Efficacy of Fixed-combination Calcipotriene 0.005% and Betamethasone Dipropionate 0.064% Foam for Scalp Plaque Psoriasis: Additional Analysis of a Phase II, Randomized Clinical Study

BACKGROUND: There are a variety of treatment options currently available for plaque psoriasis affecting the scalp, yet scalp psoriasis remains one of the most frustrating and difficult-to-manage forms of the disease. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy of fixed-combination calcipotriene 0.005% plus betamethasone dipropionate 0.064% (Cal/BD) foam for the treatment of scalp psoriasis. METHODS: Additional (including post-hoc) analysis was conducted on data from a Phase II, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of Cal/BD foam for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris (NCT01536938). A total of 302 patients, ages 18 years or older, with psoriasis vulgaris of at least mild severity (scalp involvement of at least 10%) were included; 100, 101, and 101 patients were randomized to once-daily Cal/BD foam, Cal foam, or BD foam, respectively. Assessments included a severity score for lesion redness, scaliness, and plaque thickness, modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (mPASI) score, proportion of patients with reduction of 50 percent or greater in total sign score (TSS-50), and proportion of patients with at least a 75-percent reduction in mPASI score (mPASI-75). RESULTS: Patients achieved greater improvements in their scalp psoriasis with Cal/BD foam versus BD or Cal foam alone at Week 4 considering mPASI, mPASI-75, and TSS-50 outcomes. After four weeks of treatment, more patients receiving Cal/BD foam had a severity score for redness, scaliness, and thickness indicating “none” or “mild” versus BD foam or Cal foam alone. Improvements on the scalp appear to be consistent with those on the trunk and limbs. CONCLUSION: Scalp lesion severity improved considerably and rapidly with a four-week regimen of Cal/BD foam, suggesting that Cal/BD foam is an effective topical treatment option for scalp psoriasis.