WEDNESDAY, July 5, 2023 -- Microencapsulated benzoyl peroxide (BPO)/encapsulated tretinoin (E-BPO/T) cream is efficacious for moderate-to-severe acne, according to a study published online May 25 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

James Del Rosso, D.O., from JDR Dermatology Research in Las Vegas, and colleagues examined the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of E-BPO/T cream 3.0 or 0.1 percent in two multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials. Participants aged 9 years or older with moderate-to-severe acne were enrolled and randomly assigned to 12 weeks of E-BPO/T or vehicle cream (571 and 287 participants, respectively).

The researchers found that in both studies, E-BPO/T was significantly superior to vehicle, with Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) success achieved by more subjects receiving E-BPO/T (38.5/25.4 percent) than vehicle (11.5/14.7 percent). In studies one and two, the change from baseline in inflammatory lesion count for E-BPO/T versus vehicle was −21.6 versus −14.8 and −16.2 versus −14.1, respectively. In studies one and two, the changes from baseline in noninflammatory lesions were −29.7 versus −19.8 and −24.2 versus −17.4 for E-BPO/T versus placebo. In both studies, E-BPO/T was well tolerated.

"Both identically designed phase 3 clinical trials demonstrated the safety and efficacy of E-BPO/T in treating acne vulgaris," the authors write. "These results will allow clinicians to administer two efficacious compounds as a single, once-daily product with a favorable tolerability profile."

Two authors disclosed employment with Sol-Gel Technologies, which provided study funding.