Alitretinoin

Alitretinoin, or 9-cis-retinoic acid, is a form of vitamin A. It is also used in medicine as an antineoplastic (anti-cancer) agent developed by Ligand Pharmaceuticals. It is a first generation retinoid. Ligand gained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for alitretinoin in February 1999.

Medical uses

Kaposi’s sarcoma

In the United States, topical alitretinoin (in the form of a gel; trade name Panretin) is indicated for the treatment of skin lesions in AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Alitretinoin is not indicated when systemic therapy against Kaposi's sarcoma is required. It has received EMA (11 October 2000) and FDA (2 March 1999) approval for this indication.

Chronic hand eczema

Under the trade name Toctino (marketed by GSK, UK) it has been granted prescription rights in the UK (08/09/2008) for oral use in chronic hand eczema. In May 2009 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued preliminary guidance on the use of Alitretinoin for the treatment of severe chronic hand eczema in adults. The recommendation stated that only patients with severe chronic hand eczema who are unresponsive to potent topical corticosteroids, oral immunosuppressants or phototherapy should receive the drug. Final NICE guidance is expected in August 2009.