Two medicines, side by side
Dapsone vs adapalene
Dapsone and adapalene are both labeled for acne. Drugs@FDA records approvals of dapsone since 2005 and of adapalene since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.664 per gram (Dapsone 5% gel) and $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, dapsone is a sulfone and adapalene a retinoid.
Check it at the source: the dapsone FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 20, 2026); the adapalene FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 27, 2023).
Highlights of the dapsone record
Dapsone (Aczone) · label of July 20, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsDermatitis herpetiformis: (D.H.) Leprosy: All forms of leprosy except for cases of proven dapsone resistance.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 7, 2005
- Generic labelers
- 27 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.664 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 4
Highlights of the adapalene record
Adapalene (Differin) · label of December 27, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsDIFFERIN Gel is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. DIFFERIN Gel, 0.3%, is a retinoid, indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 31, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.504 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Dapsone label of July 20, 2026, Adapalene label of December 27, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do dapsone and adapalene differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, dapsone is a sulfone and adapalene a retinoid.
How each works, in its label's words: Dapsone, “in Dermatitis herpetiformis has not been established.”; Adapalene, “Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein.”
Generics: dapsone since 1979; adapalene since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Dapsone | Adapalene | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acne | Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Sulfone | Retinoid |
| How it works (label) | in Dermatitis herpetiformis has not been established. By the kinetic method in mice, Dapsone is bactericidal as well as bacteriostatic against Mycobacterium leprae. | Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The terminal apparent half-life, determined in 15 of 16 subjects, ranged from 7 to 51 hours, with a mean of 17.2 ± 10.2 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 7, 2005 | May 31, 1996 |
| First generic approved | July 3, 1979 | June 2, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 27 labelers | 33 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.664 per gram (Dapsone 5% gel) | $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) |
| 12-month price change | -36% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,643 | 181,062 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to dapsone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions