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List of investigational acne drugs

This is a list of investigational acne drugs, or drugs that are currently under development for clinical use in the treatment of acne but are not yet approved.

Chemical/generic names are listed first, with developmental code names, synonyms, and brand names in parentheses. The format of list items is "Name (Synonyms) – Mechanism of Action [Reference]".

This list was last comprehensively updated in September 2025. It is likely to become outdated with time.

Under development

Phase 3

  • Benzoyl peroxide/tretinoin (IDP-120) – combination of benzoyl peroxide (undefined mechanism of action) and tretinoin (retinoid)
  • Berdazimer sodium (SB-204; MAP3-NONOate; NVN1000) – nitric oxide releasing agent
  • Denifanstat (ASC–40; TVB-2640) – fatty acid synthetase complex inhibitor
  • GED 0507-34-Levo (GED-0507; GED-0507-34; N-acetyl-GED-0507-34; NAC-GED-0507) – peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) modulator

Phase 2/3

  • B-244 (AOB-101; AOB-102; AOB-103; AOB-201; AOB-202; AOB-203; B244; nitrosomonas eutropha D23) – bacteria replacement

Phase 2

  • Acetylcysteine lysinate (L-lysine-N-acetyl-L-cysteinate; N-acetylcysteine lysinate; Nacystelyn) – antioxidant
  • Aminolevulinic acid (ALA; BF-200 ALA) – photosensitizer
  • Cannabidiol topical (CBD; BTX-1204; BTX-1308; BTX-1503; BTX-1702; BTX-1801; PBX-1308) – cannabinoid
  • Dimethylcurcumin (ASCJ-9; AJ-101; ASC-J9) – androgen receptor degradation enhancer
  • Imsidolimab (ANB-019) – monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-36 receptor
  • Ivermectin topical (CD-5024; Soolantra) – non-mammalian chloride channel opener
  • LYS-006 – leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) inhibitor
  • Methyl aminolevulinate (MAL; CD06809-41; Luxerm; MAL-PDT; Metvix; Metvixia; P-1202; Visonac) – photosensitizer
  • NAI Acne (BI-Acne; BI-K-0376; CB-06-01; CB-06-04; NAI-003; NAI-Acne; VIC-acne) – peptide elongation factor Tu inhibitor
  • Omiganan (CLS-001; CPI-226; MBI-226; MBI-594AN; MX-226; MX-594AN; Omigard) – antiseptic/antibacterial
  • Pyrilutamide (EX-A5504; HY-145451; KX–826) – antiandrogen (androgen receptor antagonist)
  • Tretinoin topical – retinoid (retinoic acid receptor agonist)
  • VB-1953 – antibiotic and toll-like receptor antagonist

Phase 1/2

Phase 1

  • AMTX-100 – transcription factor modulator
  • ASC-60 (TVB-3567) – fatty acid synthetase complex inhibitor
  • Trifarotene – retinoic acid receptor gamma (RAR-γ) agonist

Preclinical

  • Acne vaccine – immunostimulant
  • ADA-308 – antiandrogen (androgen receptor antagonist)
  • Research programme: acne vulgaris therapeutics - Attillaps Pharmaceuticals – acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Research

  • Topical acne vulgaris therapeutic (novel compound 8) – undefined mechanism of action

Not under development

No development reported

  • Adapalene/minocycline (FCD-105) – combination of adapalene (retinoid) and minocycline (tetracycline antibiotic)
  • Auriclosene (AgaDerm; AgaNase; AL-46383A; CD-07223; DCDMT; NVC-422) – aganocide compound and antimicrobial
  • Bermekimab (CA-18C3; CV-18C3; Hutruo; JNJ-77474462; MAB-p1; RA-18C3; T2-18C3; Xilonix) – monoclonal antibody against interleukin-1α
  • BOS-356 (GSK-3008356) – diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase inhibitor
  • Brilacidin (PMX-30063) – host defense protein (HDP) mimetic antibiotic
  • Carbamide peroxide topical (E-0301) – disinfectant and bleaching agent
  • CJM-112 – IL17A and IL17F inhibitor
  • Clindamycin/tretinoin – combination of clindamycin (lincosamide antibiotic) and tretinoin (retinoid)
  • Clindamycin/tretinoin – combination of clindamycin (lincosamide antibiotic) and tretinoin (retinoid)
  • DMT-200 (DMT-210; DMT-220; SIG-990) – isoprenylcysteine analogue and various actions
  • Estradiol valerate/dienogest (Climodien; Climodiène; Klimodien; Lafamme) – combination of estradiol valerate (estrogen) and dienogest (progestogen)
  • Ethinylestradiol/chlormadinone acetate (Balianca; Belara; GRT4248) – combination of ethinylestradiol (estrogen) and chlormadinone acetate (progestogen) and a combined oral contraceptive
  • Ethinylestradiol/drospirenone (Petibelle; SH-470; Yasmin; ZK-30595) – combination of ethinylestradiol (estrogen) and drospirenone (progestogen)
  • GSK-1940029 – stearoyl-CoA desaturase inhibitor
  • GT-20029 (AR-PROTAC) – androgen receptor degradation enhancer
  • IP10-C8 – CD13 antigen inhibitor and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitor
  • Minocycline extended release (Emrosi; Ximino) – tetracycline antibiotic
  • Minocycline topical (HY01) – tetracycline antibiotic
  • MTC-896 – melanocortin receptor antagonist
  • Nitric oxide (Enovid; FabiSpray; NORS-0791; NORS-1002; NORS-2791; NORS-4002; NORS-6491; NORS) – nitric oxide donor
  • ORG-101 (acne vulgaris vaccine; ORI-001; ORI-A-ce001) – immunostimulant, vaccine
  • Radezolid (RX-01667; Rx-01_667; RX-103; RX-1741) – oxazolidone antibiotic
  • Research programme: antimicrobial therapies - NovaBiotics – cell membrane permeability enhancers
  • Research programme: synthetic cannabinoid therapeutics - Claritas Pharmaceuticals – cannabinoids (cannabinoid receptor modulators)
  • Research programme: therapeutic antibody fragments - Kuur Therapeutics – various actions
  • Silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC; Axenohl) – antiseptic/antibacterial
  • Tazarotene topical (DFD-03) – retinoid X receptor agonist

Discontinued

  • Acebilustat (CTX-4430; EP-501) – leukotriene A4 (LTA4H) hydrolase inhibitor
  • Afamelanotide (CUV-1647; EPT-1647; Melanotan I; Melanotan; Prenumbra; Scenesse) – melanocortin receptor agonist
  • BBI-3000 – retinoid X receptor agonist
  • BMX-010 (MnTE-2-PyP) – reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger and radioprotector
  • Botulinum toxin A liquid (AI-09) – acetylcholine release inhibitor and neuromuscular blocking agent
  • Botulinum toxin A topical (ANT-1207) – acetylcholine release inhibitor and neuromuscular blocking agent
  • Cioteronel (CPC-10997; Cyoctol; X-Andron) – antiandrogen (androgen receptor antagonist)
  • Diroleuton (DGLA; DHLA; DS-107; RO-12-1989) – omega-6 fatty acid and anti-inflammatory
  • DMVT-503 (RVT-503) – undefined mechanism of action
  • DX-0385 – retinoic acid metabolism modulator
  • Encapsulated tretinoin cream – retinoid (retinoic acid receptor agonist)
  • Epristeride (Aipuliete; ONO-9302; SKF-105657) – 5α-reductase inhibitor
  • Falecalcitriol (DSC-103; F6VD3; flocalcitriol; Fulstan; hexafluorocalcitriol; hexafluorovitamin D3; Hornel; SM-8000; ST-630) – vitamin D/calcitriol analogue
  • Gevokizumab (S-78989; VPM-087; XMA-005.2) – monoclonal antibody against interleukin-1β
  • Hypochlorous acid (PR-013; PR-022) – disinfectant and other actions
  • Imsidolimab (ANB-019) – monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-36 receptor
  • Incyclinide (chemically modified tetracycline 3; CMT-3; COL-3; Metastat) – chemically modified tetracycline and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (no antibiotic activity)
  • Ingenol disoxate (LEO-43204) – undefined mechanism of action
  • JNJ-10229570 – melanocortin MC<sub>5</sub> receptor antagonist
  • MDI-301 – undefined mechanism of action
  • MK-434 (MK-0434) – 5α-reductase inhibitor
  • MTCH-24 (Zilex; Zorex) – undefined mechanism of action
  • PF-06423264 – acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor
  • PSK-3841 (HMR-3841; RU-58841) – antiandrogen (androgen receptor antagonist)
  • Research programme: acne therapeutics - Praxis – undefined mechanism of action
  • Research programme: tetracycline derivatives - Paratek Pharmaceuticals (P-004292) – tetracycline derivatives
  • Rose bengal sodium (PH-10; Provecta; PV-10; rose bengal; Xantryl) – immunomodulator and other actions
  • Santalum album ointment (albuterpenoid; East Indian sandalwood oil) – undefined mechanism of action
  • Talarozole (R115866; Rambazole) – retinoic acid metabolism modulator
  • Thykamine (PCT-233; PUR-0110) – undefined mechanism of action (anti-inflammatory)
  • Valproic acid topical (Avugane; Baceca; G2M-777) – histone deacetylase inhibitor and other actions
  • XEN-801 (XEN801) – stearoyl-CoA desaturase inhibitor
  • XOMA-629 (XMP-629) – endotoxin inhibitor
  • Zileuton (A-64077; Abbott-64077; ABT-077; CRTX-073; CTI-02; Zyflo) – 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor

Not under development

  • Isotretinoin topical – retinoid (retinoic acid receptor agonist)

Clinically used drugs

Approved drugs

Single-drug formulations

  • Adapalene (CD-271; Differin) – retinoid (retinoic acid receptor agonist)
  • Azelaic acid (BAY39-6251; Finacea; Skinoren) – undefined mechanism of action
  • Benzoyl peroxide (Bepio; M6050; M605101) – undefined mechanism of action
  • Clascoterone (Breezula; Winlevi; CB-03-01; cortexolone 17α-propionate) – antiandrogen (androgen receptor antagonist)
  • Clindamycin (ResiDerm A; Zindaclin) – lincosamide antibiotic
  • Dapsone topical (Aczone; Atrisone) – sulfone antibiotic
  • Doxycycline hyclate (Acticlate; Monodox; AQ101) – tetracycline antibiotic
  • Isotretinoin (Absorica; Accutane; CIP-isotretinoin; Epuris; Lisacne-CIP) – retinoid (retinoic acid receptor agonist)
  • Minocycline (DFD-10; DFD-29; Emrosi; Minolira) – tetracycline antibiotic
  • Minocycline foam (Amzeeq; FMX-102; FMX-103; FMX-101; FXFM-244; Zilxi) – tetracycline antibiotic
  • Nadifloxacin topical – fluoroquinolone antibiotic
  • Ozenoxacin (Dubine; GF-001001-00; M-5120; M-512101; M-512102; Ozadub; Ozanex; T-3912; Xepi; Zebiax) – quinolone antibiotic
  • Sarecycline (Seysara; P-0005672; WC-3035) – narrow-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic
  • Solubilised benzoyl peroxide (CLENZIderm M.D.; SoluCLENZ Rx Gel) – undefined mechanism of action
  • Tazarotene topical (AGN-190299; Avage; Fabior; Suretin; Tazorac; Zorac) – retinoid (retinoic acid receptor agonist)
  • Tretinoin (Acnisdin Retinoico; All-trans retinoic acid; Arotinoid; Avita; Dermojuventus; Loderm Retinoico; NSC 122758; Retinoic acid; Retirides; Vesanoid; Vitamin A acid; Vitamin-A Acid; Vitanol) – retinoid (retinoic acid receptor agonist)
  • Tretinoin lotion (Altreno; IDP-121) – retinoid (retinoic acid receptor agonist)
  • Trifarotene (Aklief; CD-5789) – retinoid acid receptor gamma (RAR-γ) agonist

Combination formulations

Off-label drugs

See also

References

External links