Camellia sinensis extract (Catephen): what patients in the UK should know

Generic name: Camellia sinensis leaf extract UK brand name: Catephen® 10% ointment Medicine type: Prescription-only topical ointment Last reviewed: May 2026

Key facts

• Medicine name: Catephen® 10% ointment (Camellia sinensis leaf extract)
• Used for: External genital and perianal warts in immunocompetent adults aged 18 and over
• Type: Prescription-only topical ointment
• Availability: MedWatch currently lists an active UK supply signal linked to Medicine Supply Notification MSN/2024/109. Ask your pharmacist or check the SPS Medicines Supply Tool for current local stock.

Plain-English summary

Catephen is a prescription ointment made from green tea leaf extract. In the UK it is licensed to treat external genital and perianal warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) in adults. You apply it to the warts three times a day for up to 16 weeks. It is not a cure for HPV itself, and it does not prevent transmission to sexual partners.

Most people who use Catephen get local skin reactions such as redness, itching and burning where it is applied. These reactions are often strongest in the first few weeks. Speak to your clinician, pharmacist or sexual health clinic if reactions are troublesome; do not stop or change treatment without advice.

Is Catephen available in the UK?

MedWatch currently lists an active UK supply signal for Catephen 10% ointment linked to Medicine Supply Notification MSN/2024/109, issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 26 November 2024 and updated on 3 February 2025.

The notification included historical expected supply dates. Because shortage situations can change, you should ask your pharmacist, GP or sexual health clinic about current local availability, or check the SPS Medicines Supply Tool for the latest updates.

If you are unable to obtain Catephen, speak to your prescriber or pharmacist. During supply disruptions, specialist importers may be able to source unlicensed supplies, although lead times vary. Your pharmacist or GP can advise whether this is appropriate for you.

Is Catephen the same as green tea extract?

Yes. The active ingredient in Catephen is a refined extract of green tea leaves (*Camellia sinensis*), standardised for its content of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a type of natural compound called a catechin. In the UK it is marketed as Catephen. Internationally, the same active ingredient is known as sinecatechins and is sold in some countries under the brand name Veregen. Veregen is not a UK product, and its availability abroad does not affect UK supply.

What it is used for

In the UK, Catephen is licensed for the cutaneous treatment of external genital and perianal warts (condylomata acuminata) in immunocompetent adults aged 18 and over.

Catephen does not eliminate the HPV virus. Condoms can reduce the risk of passing HPV to a partner, but they do not eliminate it completely.

Can Catephen be used for actinic keratosis?

No. Catephen is not licensed for actinic keratosis in the UK. It is licensed only for external genital and perianal warts. Shortage alerts sometimes list Catephen alongside medicines used for actinic keratosis because of broader supply patterns, but you should not use it for actinic keratosis unless a specialist has explicitly told you to. Your clinician will choose treatment based on your diagnosis.

How it works

The exact way Catephen works is not fully understood. Laboratory studies show that the green tea extract can inhibit the growth of activated skin cells (keratinocytes) and has anti-oxidative effects where it is applied. How this translates into wart clearance in humans is unknown.

In clinical studies, complete wart clearance was seen in 52.4% of patients using Catephen compared with 35.3% using placebo, based on two randomised controlled trials involving around 1,005 people.

Forms and strengths

Catephen is available as a 10% ointment.

• Active content: 100 mg of green tea leaf extract per gram of ointment, which corresponds to 55–72 mg of EGCG.
• Appearance: Brown, smooth ointment.
• Pack sizes: 15 g and 30 g aluminium tubes. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
• Storage: Do not store above 25°C. Once opened, use within 6 weeks.

Brand and generic names

• UK brand name: Catephen® 10% ointment
• Active ingredient / generic: Camellia sinensis leaf extract (also known internationally as sinecatechins)
• International brand: Veregen® (United States) — not available in the UK

How to use it

Apply Catephen up to 250 mg three times daily to the warts, for a maximum of 16 weeks. Use only on the external skin areas directed by your prescriber. Do not apply it inside the vagina, anus, urethra or mouth, and do not use it on open or severely inflamed skin unless your clinician has specifically told you to do so.

Missed dose: If you forget a dose, continue with your normal treatment schedule. Do not apply extra to make up for a missed dose.

Stopping: Catephen is used for a defined course of up to 16 weeks. You should not stop early just because of mild redness or irritation, as these are expected. Speak to your prescriber, pharmacist or sexual health clinic if reactions are troublesome; do not stop or change treatment without advice. Stop and seek urgent medical advice if you develop severe reactions, signs of phimosis (if uncircumcised), or symptoms of allergy.

Do not use Catephen for more than 16 weeks total. The safety of repeat courses has not been studied.

Common side effects

Side effects with Catephen are very common and usually affect only the skin where it is applied. In clinical studies, 83.5% of patients had a local reaction.

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

• Redness (erythema)
• Itching (pruritus)
• Irritation or burning
• Pain
• Ulcer
• Swelling (oedema)
• Hardening (induration)
• Small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles)

These reactions are often worst during the first weeks of treatment and may improve with continued use.

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Flaking skin, discharge, bleeding or swelling at the application site
• Phimosis (tightening of the foreskin) in uncircumcised men

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Skin discolouration, dryness, cracking, numbness, scarring, dermatitis, eczema, rash
• Infection at the application site, genital herpes flare, thrush, urinary symptoms
• Balanitis, pain during sex

Serious side effects and urgent help

Seek medical advice promptly if you experience:

• Signs of phimosis (if uncircumcised): increasing difficulty pulling back the foreskin, ulceration, or hardening. Stop using Catephen and contact a clinician urgently.
• Severe or worsening pain that does not settle, or blistering that makes you suspect a genital herpes infection.
• Signs of allergy: widespread rash, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing. Call 999 or go to A&E.
• Signs of liver problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, severe fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain. Stop using Catephen and contact your GP urgently.

If you think Catephen has caused a side effect, you or your clinician can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Interactions and cautions

• Other skin treatments: Do not use other products on the wart area at the same time unless your prescriber says so. This includes sitz baths, topical zinc and topical vitamin E.
• Oral green tea supplements: Avoid taking high-dose green tea extract food supplements while using Catephen.
• Sexual activity: Wash the ointment off before sex. Catephen can weaken latex condoms and vaginal diaphragms, so additional contraception may be needed.
• Sunlight and UV: Do not expose treated areas to sunlight or UV lamps, as Catephen has not been tested under these conditions.
• Occlusion: Do not cover the treated area with airtight dressings.
• Staining: The ointment can stain clothing and bedding.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, driving, alcohol, kidney and liver cautions

Pregnancy: There is little or no data on Catephen use in pregnancy. Animal studies showed reproductive toxicity. As a precaution, it is preferable to avoid use during pregnancy, although the amount absorbed through the skin is expected to be low. Tell your prescriber if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Breastfeeding: It is not known whether Catephen passes into breast milk. A risk to the infant cannot be excluded, though systemic exposure is expected to be low. Discuss with your GP, pharmacist or sexual health clinic.

Fertility: Animal studies did not show effects on fertility.

Driving and machines: Catephen is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Alcohol: There is no specific interaction with alcohol.

Kidney: No specific kidney cautions are listed in the UK summary of product characteristics.

Liver: People with severe liver dysfunction (for example, clinically relevant raised liver enzymes, raised bilirubin, or raised INR) should not use Catephen due to lack of safety data.

Follow-up during treatment

• Your clinician may arrange a check-in around 8 weeks after starting treatment to check progress.
• If your warts have reduced by less than half after 8 weeks, your clinician may suggest switching to a different treatment.
• Watch for any signs of liver problems and report them to your prescriber.

What can I do if my pharmacy cannot get Catephen?

• Ask your pharmacist or GP: "Is Catephen currently available, and if not, when is it expected back in stock?"
• Ask: "Can my prescription be switched to an alternative that is available now?"
• Ask: "Is an unlicensed import appropriate and available for my prescription?"
• Ask: "Should I continue with my current partially used tube, and is it still within the 6-week use-by period after opening?"

Do not stop treatment or switch medicines without speaking to the prescriber who issued them. Sexual health clinics can also advise on alternative treatments if your GP refers you or if you self-refer.

Related medicines a clinician may discuss

For external genital and perianal warts, UK guidelines list several patient-applied and clinician-applied options:

• Imiquimod 5% cream (Aldara®) — an immune-response modifier applied three times a week
• Podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution or 0.15% cream (Warticon®, Condyline®) — an anti-mitotic agent applied twice daily for three days each week
• Cryotherapy — freezing applied by a clinician
• Laser, electrosurgery or trichloroacetic acid — clinician-applied options for certain cases

Some of these medicines are also affected by supply issues. Your sexual health or dermatology clinic can advise which option is suitable for you.

Invention and approval history

The active ingredient in Catephen, sinecatechins, comes from the leaves of the green tea plant (*Camellia sinensis*). In the United States it was approved by the FDA in 2006 under the brand name Veregen, notable as one of the first botanical drugs to receive FDA approval.

In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted a marketing authorisation for Catephen 10% ointment on 24 March 2015, and the product launched in November 2015.

How medicines of this type are made

Catephen is a botanical medicine. The active extract is produced from green tea leaves using water as the extraction solvent, then refined into a defined dry extract with a controlled range of EGCG content. It is formulated into an ointment base that contains white soft paraffin, white beeswax and other standard excipients.

UK suppliers or marketing authorisation holders

The marketing authorisation holder for Catephen in the UK is:

Kora Corporation Ltd. t/a Kora Healthcare
20 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 H364, Ireland

The UK marketing authorisation number is PL 39972/0003. The specific UK national distributor or wholesaler is not listed in the publicly available SmPC.

Official sources and correction route

This article is based on the UK summary of product characteristics, NICE evidence summaries, BASHH clinical guidelines and DHSC shortage notifications.

If you spot an error or outdated information, please tell us through the MedWatch correction route so we can update the page promptly.

To report a side effect: MHRA Yellow Card scheme: https://www.gov.uk/report-problem-medicine-medical-device

For medicine supply updates: SPS Medicines Supply Tool: https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/tools/medicines-supply-tool/

Patient information leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1894/pil

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Catephen used for?

Catephen 10% ointment is licensed in the UK for treating external genital and perianal warts (condylomata acuminata) in immunocompetent adults aged 18 and over. It is not a cure for HPV and does not prevent transmission.

Is Catephen the same as green tea extract?

Yes. The active ingredient is Camellia sinensis leaf extract, a refined green tea extract standardised for EGCG content. It is also known internationally as sinecatechins.

Can Catephen be used for actinic keratosis?

No. Catephen is not licensed for actinic keratosis in the UK. It is licensed only for external genital and perianal warts. Your clinician will choose the right treatment for your diagnosis.

What are the common side effects of Catephen?

Very common side effects include local redness, itching, burning, pain, swelling and blistering where the ointment is applied. These usually affect more than 8 in 10 users and are often worst in the first few weeks. Speak to your clinician if reactions are troublesome.

What should I do if my pharmacy cannot get Catephen?

Ask your pharmacist or GP about current stock, possible alternatives, and whether an unlicensed import is appropriate. Do not stop treatment or switch medicines without speaking to your prescriber. Sexual health clinics can also advise on alternatives.

Can I use Catephen while pregnant or breastfeeding?

It is preferable to avoid Catephen during pregnancy as a precaution. It is not known whether it passes into breast milk, so discuss with your GP, pharmacist or sexual health clinic if you are breastfeeding.