Meclocycline sulfosalicylate. Topical antibiotic agent for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Meclocycline sulfosalicylate is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent that was synthesized in 1960 and has been marketed abroad for several years. Clinical studies in the United States to date involve 351 patients. The results of a regimen using topically applied meclocycline sulfosalicylate, 1 percent, as the sole treatment are examined. Overall 82 percent of the patients treated with the active preparation experienced clinical improvement in a twice daily application regimen. Excellent of good results were obtained in 62.3 percent of patients treated with meclocycline sulfosalicylate cream as compared with 27.5 percent of those treated with the cream vehicle alone. The median percent reduction in the number of inflammatory lesions of acne among patients treated for 11 weeks was 57.1 percent. Rapid response was noted at week 5, with nearly a 50 percent median reduction in papules and pustules. The low incidence of local adverse effects was noteworthy. Only one case of contact dermatitis possibly related to treatment was reported among the patients studied.