PowerPoint Presentation


Angela Yen Moore1,2, Stephen Moore1,3, Luke Moore1, Stephen K Tyring3

1Arlington Research Center, Arlington, TX, USA; 2Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

3Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA

INTRODUCTION RESULTS

CASE REPORT

REFERENCES

CONCLUSIONS

• Acne vulgaris is a common disease of both males and females, usually 

manifesting initially during adolescence.

• 60-70% of patients present with acne on the trunk. 1

• Since severity of truncal acne does not correlate with severity of facial 

acne, the psychosocial burden and physical pain and bleeding of truncal 

acne cannot be underestimated. 2

• Antibiotics in the tetracycline family have been prescribed as acne 

treatments for many years.  

• Sarecycline, a narrow-spectrum 3rd generation tetracycline-class 

antibiotic, was FDA approved for moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris in 

patients 9 years of age and older in October, 2018.

• Sarecycline exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity, activity against 

Cutibacterium acnes and clinically relevant Gram-positive bacteria, but 

reduced activity against Gram-negative bacteria commonly found in the 

gut, may contribute to its favorable side effect profile. 3

• Significant improvement in truncal acne, using IGA assessments, was 

reported with sarecycline in Phase 3 clinical trials. 4,5

• We present a 18-year-old Hispanic male with severe acne vulgaris on 

the trunk treated with sarecycline monotherapy for 3 months, and 

assessed IGA scores and lesion counts of the trunk, with objective 

photographs, at weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12. 

• At baseline, the patient presented with severe acne vulgaris on the trunk, 

with 77 inflammatory lesions on the trunk. 
• This case report confirms clinical observation of rapid improvement of truncal 

acne in Phase 3 clinical trials.

1. Del Rosso JQ, Stein-Gold L, Lynde C, Tanghetti E, Alexis AF. Truncal Acne: A Neglected Entity. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(12):205-

1208.

2. Tan J, Beissert S, Cook-Bolden F, et al. Impact of facial and truncal acne on quality of life: A multi-country population-based survey. 

JAAD International. 2021;3:102-110. doi:10.1016/j.jdin.2021.03.002

3.  Bunick CG, Keri J, Tanaka SK, et al. Antibacterial Mechanisms and Efficacy of Sarecycline in Animal Models of Infection and 

Inflammation. Antibiotics (Basel). 2021;10(4):439. doi:10.3390/antibiotics10040439

4. Moore A, Green LJ, Bruce S, et al. Once-daily oral sarecycline 1.5 mg/kg/day is effective for moderate to severe acne vulgaris: Results 

from two identically designed, phase 3, randomized, double-blind clinical trials. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD. 2018;17(9):987-

996.

5. Del Rosso JQ, Stein Gold L, Baldwin H, et al. Management of Truncal Acne With Oral Sarecycline: Pooled Results from Two Phase-3 

Clinical Trials. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(6):634-640. doi:10.36849/JDD.2021.6204

Sarecycline: Rapid Improvement of Truncal Acne in Hispanic Male 

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

• At weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12, inflammatory lesions counts on the trunk decreased 

to 13 (83% reduction), 13 (83% reduction), 8 (90% reduction), and 7 (91% 

reduction), respectively. 

• IGA score for the trunk decreased from IGA of 4 at baseline to 1 (almost 

clear) at week 12.  

• No side effects of special interest for tetracycline-family antibiotics, including 

nausea, diarrhea, esophagitis, pseudotumor cerebri, blurry or double vision, 

dizziness, vertigo, or blue-gray pigmentation, were observed. 

• Oral sarecycline may offer a practical and convenient treatment for truncal 

acne, especially in areas where topical agents can be difficult to apply. 

Baseline

Week 3

Week 6

Week 9

Week 12

RESULTS

Figure 2. Patient Photos of Back

Disclosures: Investigator Initiated Trial Funds were received from Almirall, LLC. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdin.2021.03.002
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10040439
https://doi.org/10.36849/JDD.2021.6204