Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris

Psoriasis is one of the most common skin diseases. The mainstay of treatment for the vast majority of patients is topical therapy. A rising fi rst-line treatment modality for psoriasis vulgaris is the two-compound ointment containing calcipotriol 50 g/g plus betamethasone dipropionate 0.5 mg/g (Dovobet , Daivobet , Taclonex ), which combines a vitamin D analog and a corticosteroid. This innovative formulation preserves the activity and bioavailability of the two components and many clinical studies have demonstrated that it has a greater effi cacy, tolerability, and a rapid onset of action compared with its individual ingredients or tacalcitol.