the presence of sun-avoidance measures, including sunscreen use.	US FDA
HIV/AIDS	Efavirenz Sustiva® Bristol-Myers Squibb	A new one-tablet 600mg. formulation to be used in combination treatment for HIV. Provides the option of prescribing one 600mg. tablet once daily instead of three 200mg. capsules once daily.	US FDA
	Rubitacan Orathesin™ SuperGen	This product received orphan-drug designation for the treatment of pediatric patients infected with HIV and AIDS.	US FDA
	Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumerate Viread® Gilead Sciences	For use in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection in patients who are experiencing early virological failure.	CPMP/EMEA (Europe)
Immune Response Modifier	Imiquimod 5% Cream Aldara® 3M Pharmaceuticals	For the additional indication of treating external genital and perianal warts and conylomata acuminate in adolescents >12 years of age. A new dosage was also approved: application of a thin layer to warts at h.s. three times weekly for a maximum of 16 weeks.	US FDA
Immunomodulatory Agents	Cyclosporine capsules 25mg, 100mg Apotex Corp.	This generic immunosuppressant is the equivalent of Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ Sandimmune®.	US FDA
Oncologic Agents	HSPPC-96 Oncophage® Antigenics	This cancer vaccine was granted fast-track designation for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.	US FDA
Oral Contraceptive	Estradiol/Levonorgestrel Alesse® Wyeth-Ayerst Canada	For the treatment of moderate acne in women.	TPP – Canada
Photoaging	Tazarotene Cream 0.1% AVAGE™ Allergan	Approved as an adjunctive agent in the topical treatment of fine facial wrinkling, mottled hypo and hyperpidmentation, and benign facial lentigines in patients using a comprehensive skincare and sunlight avoidance program.	US FDA
Photodynamic Therapy	Metvix® Photodynamic Therapy Photocure ASA	For the treatment of actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma in patients for whom traditional therapies are unsuitable.	New Zealand’s Regulatory Authority
Wound Care	Sodium Hyaluronate LAM IPM Wound Gel® LAM Pharmaceutical	For the treatment of refractory leg and foot ulcers.	US FDA