NEW DRUGS Mirvasco for Rosacea

NEW DRUGS Mirvasco for Rosacea Brimonidine topical gel 0.33% (Mirvasco, Galderma) has been approved for the topical treatment of the facial erythema of rosacea in adults 18 years of age and older. Applied once daily, the medication reduces redness of the face and lasts up to 12 hours. An alpha2-adrenergic agonist, brimonidine appears to constrict the dilated facial blood vessels, which reduces the redness of rosacea. A pea-sized amount of gel is applied to the forehead, chin, nose, and each cheek. The drug’s approval was based on data collected from two phase 3 studies in which reductions in facial redness were greater with brimonidine than with the vehicle gel. In controlled clinical trials, adverse reactions included erythema, flushing, a burning sensation, and contact dermatitis. Clinicians should use caution when prescribing this gel in patients with depression, cerebral or coronary insufficiency, Raynaud’s phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension, thromboangiitis obliterans, scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome, or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease. Source: Galderma, August 26, 2013