Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd's Toctino (alitretinoin), a new once-daily oral treatment for adults with severe chronic hand eczema (CHE) unresponsive to potent topical corticosteroids, has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom.

Following the recommendation for regulatory approval under the European decentralized procedure, Toctino received its first national regulatory approval in the UK. Marketing applications for the use of alitretinoin in the treatment of severe chronic refractory hand eczema are also under regulatory review in Canada and in Switzerland.

Hand eczema is a common inflammatory skin disease and is often chronic and relapsing.

Toctino (alitretinoin) was developed by Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd. The MHRA approved label for Toctino indicates "for use in adults who have severe chronic hand eczema that is unresponsive to treatment with potent topical corticosteroids."

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange. Basilea's integrated research and development operations are currently focused on new antibacterial and antifungal agents to fight drug resistance and on the development of dermatology drugs.