Calcitriol (Vectical): Vitamin D analogue approved for the treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis
New formulation: Calcitriol (Vectical), a Vitamin D analogue, was approved on January 23, 2009, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis
Calcitriol is a vitamin D analogue that was approved on January 23, 2009, for the topical treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis in adults aged ≥18 years. The mechanism of action by which calcitriol exerts its effects on plaque psoriasis has not yet been established.
Efficacy. The efficacy of this agent was assessed in 2 multicenter, double-blind studies. A total of 839 patients were randomized to treatment with either calcitriol ointment 3 mcg/g or vehicle ointment twice daily for 8 weeks. The primary end point was the percentage of patients classified as having "clear" or "minimal" disease with a ≥2-grade change from baseline at 8 weeks. In Study 1, 23.4% of calcitriol-treated patients and 14.4% of vehicle-treated patients achieved this end point; in Study 2, 20.5% of calcitriol-treated patients and 6.6% of vehicle-treated patients achieved this end point.
Safety. In clinical trials, hypercalcemia was observed more frequently in calcitriol-treated patients than in vehicle-treated patients. Patients should avoid excessive exposure of treatment areas to natural or artificial sunlight. The most common adverse events associated with calcitriol treatment include laboratory test abnormalities, urine abnormalities, psoriasis, hypercalciuria, and pruritus.
David Calabrese of OptumRx Talks Top Three Drugs in Pipeline, Industry Trends in Q2
July 1st 2020In this week's episode of Tuning Into The C-Suite podcast, MHE's Briana Contreras chatted with David Calabrese, R.Ph, MHP, who is senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer of pharmacy care services company, OptumRx. David is also a member of Managed Healthcare Executives’ Editorial Advisory Board. During the discussion, he shared the OptumRx Quarter 2 Drug Pipeline Insights Report of 2020. Some of the information shared includes the three notable drugs currently being reviewed or those that have been recently approved by the FDA. Also discussed were any interesting industry trends to watch for.
Listen
FDA Clears Phase 2 Trial of Cannabis in PTSD
November 20th 2024After a three-year negotiation, the FDA has dropped its objection to allowing patients to self-titrate dosing of smoked cannabis. But regulators want to see additional information about the device that will be used for inhalation.
Read More
