A Prospective, Multicenter, Open-label Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of a Cream Containing Xyloglucan, Pea Protein, and Opuntia ficus-indica Extract Versus Calcipotriol/Betamethasone in Adult Patients with Mild-to-moderate Psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease, requiring local and systemic drugs according to disease severity. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of a topical treatment containing xyloglucan, pea proteins and Opuntia ficus-indica extracts (XPO) compared to calcipotriol 50mcg/betamethasone 0.5mg ointment (CB).

METHODS

Forty-two patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis were assigned 1:1 to XPO treatment or CB for 28 days. Disease status was assessed at baseline (V1), monitored every two weeks (V2, V3), and at follow-up (V4). Disease severity was assessed by PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index), PGA (Physician's Global Assessment), and VAS (Visual Analog Scale for itching). Photos were taken before and after XPO treatment. Treatment efficacy was determined by comparing psoriasis severity at baseline to V3. Tolerability was assessed by monitoring the occurrence of adverse events.

RESULTS

Both groups showed a statistically significant difference in PASI score from V1 to V2 (p=0.001, XPO; p=0.008, CB) and to V3 (p=0.001, XPO; p=0.004, CB). XPO achieved a PASI 50 score of 24 percent at V2 and 52 percent at V3 compared to CB (0% at V2 and 19% at V3). At V3, PGA was significantly reduced in both groups (p=0.003, XPO; p=0.001 CB). Both treatments significantly reduced itching at V2 (p=0.001, XPO; p=0.003, CB) and V3 (p=0.001, XPO; p=0.0005, CB).

CONCLUSION

XPO showed similar efficacy to CB, significantly reducing disease severity, erythema, itching, induration, and scaling with an excellent tolerability profile.