Adapalene gel, 0.1%, as maintenance therapy for acne vulgaris: a randomized, controlled, investigator-blind follow-up of a recent combination study.

OBJECTIVE To assess the maintenance effect of adapalene gel, 0.1%, relative to gel vehicle in subjects successfully treated in a previous 12-week study of adapalene-doxycycline, 100 mg, combination therapy. DESIGN Multicenter, investigator-blind, randomized, controlled study. SETTING Thirty-four US centers. SUBJECTS A total of 253 subjects with severe acne vulgaris who showed at least moderate improvement from baseline (50% improvement from baseline) when treated with either adapalene plus doxycycline or doxycycline plus gel vehicle in a previous 12-week study. INTERVENTIONS Subjects were randomized to receive adapalene gel, 0.1%, or gel vehicle once daily for 16 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Efficacy and safety criteria included maintenance rate (subjects maintaining at least 50% improvement in lesion counts from previous therapy), lesion counts (total, inflammatory, and noninflammatory), global severity assessment, cutaneous tolerability, and adverse events. RESULTS Adapalene maintenance therapy resulted in significantly larger maintenance rates (75% vs 54%; P<.001) and significantly lower lesion counts (total [P = .005], inflammatory [P = .01], and noninflammatory [P = .02]) compared with gel vehicle. Adapalene was safe and well tolerated in this study. Conclusion This study demonstrates a clinical benefit of continued treatment with adapalene gel, 0.1%, as a maintenance therapy for acne.