Drug combination trumps single-agent acne treatment

Combining a popular topical retinoid with a widely used antibiotic - and applying them at the same time as if they were one drug - clearly outperforms using either agent separately in treating acne. The key is adding to them a novel aqueous hydrogel which solubilizes the two old stand-by drugs and stabilizes them to provide a particularly effective once-daily treatment.

In 12 week studies, James J. Leyden, M.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, reports that results clearly showed the percent reduction in lesions was significantly greater with the combination than with each active factor alone.

The combination product (Velac, Connetics Corporation) is still investigational and being analyzed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pending approval expected later this year.