FDA warning on Nizoral tablets, alopecia study top dermatology reads for week

The FDA’s warning to health care professionals to avoid prescribing Nizoral oral tablets to treat skin and nail fungal infections, as it includes a risk for serious health problems, was among the most-read articles of the past week on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other widely read articles included studies finding that complete skin clearance in patients with psoriasis was a clinically meaningful outcome and that patients with alopecia areata had a decreased risk for stroke:

FDA: Nizoral tablets linked to patient death, unapproved uses in skin, nail infections

The FDA has issued a warning to health care professionals to avoid prescribing Nizoral oral tablets to treat skin and nail fungal infections, as it includes a risk for serious liver damage, adrenal gland problems and harmful interactions with other medications.

The FDA approved label changes to Nizoral (ketoconazole, Janssen) oral tablets in 2013 to reflect the risks and remove the indications for treating skin and nail fungal infections, the agency stated in a safety alert. There has been one patient death reported to the agency since 2013 due to liver failure associated with oral ketoconazole prescribed to treat a fungal infection of the nails, according to the alert. Read more

Complete skin clearance represents meaningful endpoint for patients with psoriasis

Complete skin clearance in patients with psoriasis was a clinically meaningful endpoint and outcome, with no impairment on their health-related quality of life, according to recently published study results.

Researchers studied pooled data from the nonplacebo cohorts of three phase 3 trials of brodalumab (Valeant) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Read more

Patients with alopecia areata had decreased risk for stroke

Patients with alopecia areata had a decreased risk for stroke, and a trend toward decreased risk for myocardial infarction, although not statistically significant, according to recently published study results.

Researchers conducted a propensity-matched retrospective analysis of patients in the Partners Healthcare Research Patient Data Repository between Jan. 1, 2000 and Jan. 1, 2010, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Read more

Tweezers most effective for tick detachment

Using tweezers was the most effective technique to remove ticks when compared with three commercial removal devices, according to published study results.

“Transmission of infectious agents by ticks is closely related to blood-sucking time of ticks,” Asli Akin Belli, MD, of the department of dermatology, Mulga Sitki Kocman University Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, and colleagues wrote. “For the prevention of transmission, early and appropriable removal of the attached ticks is of utmost importance.” Read more

Immune Pharmaceuticals provides updates on atopic dermatitis, psoriasis treatments

Immune Pharmaceuticals recently provided an update on treatments for atopic dermatitis and psoriasis as part of its first quarter financial report.

Immune reported on products including bertilimumab, currently in two phase 2 clinical trials for treating ulcerative colitis and bullous pemphigoid, and a third phase 2 trial planned for treating severe atopic dermatitis, according to a press release. It reported it is continuing enrollment in two phase 2 clinical trials for bertilimumab. Read more