Category: topical
Aliases: Tazorac, Avage, Arazlo, AGN-190168
Acetylenic retinoid prodrug — rapidly hydrolysed by esterases in the skin to the active carboxylic-acid metabolite tazarotenic acid, which selectively activates RAR-β and RAR-γ. Potent normalisation of keratinocyte differentiation with anti-proliferative activity (basis for the psoriasis indication — reduces T-cell-driven keratinocyte hyperproliferation). Among topical retinoids, tazarotene is the most irritating, which is also why the newer 0.045% lotion vehicle exists. Systemic exposure to tazarotenic acid is <1% of applied dose but still drives a pregnancy-category X labelling.
TD: 18h