Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Calcipotriol and Apremilast Combination Against Cacipotriol Monotherapy in Psoriasis

Abstract

Background Potentiating activity of tablet apremilast 30mg BD against psoriasis in combination with 0.005% calcipotriol ointment was studied in comparison with calcipotriol monotherapy. Methods Single centre, prospective, parallel group, open label study compared efficacy and safety of calcipotriol+apremilast combination with calcipotriol monotherapy. Patients of mild to severe psoriasis in age group 18-60 years were randomized to two groups – calcipotriol+apremilast group and calcipotriol group. Calcipotriol+apremilast group received apremilast 30 mg BD p.o. and 0.005% calcipotriol ointment local application BD for 8 weeks. While calcipotriol group received 0.005% calcipotriol ointment local application BD for 8 weeks. Primary endpoint for efficacy was percentage of patients in whom mPASI decreased by 75% from baseline. Safety was also monitored throughout. Results 106 patients were randomized: calcipotriol+apremilast (n = 56) and calcipotriol group (n = 53). More patients of calcipotriol+apremilast achieved treatment success compared to calcipotriol was also higher (51.85% vs 34.61%; p < 0.001). Similar percentage of patients reported adverse events: Calcipotriol+apremilast 45.49% (n = 23) and calcipotriol 42.30% (n = 22) Conclusion Addition of apremilast to calcipotriol is significantly more efficacious than calcipotriol monotherapy. This combination is as safe as monotherapy.