Galderma Sponsors Study to Prove Metros are Better Than Noritate

February 17, 2002

Hi,

I found this article in the online version Feb. 2002's issue of Skin

& Allergy News. It's interesting to see that Galderma has now said

that once daily application of the Metros is more effective than once

daily application of Noritate. Since they funded the study, I don't

know how much weight I'd give to the conclusion.

Take care,

Matija

Better compliance

Once-Daily Metronidazole Clears Moderate cea

Norra MacReady

Los Angeles Bureau

Moderate to severe rosacea responds well to once-daily applications

of 0.75% metronidazole cream, reports Dr. Mark V. Dahl, of the Mayo

Medical School in sdale, Ariz., and his associates. The 0.75%

preparation proved as effective as once-daily applications of 1%

metronidazole cream.

The products were compared in 72 patients during a 12-week,

multicenter, randomized, investigator-blind trial. The patients all

had moderate to severe acne rosacea, with 8-50 inflammatory lesions

each and similar levels of erythema. Each preparation was used by 36

patients. A double-blind design wasn't employed because the products

came in two different tubes.

Inflammatory lesion count declined by 62% among patients using the

0.75% cream, compared with a decline of 60% among patients who

applied the 1% cream. Erythema was reduced 26% and 30%, respectively.

The investigators' assessments of improvements in dryness and global

severity were similar between the two groups (J. Am. Acad. Dermatol.

45[5]:723-30, 2001). Galderma Laboratories of Fort Worth, Tex., maker

of the 0.75% cream, funded the study.

Although metronidazole concentration differed by weight, each product

suspended the drug in a different vehicle, so the two preparations

may actually have had similar amounts available for absorption into

the skin, according to the investigators.

Also, metronidazole has several active metabolites that prolong its

activity. While no problems have been reported with a twice-a-day

schedule, " the simplest dosing regimen should promote the best

patient compliance, " the investigators reported.

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