Description

Calcipotriene, also known as calcitriol, is a White Crystalline Solid. It is insoluble in water, slightly soluble in dichloromethane, and has heat and light sensitivity. Its molecular formula is C27H40O3 and it needs to be sealed and stored in an environment of -20 degrees Celsius protected from light.

Application

Calcitriene is an artificial form of vitamin D that is involved in the growth and development of skin cells. As a vitamin D derivative, it is thought to work by inhibiting keratinocyte proliferation and enhancing keratinocyte differentiation[1]. Calcitriene is applied to the skin topically, mainly for the treatment of plaque psoriasis (psoriasis with squamous plaques), including erythrodermic psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, etc. It can also be used to treat other keratinizing skin diseases.

According to statistics, psoriasis is estimated to affect 2% of the worlds population, and about 80% of people suffer from mild to moderate psoriasis[2]. The two-compound calpotriene is often used in combination with betamethasone dipropionate to treat psoriasis and is safer and more effective than treatment with drugs alone. It comes in ointment, gel/suspension, and foam formulations[3]. Several studies have shown that Calcipotriene when combined with topical corticosteroids, can improve the efficacy and safety of psoriasis treatment. In 2019, a combination of fluorouracil and calcipotriene as Palliative Therapy was found in patients with relapsed, refractory EMPD[4].

References

[1] Kin K, et al.Calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 2016; 9.

[2] Patel N, et al. High electron mobility triazine for lower driving voltage and higher efficiency organic light emitting devices. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017; 10: 385—391.

[3] Cunningham B, et al. Topical calcipotriene for morphea/linear scleroderma. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1998; 39: 211-215.

[4] Molina G, et al. High electron mobility triazine for lower driving voltage and higher efficiency organic light emitting devices. JAMA Dermatology, 2019.