Galderma

'Clear' (IGA 0) Rosacea Patients Experience a Delayed Time to Relapse

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, September 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, the results of a pooled analysis of four Galderma-sponsored studies evaluating the use of topical therapies for the treatment of inflammatory papules and pustules of rosacea were presented at the 26th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress in Geneva, Switzerland. The success of rosacea treatment is usually defined as a score of 1 ('almost clear') or 0 ('clear') on the 5-point Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scale. The new analysis reports that rosacea patients who achieve 'clear' (IGA 0), not only experience a more complete reduction in inflammatory lesions compared with patients who achieve 'almost clear' (IGA 1), but also an extended time to relapse that is associated with improved quality of life.

The analysis, titled 'Defining treatment success in rosacea as 'clear' may provide multiple patient benefits: Results of a pooled analysis,' is the first-of-its-kind to report on the differences in patient-reported outcomes, quality of life, and time to relapse associated with 'clear' (IGA 0) and 'almost clear' (IGA 1) patients.

"Rosacea is a chronic dermatological disease with remissions and exacerbations. Improving treatment options with earlier effective treatment and longer remission times may not only control symptoms, but also delay progression of the disease," commented study author Guy Webster, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. "This first-of-its-kind analysis shows that both remission time and quality of life are improved if patients achieve an endpoint of 'clear' (IGA 0), compared with patients who achieve 'almost clear' (IGA 1)."

In the analysis, patients who achieved 'clear' (IGA 0) were associated with a delayed time to relapse of more than 5 months, compared with patients who achieved 'almost clear' (IGA 1). At 8-month follow-up, twice as many patients who had achieved 'clear' (IGA 0) remained free of treatment compared with patients who had achieved 'almost clear' (IGA 1) (54% vs. 23%). The authors stated that this delayed time to relapse may contribute to improved quality of life and satisfaction with treatment, both in the short term and over the long term. In addition, one-third more 'clear' (IGA 0) patients than 'almost clear' (IGA 1) patients (59% vs. 44%) reported a clinically meaningful difference (≥4 points) in Dermatology Life Quality Index score.