Tirbanibulin ointment effective in actinic keratosis of face, scalp for short period: NEJM

USA: Once daily application of tirbanibulin 1% ointment for 5 days was superior to vehicle (placebo) ointment for the treatment of actinic keratosis on the scalp and face for 2 months, finds a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine. But tirbanibulin use was associated with a recurrence of lesions at 1 year and transient local reactions

Actinic keratosis is a common precancerous condition caused by years of sun exposure. It occurs particularly on the face, scalp, arms, and legs. The condition commonly affects men, people with fair skin, older people, and people with a history of prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light. If left untreated, the condition may progress to invasive cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma. The reported risk of progression ranges from 0.025 to 16% per lesion per year. Given its unpredictable nature of progression, it has been recommended to treat all actinic keratoses. 

The tubulin polymerization and Src kinase signaling inhibitor tirbanibulin is being investigated as a topical treatment for actinic keratosis, a precursor of squamous-cell carcinoma.

Andrew Blauvelt, Austin Institute for Clinical Research, Pflugerville, Texas, and colleagues present in this study, the results of two identically designed phase 3 trials that evaluated the safety and efficacy of tirbanibulin ointment, as compared with vehicle ointment, applied for 5 days in adults with actinic keratoses on the face or scalp.