Topical ointment for psoriasis therapy gets FDA's NDA nod

Washington -- The Food and Drug Administration has approved the new drug application (NDA) for Taclonex, a topical ointment for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris in adults. Taclonex is sold outside the United States as Dovobet and Daivobet.

Officials of Warner Chilcott, Danish drug company LEO Pharma's exclusive licensee of Taclonex in the United States, say they expect to launch the drug in the first half of this year.

More than 4.5 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with psoriasis, and about 150,000 new cases are diagnosed annually.