The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved cantharidin (Ycanth) as a topical treatment for patients aged 2 years and older with molluscum contagiosum. The FDA approval comes after data from the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled CAMP-1 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03377790) and CAMP-2 (NCT03377803) trials showed that 54% of the patients who received cantharidin had complete clearance of their molluscum contagiosum bumps after 84 days compared with 13% of patients treated with placebo. The patients received up to four applications of cantharidin at 21-day intervals until their bumps cleared. Patients reported adverse reactions at the application sites of cantharidin—including blistering, pain, itching, scabbing, reddening, discoloration, dryness, edema, and erosion of the skin. For full prescribing information, individuals can visit accessdata.fda.gov.
July 26, 2023