A Novel Topical Retinoid for Acne: Trifarotene 50 μg/g Cream

Trifarotene 50 μg/g cream is a fourth generation topical retinoid with retinoic acid receptor gamma selectivity. It was recently approved by the US FDA and Health Canada for the topical treatment of facial and truncal acne for those aged 9 and older based on two identically designed phase 3 trials demonstrating superiority in lesion count reduction and global acne improvement compared to vehicle. These studies and a 1 year study also demonstrated safety and tolerability with cutaneous adverse events developing in an anticipated timeframe (1 week) for the face. These were of lesser degree and tended to develop later at the trunk. Future studies will be required to evaluate the comparative efficacy of trifarotene 50 μg/g cream against other treatments for acne.