WEDNESDAY, May 24, 2023 -- Tirbanibulin is effective for treatment of actinic keratosis (AK), according to a study published in the May issue of SKIN.

Todd Schlesinger, M.D., from the Clinical Research Center of the Carolinas in Charleston, South Carolina, and colleagues examined patient- and clinician-reported outcomes among 290 adults with AK on the face or scalp who were prescribed tirbanibulin in real-world clinical practice.

The researchers found that at week 8, Skindex-16 quality-of-life scores improved in all domains (mean change from baseline, −14.3, −24.9, and −9.8 in symptoms, emotions, and functioning domains, respectively). High overall satisfaction with tirbanibulin was reported by clinicians and patients (mean scores, 78.8 and 74.5, respectively). From baseline to week 8, there was improvement in overall skin appearance (91.0 and 84.1 percent reported by clinicians and patients, respectively). Tirbanibulin had shorter skin reaction duration, milder skin reaction severity, and better daily activities impact compared with previous treatments and was easier to use. Overall, 73.8 percent of the patients achieved Investigator's Global Assessment success (0 to 1). From baseline to week 8, there was a reduction observed in skin photodamage severity (77.4 to 39.6 percent).

"In real-world routine community practice, tirbanibulin treatment demonstrated effectiveness, as evidenced in Phase III clinical trials, highlighting the clinical and humanistic benefits associated with this novel therapeutic option for optimal management of AKs," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Almirall, which manufactures tirbanibulin and funded the study.