Clinical Trials

Numerous clinical trials evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of adapalene across conditions such as acne vulgaris, photoaging, senile purpura, atrophic acne scars, and plantar warts. Spanning Early Phase 1 through Phase 4, these studies are sponsored by both commercial entities and academic or medical institutions. The broader research landscape reflects various recruitment statuses, including completed, actively recruiting, terminated, and unknown protocols.

NCT Number Recruitment Conditions Sponsor/Collaborators Start Date Phases
NCT07524946 RECRUITING
Acne Vulgaris
Bausch Health Americas, Inc.
2026-04-01 PHASE4
NCT07421804 NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Acne Vulgaris
Assiut University
2026-04
NCT07673094 NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Acne Vulgaris
Khyber Teaching Hospital
2026-08-15 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT07805655 RECRUITING
Acne Vulgaris
Jeisys Medical Inc
2026-09-15
NCT07473895 NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Acne Vulgaris
Assiut University
2026-04 PHASE2
NCT07016360 RECRUITING
Viral Warts
Khyber Teaching Hospital
2025-09-15 PHASE4
NCT07237763 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Acne
Cairo University
2024-01-15
NCT07102186 RECRUITING
Acne Vulgaris
Badr University
2025-07-21 PHASE4
NCT07348978 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
2024-11-01
NCT05582434 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Acne
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
2024-02-15 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT06775314 NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Acne Vulgaris
Dr.dr.Irma Bernadette, SpKK (K)
2025-03-01 PHASE3
NCT07015931 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Indonesia University
2024-11-30 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT06141330 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
HITEC-Institute of Medical Sciences
2024-02-24
NCT06336603 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited
2023-11-15 PHASE4
NCT06673641 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
2024-05-13 PHASE1
NCT05536882 WITHDRAWN
Molluscum Contagiosum
University of Oklahoma
2022-05-18 PHASE3
NCT05899699 UNKNOWN
Acne Vulgaris
Mansoura University
2023-06-05 PHASE2
NCT05855629 UNKNOWN
Acne Vulgaris
Treatment and Diagnostic Center of Private Enterprise "Asklepiy"
2022-02-18
NCT04823845 WITHDRAWN
Plantar Wart
University of Louisville
2022-05-01 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT05497323 UNKNOWN
Acne Vulgaris
Dr.dr.Irma Bernadette, SpKK (K)
2022-08-01 PHASE1
NCT04892706 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Bausch Health Americas, Inc.
2021-06-11 PHASE2
NCT05216289 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Federal University of São Paulo
2018-04-01 PHASE4
NCT03563365 TERMINATED
Acne Vulgaris
Yardley Dermatology Associates
2018-06-04 PHASE4
NCT04797793 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
2020-05-18 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT04329403 WITHDRAWN
Acne Vulgaris
Aurobindo Pharma Ltd
2020-07 PHASE3
NCT03866447 UNKNOWN
Acne Vulgaris
Assiut University
2019-10-01 PHASE4
NCT04104685 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Vyne Therapeutics Inc.
2019-09-18 PHASE2
NCT03832647 COMPLETED
Acne
Vichy Laboratoires
2019-02-18 PHASE4
NCT03615768 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Lee's Pharmaceutical Limited
2018-08-14 PHASE3
NCT03650881 WITHDRAWN
Acne
NYU Langone Health
2018-08-07
NCT05096312 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
East Avenue Medical Center, Philippines
2018-12-21 PHASE4
NCT03650361 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Aleor Dermaceuticals Limited
2018-09-17 PHASE3
NCT03457636 COMPLETED
Acne
Derm Research, PLLC
2018-03-19 PHASE4
NCT03393494 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Padagis LLC
2017-12-13 PHASE3
NCT03573115 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris; Microparticles
Merete Haedersdal
2018-01-04
NCT02932267 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2017-02-02 PHASE3
NCT02593383 COMPLETED
Acne
Lee's Pharmaceutical Limited
2015-03-01 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT02735421 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris; Atrophic Acne Scars
Galderma R&D
2016-05-13 PHASE4
NCT02899000 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2016-07-29 PHASE4
NCT03626298 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Rumah Sakit Pusat Angkatan Darat Gatot Soebroto
2016-08-01 PHASE4
NCT02721173 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar
2016-04 PHASE4
NCT03585140 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris; Diet Modification
Centro Dermatológico Dr. Ladislao de la Pascua
2016-01-01
NCT02651220 COMPLETED
Acne
Actavis Inc.
2015-11 PHASE3
NCT02709902 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
2015-09 PHASE1
NCT01406080 COMPLETED
Photoaging; Photodamage
Galderma Brasil Ltda.
2013-01 PHASE3
NCT02716090 WITHDRAWN
Acne Vulgaris
Ache Laboratorios Farmaceuticos S.A.
PHASE3
NCT02620813 Completed
Acne Vulgaris
University of California Davis
2015-10 Early Phase 1
NCT02442817 Completed
Schizophrenia
University of Nevada Reno|Augusta University
2015-03-02 Phase 4
NCT02411942 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
2014-08 PHASE1
NCT02249104 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2014-08 PHASE4
NCT02173054 COMPLETED
Acne
Mahidol University
2014-07 PHASE3
NCT01951417 COMPLETED
Acne
Galderma R&D
2013-10 PHASE4
NCT01742637 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
2012-10 PHASE1
NCT01474590 COMPLETED
Acne
Galderma R&D
2011-11 PHASE3
NCT01425320 WITHDRAWN
Acne Vulgaris
Allergan
2013-01 PHASE1
NCT01485367 UNKNOWN
Senile Purpura
Multispecialty Aesthetic Clinical Research Organization
2011-12 PHASE2
NCT01504204 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Wake Forest University
2011-12 PHASE4
NCT02525549 COMPLETED
Acne
Padagis LLC
2011-12 PHASE3
NCT01522456 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2012-04 PHASE4
NCT01213199 COMPLETED
Acne Scars
Galderma R&D
2011-03 PHASE2
NCT01485367 Unknown status
Senile Purpura
Multispecialty Aesthetic Clinical Research Organization|Galderma R&D
2011-12 Phase 2
NCT01501799 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Actavis Mid-Atlantic LLC
2011-07
NCT01138735 COMPLETED
Acne
Galderma R&D
2010-06 PHASE4
NCT01231334 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Allergan
2010-08 PHASE4
NCT01245946 COMPLETED
Acne
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
2010-10 PHASE2
NCT01149330 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma Brasil Ltda.
2010-07 PHASE4
NCT01209949 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2010-10 PHASE4
NCT01106807 COMPLETED
Acne
Galderma R&D
2010-04 PHASE2
NCT01014689 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2009-08 PHASE3
NCT01046565 COMPLETED
Skin Manifestations
Galderma R&D
2010-01 PHASE1
NCT01046396 COMPLETED
Skin Manifestations
Galderma R&D
2010-01 PHASE1
NCT00647556 COMPLETED
Photoaging
Galderma R&D
2008-04 PHASE3
NCT01095640 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Actavis Mid-Atlantic LLC
2009-03
NCT00964223 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Stiefel, a GSK Company
2009-07 PHASE4
NCT00952523 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Bausch Health Americas, Inc.
2009-07 PHASE4
NCT00883233 COMPLETED
Acne
Galderma R&D
2009-04 PHASE3
NCT00687908 COMPLETED
Acne
Galderma R&D
2008-11 PHASE3
NCT00907101 COMPLETED
P Acnes Colonization
Galderma R&D
2009-06 PHASE4
NCT00887484 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Stiefel, a GSK Company
2009-02 PHASE4
NCT00926367 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Stiefel, a GSK Company
2009-05 PHASE4
NCT00919191 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Bausch Health Americas, Inc.
2009-04 PHASE4
NCT00688064 COMPLETED
Severe Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2008-08 PHASE3
NCT00599521 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2007-11 PHASE3
NCT00598832 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2007-11 PHASE3
NCT00829049 TERMINATED
Acne Vulgaris
Allergan
2007-10 PHASE4
NCT00660985 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2008-05 PHASE4
NCT00671749 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2007-12 PHASE4
NCT01182636 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA
2007-07 PHASE1
NCT00714714 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Bausch Health Americas, Inc.
2008-01 PHASE4
NCT00421993 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2006-10 PHASE3
NCT00441415 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2007-02 PHASE3
NCT00422240 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2006-06-27 PHASE3
NCT00696449 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Wake Forest University
2006-06 PHASE4
NCT00719121 COMPLETED
Cutaneous Inflammation
Stiefel, a GSK Company
2006-11 PHASE1
NCT00469755 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2006-02 PHASE4
NCT00151541 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Allergan
2005-02 PHASE3
NCT00446043 COMPLETED
Acne Vulgaris
Galderma R&D
2004-02-17 PHASE3

(data from https://clinicaltrials.gov, updated on 2026-07-29)

Check the Adapalene product page for in-depth specifications, including solubility, stock solutions, MOA, and working concentrations.

Compliance for Clinical Use

Mechanism and Biochemical Profile

Adapalene acts as a selective dual agonist of retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors, modulating gene transcription to normalize follicular keratinocyte differentiation and suppress inflammatory mediator pathways. This attenuation of microcomedone formation and cellular hyperproliferation directly accounts for its therapeutic efficacy in managing dermatological disorders studied across clinical trials, particularly acne vulgaris and cutaneous photoaging.

Appendix RUO and cGMP Quality Standards

Quality Dimension RUO (Research Use Only) cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice)
Clinical Applicability Prohibited in human clinical trials or medical diagnostics. Mandatory for human clinical trials (Phase I–III) and therapies.
Regulatory Status Non-regulated grade; exempt from drug manufacturing laws. Legally enforced by health authorities (e.g., FDA, EMA, NMPA).
Facility Environment Unclassified analytical or research laboratories. Validated Cleanrooms (ISO Class 5–8) with continuous monitoring.
Quality Control Basic purity and activity testing. Rigorous safety release testing (Sterility, Endotoxin, Mycoplasma).
Process Validation Basic equipment calibration; no process validation required. Full qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and complete batch records.
Quality Assurance Vendor self-declared without required formal QMS. Mandatory QA/QC unit, Change Control, CAPA, and vendor audits.
Regulatory Impact High risk of IND rejection if used as a critical raw material. Required for IND/NDA filings, supported by Drug Master Files (DMF).

Footnotes

Regulatory Note: Governed by FDA (21 CFR Parts 210/211/312), EMA (EudraLex Vol 4), ICH Guidelines (E6/Q7/Q9/Q10), and compendial standards (USP <71>/<85>/<1043>).

Note: Technical data last updated: Sep 1, 2026.