Clindamycin phosphate 1.2%- tretinoin 0.025% gel: vehicle characteristics, stability, and tolerability.

An aqueous gel formulation containing solubilized clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and a stable combination of both solubilized and crystalline tretinoin 0.025% (clin/tret) has been evaluated in 3 pivotal phase 3 studies, among other studies including a 52-week trial. The pivotal studies enrolled 4550 participants 12 years and older with mild, moderate, and severe acne vulgaris. The combination clin/tret gel was effective in reducing both inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions and was well-tolerated. This article reviews important vehicle characteristics of the combination gel as well as formulation stability and tolerability data that are potentially clinically relevant.