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Data updated: Jun 28, 2026

CELESTONE SOLUSPAN (betamethasone acetate) · Merck

Respiratory Approved 1965-03-03

CELESTONE SOLUSPAN is an injectable suspension containing a combination of betamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone acetate. It is indicated for the treatment of severe, chronic, or incapacitating conditions when oral therapy is not feasible. Its broad indications include the control of intractable allergic states (e.g., asthma, drug hypersensitivity), dermatologic diseases (e.g., pemphigus, severe erythema multiforme), and endocrine disorders such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is also used for the palliative management of neoplastic diseases (leukemias/lymphomas), acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, and to tide patients over critical periods of gastrointestinal diseases like ulcerative colitis and regional enteritis.

How CELESTONE SOLUSPAN Works

Betamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid with potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity. It diffuses across cell membranes and binds with high affinity to specific cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors. This complex translocates to the nucleus, where it binds to glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) on DNA, altering gene expression. This results in the induction of anti-inflammatory proteins (such as lipocortins, which inhibit phospholipase A2) and the inhibition of the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators (including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and various cytokines). The SOLUSPAN formulation provides a dual-effect profile: the highly soluble betamethasone sodium phosphate provides rapid activity, while the slightly soluble betamethasone acetate provides sustained activity through slower absorption.

NDA
Small Molecule
1
Indication
--
Phase 3 Trials
61
Years on Market

Details

Status
Prescription
First Approved
1965-03-03
Routes
INJECTION
Dosage Forms
INJECTABLE

CELESTONE SOLUSPAN Approval History

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Original
New Indication
New Form
Label Update
31 FDA actions from 1965 to 2024
Jul 2024 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Jun 2024 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Sep 2022 SUPPL
Label · Labeling

What CELESTONE SOLUSPAN Treats

21 indications

CELESTONE SOLUSPAN is approved for 21 conditions since its original approval in 1965. These indications span multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and more.

Source: FDA Label

CELESTONE SOLUSPAN Competitive Set

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Drugs Similar to CELESTONE SOLUSPAN

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PHARMACIA AND UPJOHN
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Active Pipeline

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Key Completed Trials

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Trial Timeline

Full development history with FDA approval milestones

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Understanding FDA Approval Types
Count Type What it means
- ORIG Original approval - drug first enters market
- SUPPL - Efficacy New indication (new disease/condition approved)
- SUPPL - Labeling Label text changes (warnings, dosing updates)
- SUPPL - Manufacturing Production changes (new facility)
- SUPPL - Chemistry Formulation changes (new dosage strength)

Green lines in the timeline show ORIG and Efficacy approvals - the clinically meaningful milestones.

CELESTONE SOLUSPAN FDA Label Details

Indications & Usage

FDA Label (PDF)

When oral therapy is not feasible, the intramuscular use of CELESTONE ® SOLUSPAN ® Injectable Suspension is indicated as follows: Allergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, serum sickness, transfusion reactions. Dermatologic Diseases Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, exfoliative erythroderma, mycosis fungoides, pemphigus, severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Endocrine D...

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Data Sources

Data sourced from official FDA and NIH databases. Click links to verify on original sources.