Open-label Study to Investigate Systemic Exposure in Adult and Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Patients Treated 8.5 Days With Pimecrolimus Cream 1% Under Occlusion

Non-comparative Open-label Study to Investigate the Efficacy, Safety and Systemic Exposure of Pimecrolimus in Adult and Pediatric Patients With Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis Treated Topically for 8.5 Days With Pimecrolimus Cream 1% Under Occlusion

This study will access the degree to which pimecrolimus is absorbed from pimecrolimus cream 1% into the blood when applied repeatedly under occlusion (i.e. areas treated wrapped in a plastic film) over 8 days in patients with moderate to severe atopic eczema.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients 2 - 18 years of age
• Patients with a diagnosis of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, assessed by a score ≥ 3 at the Investigator's Global Assessment. AD to involve at least 30% of their body surface area as determined by the rule of nine or the Lund and Browder chart.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Erythrodermic patients with Netherton's syndrome
• Patients with known serious adverse reactions or hypersensitivity to any of the excipients of the study medication
• Patients with a history of cancer, skin malignancy or lymphoproliferative disorders or of immunocompromise, including a positive HIV (ELISA and Western blot), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or Hepatitis C test result

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply