Alitretinoin 10mg capsules
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
An important regulator of gene expression during growth and development, and in neoplasms.
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Official medicine documents
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Drug safety updates
MHRA alerts for Alitretinoin
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Alitretinoin
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Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Alitretinoin
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EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
4 branded products available
MHRA licensed products
View all licensed products for Alitretinoin on the MHRA register
Toctino 10mg capsules
Alitretinoin 10mg capsules
Alitretinoin 10mg capsules
Alitretinoin 10mg capsules
This is the NHS Drug Tariff indicative price used for reimbursement purposes. It may not reflect the price paid by patients or pharmacies.
View full Drug TariffSource: NHS Drug Tariff via NHSBSA. Derived from dm+d VMPP (Virtual Medicinal Product Pack) pricing data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
20 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via the NHS dm+d supplementary mapping files (NHSBSA). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NICE clinical guidance(3)
Alitretinoin for the treatment of severe chronic hand eczema (TA177)
Delgocitinib for treating moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (TA1107)
Secondary bacterial infection of eczema and other common skin conditions: antimicrobial prescribing (NG190)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
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Supply & safety information
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Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. Shortage and safety information sourced from MHRA drug safety updates (gov.uk, Crown Copyright under OGL v3.0).
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 17 · Randomised trials: 8 · 1999–2026
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
Thomas Ruzicka, Charles Lynde, Gregor B. E. Jemec, et al.
British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
- Alitretinoin
- Chronic Disease
- Dermatologic Agents
Gupta AK, Bamimore MA, Talukder M
2025
- Eczema
- Hand Dermatoses
- Dermatologic Agents
IntroductionChronic hand eczema (CHE) is a highly prevalent dermatology-related occupational hazard. This condition, which is a distinct diagnosis from atopic dermatitis (AD), can be quite symptomatic with implications for one's personal and professional life. Many therapeutic interventions exist for CHE, and the current study determined-through network meta-analyses (NMAs)-the relative efficacy of the newer treatments for CHE.MethodsData for eligible studies were identified after systematically reviewing the literature in PubMed and Scopus. Eligible studies were those that had an arm investigating the impact of monotherapy on 12- or 16-week changes in Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) scores. We conducted sensitivity analyses where network meta-regressions were performed to (ecologically) adjust for variation due to age and sex. Base and sensitivity analyses were adjusted for disease severity at baseline.ResultsWe identified 5 eligible studies-across which there were 10 active comparators. Among the active comparators were two treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of CHE, namely, alitretinoin 30 mg once daily (oral) and delgocitinib 20 mg/g twice daily (topical). We estimated pairwise relative effects using the mean difference (i.e., mean reduction) in the respective HECSI scores; furthermore, efficacy was ranked with Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking Curve (SUCRA) values.ConclusionsWe attempted to contribute to the existing CHE literature by producing comparative information on its treatments' relative efficacy; moreover, we found no published NMA study on available treatments for CHE before the conduct of our work. Our results can guide clinical decision-making.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Ryan Pulleyblank, R. Eyben, Daniela Goncalvez-Bradley, et al.
Value in Health, 2025
Yu Jin Lee, Jung Min Lee, Y. Choi, et al.
Annals of Dermatology, 2026
Jun Hyo Lee, Soyun Cho
JAAD Case Reports, 2022
Ana M. Giménez‐Arnau, Andreas Pinter, Wiebke Sondermann, et al.
The Lancet, 2025
- Alitretinoin
- Dermatologic Agents
- Administration, Topical
Miriam Wittmann, Isabelle L Smith, Sarah Brown, et al.
Health Technology Assessment, 2024
- Alitretinoin
- Eczema
- Chronic Disease
M. Wittmann, I. Smith, S. Brown, et al.
British Journal of Dermatology, 2023
Angelique N. Voorberg, Esmé Kamphuis, W.A. Christoffers, et al.
Contact Dermatitis, 2022
- Dermatologic Agents
- Eczema
- Hand Dermatoses
Alexandra Maria Giovanna Brunasso, Cesare Massone
British Journal of Dermatology, 2017
- Psoriasis
- Tretinoin
- Alitretinoin
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
None known
Half-life
Not available
Mechanism
Alitretinoin binds to and activates all known intracellular retinoid receptor su…
Food interactions
2 warnings
Human targets
9 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Known interactions with other medicines. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 86 interactions
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:16417524 PMID:19850744 PMID:20215566 PMID:21152046 PMID:37478846
Retinoic acid receptors bind as heterodimers to their target response elements in response to their ligands, all-trans or 9-cis retinoic acid, and regulate gene expression in various biological processes .
PMID:21152046 PMID:28167758 PMID:37478846
The RXR/RAR heterodimers bind to the retinoic acid response elements (RARE) composed of tandem 5'-AGGTCA-3' sites known as DR1-DR5 .
PMID:19398580 PMID:28167758
In the absence of ligand, the RXR-RAR heterodimers associate with a multiprotein complex containing transcription corepressors that induce histone deacetylation, chromatin condensation and transcriptional suppression .
PMID:16417524
On ligand binding, the corepressors dissociate from the receptors and associate with the coactivators leading to transcriptional activation .
PMID:19850744 PMID:20215566 PMID:37478846 PMID:9267036
Formation of a complex with histone deacetylases might lead to inhibition of RARE DNA element binding and to transcriptional repression .
PMID:28167758
Transcriptional activation and RARE DNA element binding might be supported by the transcription factor KLF2 .
PMID:28167758
RARA plays an essential role in the regulation of retinoic acid-induced germ cell development during spermatogenesis (By similarity). Has a role in the survival of early spermatocytes at the beginning prophase of meiosis (By similarity). In Sertoli cells, may promote the survival and development of early meiotic prophase spermatocytes (By similarity).
In concert with RARG, required for skeletal growth, matrix homeostasis and growth plate function (By similarity). Together with RXRA, positively regulates microRNA-10a expression, thereby inhibiting the GATA6/VCAM1 signaling response to pulsatile shear stress in vascular endothelial cells .
PMID:28167758
In association with HDAC3, HDAC5 and HDAC7 corepressors, plays a role in the repression of microRNA-10a and thereby promotes the inflammatory response PMID:28167758
PMID:10874028 PMID:11162439 PMID:11915042 PMID:37478846
Forms homo- or heterodimers with retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and binds to target response elements in response to their ligands, all-trans or 9-cis retinoic acid, to regulate gene expression in various biological processes .
PMID:10195690 PMID:11162439 PMID:11915042 PMID:16107141 PMID:17761950 PMID:18800767 PMID:19167885 PMID:28167758 PMID:37478846
The RAR/RXR heterodimers bind to the retinoic acid response elements (RARE) composed of tandem 5'-AGGTCA-3' sites known as DR1-DR5 to regulate transcription .
PMID:10195690 PMID:11162439 PMID:11915042 PMID:17761950 PMID:28167758
The high affinity ligand for retinoid X receptors (RXRs) is 9-cis retinoic acid .
PMID:1310260
In the absence of ligand, the RXR-RAR heterodimers associate with a multiprotein complex containing transcription corepressors that induce histone deacetylation, chromatin condensation and transcriptional suppression .
PMID:20215566
On ligand binding, the corepressors dissociate from the receptors and coactivators are recruited leading to transcriptional activation .
PMID:20215566 PMID:37478846 PMID:9267036
Serves as a common heterodimeric partner for a number of nuclear receptors, such as RARA, RARB and PPARA .
PMID:10195690 PMID:11915042 PMID:28167758 PMID:29021580
The RXRA/RARB heterodimer can act as a transcriptional repressor or transcriptional activator, depending on the RARE DNA element context .
PMID:29021580
The RXRA/PPARA heterodimer is required for PPARA transcriptional activity on fatty acid oxidation genes such as ACOX1 and the P450 system genes .
PMID:10195690
Together with RARA, positively regulates microRNA-10a expression, thereby inhibiting the GATA6/VCAM1 signaling response to pulsatile shear stress in vascular endothelial cells .
PMID:28167758
Acts as an enhancer of RARA binding to RARE DNA element .
PMID:28167758
May facilitate the nuclear import of heterodimerization partners such as VDR and NR4A1 .
PMID:12145331 PMID:15509776
Promotes myelin debris phagocytosis and remyelination by macrophages .
PMID:26463675
Plays a role in the attenuation of the innate immune system in response to viral infections, possibly by negatively regulating the transcription of antiviral genes such as type I IFN genes .
PMID:25417649
Involved in the regulation of calcium signaling by repressing ITPR2 gene expression, thereby controlling cellular senescence PMID:30216632
In the absence or presence of hormone ligand, acts mainly as an activator of gene expression due to weak binding to corepressors .
PMID:12554770
The RXRA/RARB heterodimer can act as a repressor on the DR1 element and as an activator on the DR5 element .
PMID:29021580
In concert with RARG, required for skeletal growth, matrix homeostasis and growth plate function (By similarity)
In the absence of ligand, acts mainly as an activator of gene expression due to weak binding to corepressors. Required for limb bud development. In concert with RARA or RARB, required for skeletal growth, matrix homeostasis and growth plate function (By similarity)
Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes
PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:8898203 PMID:9038218 PMID:35507548
Catalyzes the flop of phospholipids from the cytoplasmic to the exoplasmic leaflet of the apical membrane. Participates mainly to the flop of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, beta-D-glucosylceramides and sphingomyelins .
PMID:8898203
Energy-dependent efflux pump responsible for decreased drug accumulation in multidrug-resistant cells PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:9038218
Proteins that carry this drug through the body
Involved compounds
Involved compounds
ATC L01XF02
ATC D11AH04
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Alitretinoin
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
11885
ChemSpider
395778
BindingDB
31892
PDB
9CR
ZINC
ZINC000012661824
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9864
GenAtlas
RARA
GeneCards
RARA
GenBank Gene Database
X06614
GenBank Protein Database
36157
Guide to Pharmacology
590
UniProt Accession
RARA_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10477
GenAtlas
RXRA
GeneCards
RXRA
GenBank Gene Database
X52773
GenBank Protein Database
35885
Guide to Pharmacology
610
UniProt Accession
RXRA_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9865
GenAtlas
RARB
GeneCards
RARB
GenBank Gene Database
X07282
GenBank Protein Database
35883
Guide to Pharmacology
591
UniProt Accession
RARB_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10478
GenAtlas
RXRB
GeneCards
RXRB
GenBank Gene Database
X63522
GenBank Protein Database
30448
Guide to Pharmacology
611
UniProt Accession
RXRB_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9866
GenAtlas
RARG
GeneCards
RARG
GenBank Gene Database
M24857
GenBank Protein Database
306887
Guide to Pharmacology
592
UniProt Accession
RARG_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10479
GenAtlas
RXRG
GeneCards
RXRG
GenBank Gene Database
U38480
GenBank Protein Database
1053069
Guide to Pharmacology
612
UniProt Accession
RXRG_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5472
GenAtlas
IGFBP3
GeneCards
IGFBP3
GenBank Gene Database
M31159
GenBank Protein Database
183116
UniProt Accession
IBP3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9522
GeneCards
PSG5
UniProt Accession
PSG5_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:20577
GeneCards
CYP26C1
UniProt Accession
CP26C_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2339
GenAtlas
CRABP2
GeneCards
CRABP2
GenBank Gene Database
M68867
GenBank Protein Database
181026
UniProt Accession
RABP2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2338
GenAtlas
CRABP1
GeneCards
CRABP1
GenBank Gene Database
S74445
GenBank Protein Database
241542
UniProt Accession
RABP1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:40
GenAtlas
ABCB1
GeneCards
ABCB1
GenBank Gene Database
M14758
GenBank Protein Database
307180
Guide to Pharmacology
768
UniProt Accession
MDR1_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite:
- DrugBank 6.02024Recommended citationKnox C., Wilson M., Klinger C.M., et alDrugBank 6.0: the DrugBank Knowledgebase for 2024Nucleic Acids Res. 2024 Jan 552(D1):D1265-D1275
- DrugBank 5.02018Wishart D.S., Feunang Y.D., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank 5.0: a major update to the DrugBank database for 2018Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Nov 846(D1):D1074-D1082
- DrugBank 4.02014Law V., Knox C., Djoumbou Y., et alDrugBank 4.0: shedding new light on drug metabolismNucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jan 142(1):D1091-7
- DrugBank 3.02011Knox C., Law V., Jewison T., et alDrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugsNucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan39(Database issue):D1035-41
- DrugBank 2.02008Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets.Nucleic Acids Research2008 Jan36(Database issue):D901-6
- DrugBank 1.02006Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a comprehensive resource for in silico drug discovery and exploration.Nucleic Acids Research2006 Jan 134(Database issue):D668-72