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| |  Aldara Cream Effective For Genital Warts ST. PAUL, MN -- February 12, 1998 -- Results from a clinical trial show that Aldara(TM) (imiquimod) cream 5% is a safe, effective treatment for genital warts. The trial results were published in the January edition of the journal Archives of Dermatology. In a clinical trial with 311 patients, 72 percent of women and 33 percent of men using 5% Aldara cream achieved total wart clearance after a maximum of 16 weeks compared to 11 percent of patients using vehicle cream. In addition, 72 percent of those who cleared using Aldara and 82 percent of the vehicle group remained wart clear after 12 weeks. "This study highlights that Aldara cream, used three times a week, is a safe and effective patient-applied therapy," said Mary Owens, MD, associate director of clinical research, 3M Pharmaceuticals. The newest in a class of drugs called immune response modifiers and representing the first new therapeutic approach to genital warts in five years, Aldara was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in March, 1997 and has been available to patients since June, 1997. Genital warts is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is one of the most common -- and least talked about -- of all STDs. At least 10 to 20 percent of sexually-active Americans are thought to be infected. Genital warts is growing at a rate of 750,000 new cases each year, is spread by sexual contact with an infected partner and is highly contagious. This life long virus can cause warts in the genital and perianal areas in females and males. Male sexual partners of infected women often have HPV penile infection. Genital warts may cause itching, burning, pain and tenderness. Although there is no cure for genital warts, treatment can alleviate physical symptoms and psychological reactions such as problems with sexuality, shame, embarrassment and self-blame. Until recently, most treatment options for genital warts were tissue destructive involving chemical agents, procedures such as loop electrocautery excision (burning), surgery, cryotherapy (freezing) and tissue destructive drugs such as podofilox and podophyllin. "Many patients have previously avoided treatment for genital warts because of fear of chemical and surgical procedures," said Karl Beutner, MD, PhD, associate clinical professor, University of California, San Francisco and chief investigator in the clinical trial of Aldara. "Self-administered Aldara cream is an effective, patient-friendly treatment that can be applied in the privacy of home to clear up warts." More information on: Aldara, 3M
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