Tazarotene vs. Tretinoin

OB/GYN News, June 15, 2001 by Sally Koch Kubetin

Tazarotene gel was more successful than tretinoin gel in clearing acne vulgaris in a head-to-head comparison, Dr. James J. Leyden reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

In a multicenter, double-blind study 169 patients were randomized to treatment with one of two regimens for 12 weeks, applying either tazarotene 0.1% gel (Tazorac) or tretinoin 0.1% microsponge gel (Retina-A Micro) once each evening. Patients were evaluated every 4 weeks.

At the conclusion of the study there was a significantly higher incidence of treatment success, defined as at least a 50% global improvement, in the tazarotene group (67% vs. 49%).

Tazarotene use reduced the median number of comedones by 60% vs. 38% in the tretinoin group, and papules plus pustules by 36% vs. 46% among the tretinoin users, said Dr. Leyden of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Irritation was reported by 13% and 4% of patients using tazarotene and tretinoin, respectively. Burning was reported by 11% and 9%, erythema by 11% and 6%, and dryness by 7% and 6%. The rates of adverse effects were similar between the two groups.

Tazarotene is the first of a new group of synthetic retinoids that selectively binds to retinoic acid receptors in the skin.

The study was supported by Allergan Skin Care Inc., which markets Tazorac.