Efficacy and safety of calcipotriol (MC 903) ointment in psoriasis vulgaris. A randomized, double-blind, right/left comparative, vehicle-controlled study
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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
L Dubertret1, D Wallach, P Souteyrand
1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
Background:
The biologically active form of vitamin D3, calcitriol, may offer a new therapeutic approach to psoriasis. Calcipotriol, a new vitamin D3 analogue, is at least 100 times less calcemic than calcitriol.
Objective:
Our purpose was to study the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.
Methods:
In a right/left comparative, double-blind study, treatment with calcipotriol ointment (50 micrograms/gm) twice daily and placebo was given for 4 weeks. The preferred treatment was continued, without opening the code, for another 4 weeks. Efficacy, as measured by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and by the investigator's and patient's global assessment, and safety were assessed every 2 weeks.
Results:
The mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index fell in 4 weeks from 14.2 to 6.3 with calcipotriol and from 14.1 to 9.2 with placebo (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval for difference: 1.78-->3.94). Local side effects were equally common with calcipotriol and placebo. The mean serum calcium remained unchanged.
Conclusion:
Topical application of up to 50 gm of calcipotriol ointment per week was found to be an effective and safe treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.
