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Tirbanibulin: Topical Treatment for Actinic Keratosis

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Abstract

We review here the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, dosage and administration, and place in therapy of tirbanibulin for the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK). A literature search using PubMed was conducted using the terms tirbanibulin (tirbanibulin) and actinic keratosis from September 2014 to February 2021. All English-language articles evaluating tirbanibulin were analyzed for this review. Tirbanibulin was granted approval for the treatment of AK of the face or scalp as a first-line therapy. It is administered at a dose of 2.5 mg in 250 mg of white or off-white ointment for a 25 cm2 contiguous treatment surface for 5 consecutive days. Adverse effects include flaking/scaling, crusting, swelling, vesiculation/pustulation, and erosion/ulceration. This article discusses the clinical trials that led to the approval of tirbanibulin and comparison with other approved topical ointments indicated for the treatment of AK. In the clinical trials, all participants experienced a decrease in lesion size or saw complete clearance with minimal adverse effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA

    Anna H. Dlott & Anthony J. Di Pasqua

  2. Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA

    Sara A. Spencer

Authors
  1. Anna H. Dlott
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  2. Anthony J. Di Pasqua
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  3. Sara A. Spencer
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Correspondence to Anthony J. Di Pasqua or Sara A. Spencer.

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Anna H. Dlott, Anthony J. Di Pasqua, and Sara A. Spencer have no conflicts of interest/competing interests to report.

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AHD original draft preparation, conceptualization, reviewing, and editing. AJD conceptualization, reviewing, and editing. SAS conceptualization, reviewing, and editing.

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Dlott, A.H., Di Pasqua, A.J. & Spencer, S.A. Tirbanibulin: Topical Treatment for Actinic Keratosis. Clin Drug Investig 41, 751–755 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40261-021-01068-9

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