FDA Approves First-of-Its-Kind Steroid-Free Cream for Psoriasis
On May 24, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vtama (tapinarof) cream 1 percent for the treatment of mild, moderate, or severe plaque psoriasis in adults.It is the first unique topical medication to be launched for psoriasis in 25 years, according to a statement by Dermavant, Vtama’s manufacturer.Unlike topical steroids, which doctors widely prescribe for psoriasis, Vtama is safe for long-term use.“There’s tremendous enthusiasm for this product, in part because of the huge need for new treatments for people who have mild psoriasis,” says dermatologist Steven Feldman, MD, PhD, a psoriasis specialist at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Dr. Feldman is not affiliated with Dermavant and did not participate in any of the clinical trials.)“Those patients just need an effective topical to put…