Maruho Co, Ltd and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd has announced that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved a new indication for Oxarol ointment 25mcg/g and Oxarol Lotion 25mcg/g, treatment drugs for keratosis including psoriasis vulgaris, for extended treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis. Chugai has the marketing approval and Maruho distributes for the products.

Maxacalcitol, an active ingredient of the drugs, is an active vitamin D3 derivative developed by Chugai. It inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes.

Since market launch of 'Ointment' in October 2001, it has been widely used in patients with keratosis including psoriasis vulgaris, remarkably improving the symptoms.

'Lotion' was launched in June 2007. It has been improved so that patients can easily apply the product to hairy areas such as head, a common site of psoriasis vulgaris.

The efficacy and safety of the drugs for palmoplantar pustulosis were demonstrated in the clinical trials conducted in applying for approval for extended indication.

Currently, steroids are mainly used for topical treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis. However, since low-concentration tacalcitol is the only active vitamin D3 derivative that is indicated for palmoplantar pustulosis, the additional indication of topical treatment Oxarol for palmoplantar pustulosis is expected to provide more treatment choices to patients with palmoplantar pustulosis.