People living with acne face limited treatment options and feel the impact of their condition on every aspect of their lives. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology recently published results from a Galderma-sponsored DUAL Phase 4 study demonstrating the effectiveness of a new treatment combination in improving quality of life for severe acne patients¹.  

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology recently published results from a Phase 4 DUAL study investigating the combination of topical trifarotene cream and oral doxycycline in the treatment of severe acne. These results lay the groundwork for improved skin health—and quality of life—for underserved patients suffering from this condition¹.   

Acne is a common skin disease estimated to affect up to 85% of people aged 12-24 and can also affect a significant number of individuals outside this age bracket²,³. If acne is not adequately controlled, or if an individual has certain risk factors, it can lead to long-term physical effects, including scarring and pigment changes. It can also lead to emotional distress and have a significant impact on patients’ school, work, social lives and mental health⁴.  

At Galderma, we understand that the skin we’re in shapes our life stories. Determined to provide a new, effective option for severe acne patients, we enrolled over 200 participants in a U.S.-based double-blind and placebo-controlled study¹.  

Through the 12-week trial, a randomized group of participants was treated with topical trifarotene cream and oral doxycycline, while the control group received placebo treatments. All study participants in both groups also received Cetaphil® cleansing and moisturizing products¹.  

Clear results, clear skin 

The combination led to rapid acne improvement, with significant differences observed between the treated and control groups after four weeks. By the end of the study, nearly one third (31.7%) of the severe acne patients receiving the treatment had achieved ‘clear’ or ‘almost clear’ skin. Over three quarters (78.3%) of them saw a clinically meaningful, two-grade Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) improvement with this treatment¹.  

The study results also show high levels of patient satisfaction, with 86.2% of participants reporting they were satisfied or very satisfied with the combination treatment, compared to only 53.8% satisfaction among the placebo group. The combination resulted in an overall 67.0% reduction in acne lesions across patients, while demonstrating a good safety and tolerability profile¹.  

Focused on the needs of consumers and patients, Galderma works in partnership with healthcare professionals to ensure superior outcomes. This innovative study demonstrates for the first time that this combination is an effective, safe and rapid treatment that could help alleviate the burden of severe acne on patients. 

To learn more about Galderma’s products and integrated dermatology approach, click here. 

1. Del Rosso J, et al. Randomized controlled trial of trifarotene plus doxycycline for severe acne vulgaris. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2022 

2. Bhate K, Williams HC. Epidemiology of acne vulgaris. Br J Dermatol 2013; 168: 474–485. 

3. Hay RJ, et al. The global burden of skin disease in 2010: An analysis of the prevalence and impact of skin conditions. J Invest Dermatol 2014; 134: 1527–1534. 

4. Layton AM, et al. Reviewing the global burden of acne: How could we improve care to reduce the burden? Br J Dermatol 2021; 184 :219–225.