Novartis eczema cream effective for long-term use

The objective of the multinational study was to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of Elidel (pimecrolimus) in pediatric and adult patients with eczema of any severity, who had previously completed a six-month core study.

As in previous long-term studies, patients treated with Elidel in a naturalistic setting experienced sustained long-term relief of their eczema symptoms. In the core study, 79.6% of patients who had used Elidel twice daily experienced relief from the itching associated with mild to moderate eczema. These results were sustained for an additional six months in 75.3% of the patients who continued to be monitored in the extension study.

Treatment success rates, specifically for the face and whole body, at the end of the core study were 78.9% and 53.1%. Again, these results were sustained for an additional six months during the extension study (70.4% and 48.6% respectively).

Importantly, the quantity of Elidel used during the course of the study decreased from 3.3g/day at the end of the core study, to 2.5g/day six months later, particularly in those patients who had the most severe eczema at the start of the study.

“This study provides encouraging news because one of the most unsettling aspects of eczema is the unpredictability of the condition,” said Dr Richard Langley, assistant professor and director of research, division of dermatology at Dalhousie University, Canada. “What this study shows is that using Elidel to treat a flare-up at the onset of such symptoms as tingling or itching may enable patients to control flares and better manage their condition long-term.”