The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) does not recommend adapalene 0.1%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel (Epiduo®) for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of acne vulgaris when comedones, papules and pustules are present.

The drug advice (available at the link below) discusses the evidence submitted by the manufacturer and considered by the SMC when making their recommendation.  This notes that the manufacturer’s case was based on patients with severe acne who refuse treatment with, or have a contraindication to, oral isotretinoin.  In addition the comparative efficacy of this product versus alternative treatment options in this patient group is unclear.  As a consequence, the manufacturer did not present a sufficiently robust economic analysis to gain acceptance by SMC.