Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate formulations for psoriasis: an overview of the options and efficacy data

Introduction: Psoriasis is a very common chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting up to 3% of the general population with 75% of the psoriasis subjects being affected by a mild form of disease. Hence, topical therapy is the most frequent employed treatment in psoriasis also because it can be easily combined with systemic therapy. In this context, calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD) fixed-dose association represents the first-line treatment due to its efficacy and once-daily application. Different Cal/BD formulations, such as ointment, gel (topical suspension) and aerosol foam, are approved by US Food and Drug Administration. Areas covered: For this review, relevant English literature (trials, real life studies, case series and reviews) regarding Cal/BD different formulations efficacy in psoriasis was searched for through to January 28, 2020. The following database were consulted: PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, EBSCO, and clinicaltrials.gov. Expert opinion: Cal/BD formulations are efficacious treatment for psoriasis. Cal/BD aerosol foam shows a higher efficacy compared to Cal/BD ointment or gel formulations, appearing as a game changer in psoriasis therapy not only for mild disease but also for moderate psoriasis as well as in selected severe cases in combination with systemic treatments.