Summary of the study

Background: Psoriasis is a common, chronic-recurrent skin condition with various clinical manifestations and numerous therapeutic options.

Materials and methods: At Charité University Hospital Berlin, the radical protection of the cream (Alnovat), which contains various plant oils, was tested in vivo using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and its skin penetration was assessed in intact and barrier-disturbed skin using Raman microscopy. After 4 weeks of daily topical application, changes in skin barrier properties were evaluated using laser scanning microscopy (LSM), assessment using a clinical scoring system, and transepidermal water loss in 26 healthy volunteers in total. 

Moreover, the efficacy of the plant oil-based cream (Alnovat®) was compared with a 0.05% calcipotriol cream (gold standard) and a vehicle cream in patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. The psoriasis affected less than 10% of the body surface area.

In the three-arm, prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study, a total of 135 patients were included in three treatment groups, each comprising 45 patients. During the 12-week daily application of Alnovat cream, calcipotriol cream (gold standard) or vehicle control, the PASI (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) score was calculated in weeks 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12, and the change in the PASI score from baseline to week 12 served as the primary endpoint. The percentage of the patients who achieved PASI 50 and PASI 75 at any point during the study was considered the secondary endpoint.

Results: The average penetration depth was 17.0 ± 1.7 for the intact skin and 14.7 ± 1.6 for the barrier-disturbed skin.

The EPR spectroscopy revealed significantly higher radical formation after exposure to VIS/NIR radiation in untreated skin compared to treated skin (p ≤ 0.05). LSM and TEWL measurements demonstrated a protective skin barrier effect in the treated skin compared to the untreated skin

Topical application of Alnovat demonstrated a significant reduction in the PASI score compared to topical treatment with the calcipotriol cream (gold standard) in week 12 (p= 0.0155, 95% CI -1.11 - -0.12). The number of patients achieving a PASI value of 50 or 75 at any point during the study was 19 (55.9%) and 10 (29.4%) respectively with Alnovat, 18 (47.4%) and 6 (15.8%) with the calcipotriol cream, and 23 (60.5%) and 13 (34.2%) for the vehicle.

Conclusions: The plant ingredient-based cream Alnovat demonstrates efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis.

Summary of the long-term test

In addition to the results of the study, we wanted to get direct feedback on the treatment from users. For our test, we looked for 1,000 psoriasis sufferers (in cooperation with the Farbenhaut psoriasis portal) who would use Alnovat daily for three months. The cream was provided to the testers free of charge.

Results: After four weeks, the first survey of treatment results took place. At this point, 75% of the participants responded that they were experiencing less itching. 70% experienced an improvement in scaling.

At the end of the test, over 85% of the participants stated that they intend to continue using Alnovat and would also recommend it to others.

Conclusion: With Alnovat, effective, long-term treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis is possible without any pharmacological active ingredients such as cortisone and antibiotics.