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Diacerein 1% ointment shows efficacy in treating epidermolysis bullosa simplex

Patients with epidermolysis bullosa simplex treated with topical diacerein 1% ointment had long-term reduction of blister formation compared with placebo treatment, according to research presented by Johann Bauer, MD, MBA, HCM, at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

“With no treatment options available, management of [epidermolysis bullosa simplex] remains a significant area of unmet need in health care,” Bauer, head of the University Clinic for Dermatology at the SALK/Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria, stated in a news release from Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals. “Importantly, these results also show the potential for diacerein 1% to offer long-term benefit in patients experiencing blistering associated with [epidermolysis bullosa simplex].”

Researchers studied 17 patients with epidermolysis bullosa simplex in the multicenter, randomized, double-blind phase 2 trial who were treated for 4 weeks, with a 3-month follow-up and subsequent cross over in year 2. There was a 60% reduction in blistering in patients treated with diacerein 1% compared with a 15% reduction in the placebo cohort, according to the release.

In addition, 12.5% of patients in the diacerein 1% treatment cohort returned to baseline blistering lefts, compared with 67% in the placebo-treated group. There were no treatment-related adverse events reported with topical diacerein 1% treatment, according to the release.

Diacerein 1% ointment, otherwise known as CCP-020, is an investigation therapy in development by Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals for treating epidermolysis bullosa simplex.

Reference: www.castlecreekpharma.com