Ro 20-1724: an agent that significantly improves psoriatic lesions in double-blind clinical trials.

Two double-blind studies comparing the effectiveness of the cyclic nucleotide-altering agent (4-[3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl]-2-imidazolidinone) (Ro 20-1724) vs vehicle have demonstrated that this compound can improve psoriatic lesions. Although Ro 20-1724 was not as effective as intensive occlusive treatment of psoriatic lesions with 0.025% triamcinolone acetonide, Ro 20-1724 had no adverse systemic or cutaneous effects. Ro 20-1724 and other cyclic nucleotide-altering agents may have therapeutic potential in the future treatment of psoriasis.