Effects on calcium metabolism
In patients treated with both calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD) ointment on the body and Cal/BD topical suspension on the scalp (n=35), 1 patient (2.9%) had elevated urinary calcium levels after 4 weeks of treatment.Three studies of Cal/BD topical suspension have evaluated treatment effects on calcium metabolism. In 2 of the 3 trials (n=32 and n=43), elevated urinary calcium levels outside the normal range were observed in 2 patients each. In the third trial (n=109), no clinically relevant changes in urinary calcium were reported.Potential effects on calcium metabolism have been evaluated in three randomized, multicenter, prospective, vehicle- and/or active-controlled trials of the foam formulation enrolling 564 adults with plaque psoriasis. The foam was applied once daily for four weeks. In these trials, three subjects had serum calcium levels elevated above the upper limit of normal. Urinary calcium elevations above normal were reported in 17 subjects.In a published multicenter, open-label, single-arm trial of the foam formulation, 35 adults with plaque psoriasis applied the foam once daily to all lesions on the trunk, limbs, and scalp for four weeks. No elevations of serum calcium, urinary calcium, or the ratio of urinary calcium to creatinine above the upper limit of normal were observed. History
The combination was developed by LEO Pharma. To combine them, new non-aqueous non-alcohol formulations had to be found to avoid mutual degradation of the two active substances while also achieving the desired skin absorption.
Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate, sold under the brand name Taclonex among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication of the synthetic vitamin D3 analog calcipotriol (also known as calcipotriene) and the synthetic corticosteroid betamethasone dipropionate for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. It is used in the form of ointment, topical suspension, gel, aerosol, and foam. Medical uses
Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD) is a topical medication for the treatment of trunk, limb, and scalp plaque psoriasis. This medication  is available in ointment, gel, aerosol, or foam, formulations. The ointment formulation was FDA approved in 2004, and is indicated for the once daily topical treatment of plaque-type psoriasis vulgaris amenable to topical therapy. The foam formulation was approved by the FDA in 2015, and is indicated for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis in patients twelve years of age and older.In all pivotal trials of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment, topical suspension, or foam, treatment success or achievement of clear or almost clear disease was defined by Investigators Global Assessment, an alternative to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. OintmentIn an international, double-blind, parallel group study of 1603 participants with psoriasis (affecting at least 10% of one or more body regions), more patients on once-daily calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment had controlled disease, defined as having absence or very mild disease at 4 weeks (56.3%) compared with Cal 50 μg/g (22.3%).