Sun Pharma Winlevi cream 1% reduces Sebum levels, suitable for combination with other commonly used topical acne medications: Study

Mumbai: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has presented data strengthening the clinical rationale for the use of WINLEVI (clascoterone) cream 1% to treat acne.

In poster presentations at the 44th Annual Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, data show WINLEVI significantly reduces sebum (oil) production and demonstrates excellent stability in the presence of other commonly prescribed topical acne treatments, supporting the use of WINLEVI in combination with those medications. Data also showed patients with skin of color, an under-represented population in studies of acne medications, experienced reduced acne severity and tolerability while taking WINLEVI. Collectively, the data continue to show that WINLEVI improves acne severity and is well tolerated.

WINLEVI is a androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris (acne) in patients 12 years of age and older, and the first and only FDA-approved topical treatment available in the U.S. that targets sebum production in the skin.

Sebum is an oily wax that protects and moisturizes skin, but too much of it feeds bacteria inside the skin, causing inflammation and acne lesions. Acne is the most prevalent skin condition in the U.S., affecting up to 50 million Americans and 80% of people at some point during their lives. It is the most common dermatological disorder in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino populations. WINLEVI cream is a topical prescription medicine to treat acne in people 12 and older.

Researchers presented 12-week interim results from a yearlong study of the effect of WINLEVI on facial sebum production in patients with acne. The study’s primary objective and efficacy endpoint was reduction in casual facial sebum levels, as measured by a sebumeter, a device that directly measures the amount of lipids on the skin’s surface. The study was also designed to assess the ability of WINLEVI to reduce the Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score, a scale designed for investigators to assess the level of facial acne (0 = clear, 1 = almost clear, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = severe). Other study objectives and efficacy endpoints included inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesion counts, and investigator-assessed oily appearance, pore size, and facial shine; the latter three endpoints were assessed on a five-point scale (0 = none, 1 = minimal, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = severe). Among the 40 participating patients, the mean age was 20.9 years; most patients were female (60%) and White (63%). All patients entered the study with mild (57.5%) or moderate (42.5%) acne, as well as a mean sebumeter reading of 115.9 ± 50.5. The researchers reported significant reductions in sebumeter measurements following use of WINLEVI at six (-22%, P = 0.002), 10 (-19%, P = 0.005), and 12 weeks (-27%, P <0.001). They also observed significant improvements in facial oily appearance after four weeks of WINLEVI treatment (-8%, P = 0.008), with continued improvement through 12 weeks (-40%, P <0.001). Similarly, patients’ pore size improved significantly after six weeks (-13%, P = 0.002), and continued to improve through 12 weeks (-23%, P <0.001). Additionally, facial shine levels significantly improved after four weeks (-9%, P = 0.004) with continued improvement through 12 weeks (-39%, P <0.001). By Week 12, patients using WINLEVI experienced a statistically significant 29% reduction in IGA score (P <0.001). Use of WINLEVI also resulted in significant reductions in the numbers of inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions (-48% and -40%, respectively; P <0.001 for both measurements) after four weeks, with continued improvement through 12 weeks (-54% and -34%, respectively; P <0.001 for both). WINLEVI was well tolerated through Week 12, with no reports of adverse reactions.

“This is exciting news for people living with acne because this is the first study to demonstrate a reduction in measured facial sebum production following the use of clascoterone cream 1%,” said lead investigator Zoe D. Draelos, MD, of Dermatology Consulting Services, PLLC, in High Point, N.C. “In addition to confirming the sebumreducing effect of WINLEVI, our findings support data from previous clinical trials which showed reductions in the number of inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions, further demonstrating the clinical utility of this topical acne medication.”

Stability in combination therapy data Dr. Draelos and colleagues also reported results from a study assessing the stability of WINLEVI when layered with other topical acne medications such as tretinoin cream 0.025%, adapalene gel 0.3%, dapsone gel 7.5%, azelaic acid 15%, benzoyl peroxide 5%/clindamycin 1%, benzoyl peroxide 2.5%/adapalene 0.1%, and benzoyl peroxide encapsulated 5%. Each of these medications were placed separately on individual microscope slides with WINLEVI and incubated for eight hours at 37° Celsius. Material from the slides was extracted for analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS).

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