A Bioavailability Study of DFD-03 Compared to Tazorac® in Patients With Moderate Acne Vulgaris

Inclusion Criteria

• Subject understands the study procedures, is willing to comply with the study procedures and required visits, and agrees to participate by giving written informed consent. Subjects under the legal age of consent must provide written assent and must have the written informed consent of their legal guardian.
• Subject (or legal guardian) must be willing to authorize use and disclosure of protected health information collected for the study.
• Male or female at least 9 years of age for the DFD-03 (Test) group and at least 12 years of age for the Tazorac Cream (Reference) group.
• Female subjects must be having their menstrual period at Baseline (Day 1, as reported by the subject), except for subjects using hormonal contraceptives that preclude menstrual periods, if the subject is premenarcheal, is postmenopausal for at least 12 months prior to baseline, is surgically sterilized (i.e., tubal ligation) or if the subject is without a uterus and/or both ovaries.
• A clinical diagnosis of facial acne vulgaris with a facial Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score of 3 (moderate) at Baseline (Day 1).
• Subjects should have acne lesions on at least 1 of the following regions at the Screening visit: neck, upper chest, upper back (including shoulders).
• This criterion is not applicable to the 9-11 years and 11 months age group.
• Inflammatory lesion count (papules and pustules) of at least 20 on the face, including the nose, at Baseline (Day 1).
• This criterion is not applicable to the 9-11 years and 11 months age group.
• Non-inflammatory lesion count (closed and open comedones) of at least 25 on the face, including the nose, at Baseline (Day 1).
• This criterion is not applicable to the 9-11 years and 11 months age group.
• No more than 2 nodulocystic lesions on the face, including the nose, at Baseline (Day 1).
• Females, regardless of childbearing potential:
• Must have a negative serum pregnancy test at Screening and a negative urine pregnancy test at Baseline (Day 1). Urine pregnancy test must have a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL for βhCG.
• If sexually active, must be on or use an acceptable method of birth control. Acceptable methods of birth control include hormonal methods* or intrauterine device in use ≥ 90 days prior to Baseline (Day 1); or partner has had a vasectomy at least 90 days prior to Baseline (Day 1); or barrier methods plus spermicide; or Essure® that has been in place for at least 3 months before the screening visit with radiograph confirmation of fallopian tube blockage.
• Hormonal methods: If on hormonal contraceptives, must have been on the same hormonal contraceptive product for 3 months (90 days) prior to Baseline (Day 1) and continued on same method and dose throughout the duration of the study. If subject had used hormonal birth control and had stopped, this should have occurred more than 6 months prior to Baseline.

Exception: Sexually inactive female subjects are not required to practice a reliable method of contraception and may be enrolled at the investigator's discretion if they are counseled to remain sexually inactive for the duration of the study and understand the possible risks involved in getting pregnant during the study. An abstinent female must agree that if she becomes sexually active during the study she will use an acceptable form of contraception such as a barrier method with spermicide.

• Subjects agree not to use any product on the face during the entire course of study except for non-medicated, investigator-approved cleanser, sunscreen, face wash, and make-up. Subjects should continue to use these investigator-approved products for the duration of the study and should avoid any changes in these consumer products.
• Subjects must be willing to comply with sun avoidance measures for the face (as well as back/chest and shoulders, if applicable) including use of investigator-approved sunscreen and/or hats, have limited direct sunlight ex