SAN ANTONIO -- An oral formulation of the investigational drug vapitadine was found to be more effective than placebo in providing itch relief to patients with atopic dermatitis in a recent phase II study.

The drug, an [H.sub.1] antihistamine, also did not produce any sedative effects--a common criticism of other such itch-relief medications--according to the results of a randomized controlled trial presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Braham Shroot, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Barrier Therapeutics Inc., reported the results in a poster session on behalf of Dr. J.M. Naeyaert of the department of dermatology at the University of ...