Photocil (Topical) for the Treatment of Vitiligo

NB-UVB phototherapy is a common treatment for patients with psoriasis, and has been reported to be safe and effective in numerous clinical trials. Clinical trials have reported achievement of Vitiligo Area Severity Index (VASI)-75 in 50-70% of patients after 4-6 weeks of NB-UVB treatment. Many drawbacks limit patients compliance, access, and acceptance of traditional NB-UVB phototherapy. The strict treatment regimen (2-3 sessions per week for an average of 12 weeks or more) performed at a specialized phototherapy clinic combined with high cost and low or no reimbursement make compliance and access a major drawback. In order to address the drawbacks of phototherapy, we developed a novel topical cream - Photocil - that selectively delivers NB-UVB therapy when exposed to sunlight. When used with natural sunlight, Photocil provides a convenient alternative to traditional clinic based phototherapy; thus, has the potential to dramatically increase patient compliance and treatment outcome.