Cantharidin is a prescription medicine. The sections below reproduce one FDA label for it, named under "Label". Products in other forms, strengths or from other makers have their own labels, which can differ.
- Type
- Prescription only (Rx)
- Brand names
- Ycanth
- Taken
- Topical
- Label
- Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc., revised November 13, 2024 · full label on DailyMed
- Generic
- No · details
What it is used for
YCANTH is indicated for the topical treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older. YCANTH is indicated for the topical treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older. ( 1 )
Forms and strengths
Topical solution 0.7%: Each mL of YCANTH contains 7 mg (0.7%) of cantharidin in a light violet to dark purple, slightly viscous liquid. Topical solution: 0.7% cantharidin. ( 3 )
Who should not take it (contraindications)
None None
Warnings and precautions
Toxicities Associated with Inappropriate Administration: Life threatening or fatal toxicities can occur if administered orally. Avoid contact with the treatment area, including oral contact, after treatment. Ocular toxicity can occur if YCANTH comes in contact with eyes. If YCANTH gets in eyes, flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. ( 5.1 ) Local Skin Reactions : Reactions at the application site have included vesiculation, pruritus, pain, discoloration, and erythema. Avoid application near eyes and mucosal tissue, and to healthy skin. If YCANTH contacts any unintended surface, or healthy skin, immediately remove. If severe local skin reactions occur, remove prior to 24 hours after treatment. ( 5.2 ) Flammability : YCANTH is flammable, even after drying. Avoid fire, flame or smoking near lesion(s) during treatment and after application until removed. ( 5.3 )
5.1 Toxicities Associated with Inappropriate Administration YCANTH is for topical use only. YCANTH is not for oral, mucosal, or ophthalmic use. Life threatening or fatal toxicities can occur if YCANTH is administered orally [see Overdosage (10) ]. Adverse reactions to oral ingestion of cantharidin have included renal failure, blistering and severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract, coagulopathy, seizures, and flaccid paralysis. Advise patients and/or caregivers to avoid oral contact and to avoid touching lesions after YCANTH treatment and to seek medical attention immediately if YCANTH is accidently ingested. Ocular toxicity can occur if YCANTH comes in contact with the eyes. Adverse reactions from contact of YCANTH with the eyes can include corneal necrosis, ocular perforation, and deep ocular injuries. Do not apply YCANTH near or to the eyes. If YCANTH comes in contact with the eyes, flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
5.2 Local Skin Reactions YCANTH is a vesicant. Local skin reactions at the application site were observed in 97% of subjects treated with YCANTH during clinical trials. Local skin reactions included vesiculation, pruritus, pain, discoloration, and erythema [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Avoid application near the eyes and mucosal tissues, and to adjacent healthy skin. If YCANTH contacts any unintended surface, including healthy skin, immediately remove by wiping with a cotton swab or gauze . Avoid other topical products (e.g. creams, lotions, or sunscreen) on treated areas until 24 hours after YCANTH treatment or until washing. Application of other topical products could spread YCANTH and cause blistering or other adverse reactions to healthy skin. If severe blistering, severe pain or other severe adverse reactions occur, remove YCANTH prior to the recommended 24 hours after administration by washing with soap and water .
5.3 Flammability YCANTH is a flammable liquid, even after drying. Avoid fire, flame or smoking near lesion(s) during treatment and after application until removed.
Side effects (adverse reactions)
The following adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Local Skin Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Most common (incidence ≥1%) adverse reactions are the following local skin reactions at the application site: vesiculation, pain, pruritus, scabbing, erythema, discoloration, application site dryness, edema, and erosion. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-877-837-7422 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. Local skin reactions are expected and should be reported if they are severe.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. YCANTH was studied in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials, Trial 1 (NCT03377790) and Trial 2 (NCT03377803) (n = 266, and n = 262, respectively) in subjects with molluscum contagiosum. Most patients received a single 24-hour dermal administration of YCANTH or vehicle for each lesion every 3 weeks for up to 4 treatments. YCANTH Solution or vehicle were removed prior to the 24-hour timepoint in 109/311 (35%) subjects treated with YCANTH Solution and 46/216 (21%) subjects treated with vehicle due to treatment-emergent adverse events. Table 1 presents the percentage of subjects with selected adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 1%) by the most severe grade reported during Trial 1 and Trial 2. Adverse reactions were primarily local skin reactions at the application site. Local skin reactions at the application site were observed in 97% of subjects treated with YCANTH during both trials. Table 1. Percentage of Subjects with Selected Adverse Reactions (Incidence ≥1%) by Severity in Trial 1 and Trial 2 (Safety Population) YCANTH N=311 Vehicle N=216 Preferred Term Name Mild Moderate Severe Mild Moderate Severe Application site vesicles 60% 32% 4% 27% 2% 0% Application site pain and pain 41% 20% 2% 16% 1% 0% Application site pruritus and pruritus 47% 8% 1% 30% 7% 0% Application site scab and scab 39% 9% 0% 20% 1% 0% Application site erythema and erythema 24% 21% <1% 20% 7% 0% Application site discoloration 28% 4% <1% 12% 1% 0% Application site dryness 19% 2% 0% 14% 1% 0% Application site edema 7% 3% 0% 3% 1% 0% Application site erosion 6% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% Contact dermatitis 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% There were no serious adverse reactions reported in the two controlled trials. The discontinuation rate due to an adverse reaction was 2.3% among subjects treated with YCANTH and 0.5% among subjects treated with vehicle.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no available data with use of YCANTH in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Animal reproduction studies were not conducted with cantharidin. Given that systemic exposure to cantharidin following topical administration is low, maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Avoid application of YCANTH topical solution to areas with increased risk for potential ingestion by or ocular exposure to the breastfeeding child. There are no data on the presence of cantharidin in either human or animal milk, or the effects on the breastfed infant or on milk production. Breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of the child to the drug due to the low systemic absorption of YCANTH following topical administration [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for YCANTH topical solution and any potential adverse effects on the breastfeeding child from YCANTH topical solution or from the underlying maternal condition.
8.4 Pediatric Use Risk Summary The safety and effectiveness of YCANTH for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum have been established in pediatric patients aged 2 years and older. The use of YCANTH in pediatric patients is supported by results from adequate and well-controlled trials in patients 2 years of age and older; although the safety and efficacy of drug use for longer than 12 weeks has not been established [see Clinical Studies (14) ]. The safety and efficacy in pediatric patients below the age of 2 years have not been established .
8.5 Geriatric Use Risk Summary YCANTH has not been studied in geriatric patients.
How it works
The mechanism of action of cantharidin in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum is unknown.
Is there a generic Cantharidin?
No. The FDA has not approved a generic version yet.
Brand-name versions
- Ycanth Verrica Pharms, approved 2023
Source: Drugs@FDA (via openFDA), checked October 29, 2026. Marketing status is what companies report to the FDA; whether a pharmacy stocks a product, and what your insurance covers, can differ.
Dosage:
we do not reproduce dosing instructions. The right dose depends on the person and the condition and is set by the prescriber or pharmacist. Dosage section of the full label.
Cantharidin in the news
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Recalls
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Source: FDA structured product labeling, retrieved through openFDA. Label text is shown as published by the FDA, without editing; long sections are shortened, marked […]. openFDA data are not validated for clinical use — always check the current label and ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own treatment. Set ID 7c9bdeaa-9822-4c69-a719-ea4a8643f59c.