New topical combinations in acne therapy

Introduction. Therapeutic treatment modalities for acne involve both topical and oral medications. Fixed-dose combinations that affect all components of the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris are given preference among topical medications. Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Metrogyl® a topical drug, containing adapalene and metronidazole, which is used as topical therapy in patients with mild to moderate acne. Materials and methods. A prospective, open-label, randomized, single-centre comparative study was conducted in 2022. A total of 60 patients were subjected to the Mir-O-Med clinic-based observation (Krasnodar): 19 men and 41 women aged 18 to 45 years with mild to moderate acne. Group 1 received a fixed-dose combination of adapalene 1.0 mg and metronidazole 10.0 mg (Metrogyl® A); Group 2 – a fixed-dose combination of adapalene 0.1% and clindomycin phosphate 1%; Group 3 – a fixed-dose combination of adapalene 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel; Group 4 – adapalene 0.1%. Group 5, a separately created group, included patients from Group 1, who continued therapy for another 3 months. Results. After therapy, 6 (40%) patients from Group 1 archived clinical remission, and 9 (60%) patients found significant improvement. No deterioration in patients’ condition or absence of clinical effects was observed during therapy. The combination of adapalene and metronidazole (Metrogyl® A) to treat mild to moderate acne is comparable in terms of efficacy to the combination of adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, 10% more efficient than topical adapalene therapy and 30% more efficient than topical antibiotics combination. Conclusion. The obtained results showed high therapeutic efficacy, good tolerability and safety of Metrogyl® A, which allows to use it as monotherapy and as part of combination with other agents in patients with mild to moderate acne.