Spinosad more effective, convenient than permethrin for treating head lice
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One application of 1% spinosad just as effectively eradicated head lice compared with two applications of 1% permethrin among 1,038 patients who participated in two multicenter, phase-3 trials.
Researchers from several U.S. sites presented data from the trials during a poster session at the AAP 2009 National Conference and Exhibition.
Participants self-administered either medication once or twice during the 21-day home-use period. Patients in the permethrin group performed nit coming; those in the spinosad (ParaPro) group did not.
Primary efficacy was measured by the proportion of lice-free primary participants 14 days after the last treatment.
The number of patients who met lice-free endpoints after using spinosad was almost double those who used permethrin in both studies, at 84.6% compared with 44.9% in the first study and 86.7% compared with 42.9% in the second study (P<.001).
Additionally, most participants who received spinosad required only one application (63.8% and 86.2%), while the proportion of those who administered two applications of permethrin was similar (64.4% and 60.3%).
Patients reported ocular hyperemia and application-site erythema and irritation at low rates with both medications, indicating a favorable safety and tolerability profile for spinosad.
The poster was presented as part of the AAPs Council on School Health. by Nicole Blazek
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