LONDON, May 27, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- GPs have a new option for improving the management of acne starting today, with the launch of Epiduo(R) (adapalene 0.1% / benzoyl peroxide 2.5%) - a topical gel that combines the fast onset action patients want with the long-term efficacy healthcare professionals demand, leading to the effective treatment of this common skin condition.

Epiduo(R) is a once-daily fixed-dose combination of 0.1% adapalene and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) indicated for acne vulgaris when comedones, papules and pustules are present. Clinical trials show it is highly effective in mild to moderate acne. Epiduo gel combines the benefits of early[i] and long-term efficacy[ii] without the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Acne affects almost 80% of adolescents and young adults aged 11 to 30 and can have a major impact on those affected[iii]. Research has shown that patients with acne have similar levels of social, psychological and emotional impairment as people with conditions considered more 'serious', including asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and arthritis[iv]. The good news is that treatment can dramatically improve quality of life[v].

Epiduo(R) reduces inflammatory acne lesions by 25.7% in just seven days[vi]. This matches what patients with acne are looking for, with research showing they want rapid results. It also supports good compliance, as patients who experience fast, visible results are more likely to adhere to their acne treatment[vii].

The early reduction in acne lesions with Epiduo(R) is maintained during long-term treatment, with a clinical study showing efficacy up to one year[ii]. Unlike some fixed-dose combination topical treatments for acne, it does not contain antibiotics. Epiduo(R) can be prescribed for as long as clinically necessary.

Dr Stephen Kownacki, chairman of the Primary Care Dermatology Society comments: GPs and dermatology specialists will be pleased to have this new combination product (Epiduo) to help their patients with acne. The two constituents are tried and tested and are known to have sustained efficacy and avoid the concerns about the use of long-term antibiotics and thus any risk of resistance. The more easy-to-use options we have to treat patients the better, and we know that studies have shown a significant benefit for combination products which aid patient compliance.

Good compliance is also supported by the fact that Epiduo's gel formulation is easy to apply and is used once daily in the evening. It is well tolerated, with the most common adverse event being dry skin, which peaks in the first few weeks, subsides spontaneously and can be easily managed with a moisturiser[viii]. Only 2.7% of patients treated with Epiduo(R) discontinued due to an adverse event related to treatment in a clinical trial[viii].

Using Epiduo(R) meets international guideline recommendations as a first line choice by targeting different and multiple pathogenic mechanisms of acne[ix]. The active ingredients in Epiduo(R) work synergistically to treat the underlying causes of acne and prevent the development of spots. Adapalene, a naphthoic acid derivative, treats the root cause and inflammation, while BPO is a well-established antimicrobial agent that is more effective than antibiotics against the bacterium Proprionibacterium acne[x].

Full references [i]to[x] available on request

Note to Editors:

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.

For Further Information Please contact Cerys Evans on +44(0)7775-993-504 or email cerys@signaturecomms.com

SOURCE: Galderma (UK) Ltd

CONTACT: For Further Information Please contact Cerys Evans on+44(0)7775-993-504 or email cerys@signaturecomms.com