The main objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apremilast in the treatment of oral ulcers in adults with active Behçet's disease (BD).
Behçet's disease, is a rare disorder that causes inflammation in blood vessels throughout the body. The signs and symptoms of Behçet's disease may include mouth sores, eye inflammation, skin rashes and lesions, and genital sores that vary from person to person and may come and go on their own. The exact cause of Behçet's is unknown, but it may be an autoimmune disorder, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks some of its own healthy cells. This study will evaluate if apremilast is better than placebo (inactive substance in the same form as the drug) for the treatment of oral ulcers in subjects with active Behçet's disease. Other manifestations of the disease will also be assessed, such as, pain and tenderness in joints, eye inflammation, genital ulcers, and skin disease. This study also will test how well the body tolerates apremilast. In addition, the second purpose of the study is to assess the safety of apremilast in patients with Behçet's disease. This study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel design. The placebo-controlled period will be 12 weeks long and participants will receive apremilast or placebo. After the 12-week placebo-controlled period, all participants will receive apremilast for 52 weeks in the active treatment period. All participants will have their final study visit 4 weeks after stopping apremilast treatment. Participants in Germany will have the opportunity to enter an optional open-label extension phase after the 52-week active treatment phase (week 64 visit), and continue until apremilast is commercially available for Behçet's disease or until apremilast is found not to be acceptable for Behçet's disease, according to either the sponsor or health authority.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
207
Tablets for oral administration
Tablets for oral administration
Area Under the Curve (AUC) for the Number of Oral Ulcers From Baseline Through Week 12 (AUC W0-12)
The number of oral ulcers that was counted for the analysis of the primary endpoint included current and recurrent ulcers at each time point; a single oral ulcer could be recounted multiple times if it persisted or recurred at subsequent visits.
Time frame: Oral ulcers were assessed at weeks 0 (baseline), 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 during the placebo-controlled period.
Change From Baseline in Oral Ulcer Pain as Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at Week 12
Pain of oral ulcers was measured using a 100 mm VAS scale. The participant was asked to draw a single line perpendicular to the VAS line at the point that represented the severity of their pain during the previous week, with 0 mm (the left-hand end of the scale) representing no pain and 100 mm (the right-hand end of the scale) representing the worst pain imaginable. The distance of the perpendicular line from the left-hand end of the scale was recorded. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Change From Baseline in Disease Activity as Measured by Behçet's Syndrome Activity Score (BSAS) at Week 12
The Behçet's Syndrome Activity Score (BSAS) contains 10 questions that assess the number of new oral and genital ulcers and skin lesions, GI, CNS, vascular, and ocular involvement, and the participant's current level of discomfort. The Behçet's Syndrome Activity Score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a higher level of disease activity. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Change From Baseline in Disease Activity as Measured by Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF): Behçet's Disease Current Activity Index (BDCAI) at Week 12
The Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) consists of 3 component scores: the Behçet's Disease Current Activity Index (BDCAI) score, the Patient's Perception of Disease Activity, and the Clinician's Overall Perception of Disease Activity. The BDCAI consists of 12 questions regarding disease manifestations over the previous 4 weeks, including oral and genital disease activity, as well as other manifestations of BD involving the skin, joints, GI tract, eyes, nervous system, and vascular system. The BDCAI score is the sum score of 12 items and ranges from 0 to 12. A higher score indicates higher level of disease activity (worsening), and a negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
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Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Research, PLLC
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
University of California Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, California, United States
Millennium Research
Ormond Beach, Florida, United States
Arthritis and Rheumatology of Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Advanced Rheumatology
Lansing, Michigan, United States
Shores Rheumatology
Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, United States
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
New York Methodist Hospital
Brooklyn, New York, United States
NYU Langone Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
...and 53 more locations
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Change From Baseline in Disease Activity as Measured by Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF): Patient's Perception of Disease Activity at Week 12
The Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) consists of 3 component scores: the Behçet's Disease Current Activity Index (BDCAI) score, the Patient's Perception of Disease Activity, and the Clinician's Overall Perception of Disease Activity. The Patient's Perception of Disease Activity was assessed on a scale from 1 to 7, where a higher score indicates a higher level of disease activity and a negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Change From Baseline in Disease Activity as Measured by Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF): Clinician's Overall Perception of Disease Activity at Week 12
The Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) consists of 3 component scores: the Behçet's disease Current Activity Index (BDCAI) score, the Patient's Perception of Disease Activity, and the Clinician's Overall Perception of Disease Activity. The Clinician's Overall Perception of Disease Activity was assessed on a scale from 1 to 7, where a higher score indicates a higher level of disease activity and a negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Achieved an Oral Ulcer Complete Response (Oral Ulcer-Free) by Week 6 and Remained Oral Ulcer-Free for at Least 6 Additional Weeks
Participants who were oral ulcer-free by week 6 and remained oral ulcer-free for at least 6 consecutive weeks during the 12-week placebo-controlled treatment phase.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Time to Oral Ulcer Resolution (Complete Response)
Time to oral ulcer resolution (defined as oral ulcer-free) was the time between the first dose date and the date when a complete response was achieved for the first time during the placebo-controlled treatment phase. For participants who did not achieve complete response or discontinued treatment before a complete response was achieved during the placebo-controlled treatment phase, time to event was censored at the last oral ulcer assessment date during the placebo-controlled treatment phase or the first dose date if there were no postbaseline ulcer assessments. Median and 95% confidence interval was based on Kaplan-Meier estimates.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Experienced an Oral Ulcer Complete Response at Week 12
A complete response at week 12 was defined as participants who were oral ulcer free at week 12.
Time frame: Week 12
Change From Baseline in Behçet's Disease Quality of Life (BD Qol) Scores at Week 12
The Behçet's Disease Quality of Life questionnaire was developed to measure the influence of BD on a particpant's life. It consists of 30 self-completed itemized questions that measure disease-related restrictions on the participant's activities and their emotional response to these restrictions. The total score is the sum of all 30 items (each yes scores 1 and each no scores 0), with 0 representing no influence of Behçet's disease on a participant's quality of life and 30 representing the most severe influence. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Percentage of Participants Who Experienced a Complete Response For Genital Ulcers at Week 12
A genital ulcer complete response at week 12 was defined as participants who were genital ulcer-free at week 12.
Time frame: Week 12
Percentage of Participants With no Oral Ulcers Following a Complete Response
The definition includes participants who remained oral ulcer-free through week 12 after achieving a complete response (oral ulcer-free) prior to week 12.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Time to Recurrence of Oral Ulcers Following Loss of Complete Response
Time to recurrence of oral ulcers following the loss of complete response (oral ulcer-free) was defined as the first instance when a participant had a reappearance of oral ulcers following a complete response, during the placebo-controlled treatment phase. For participants who did not have oral ulcer recurrence or discontinued treatment before any oral ulcer recurrence during the placebo-controlled treatment phase, time to event was censored at the last oral ulcer assessment during placebo-controlled treatment phase; For participants without any oral ulcer assessment following the first complete response, time to event was censored to the first complete response date.
Time frame: Baseline through week 12
Number of Oral Ulcers Following Loss of Complete Response Through Week 12
Number of oral ulcers reported at the time of the first loss of complete response, ie, at the first instance when a participant had a reappearance of oral ulcers following a complete response, during the placebo-controlled treatment phase.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Change From Baseline in the Total Score of the Static Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) of Skin Lesions of BD at Week 12
BD-related skin lesions (including acne-like lesions, folliculitis, and erythema nodosum) were evaluated according to the Static Physician's Global Assessment as follows: Score 0 = clear skin. Score 1 = mild in severity with the presence of 1 to 10 lesions (papules, pustules, cysts) or nodules at any anatomical site. Score 2 = Moderate severity; presence of 11 to 20 nodules or lesions (papules, pustules, cysts) at any anatomical site. Score 3 = Severe; presence of \> 20 nodules or lesions (papules, pustules, cysts) at any anatomical site. The total sore was calculated as the sum of the acne-like lesions, folliculitis, and erythema nodosum scores, and therefore ranges from 0 to 9, where a higher score indicates a higher level of activity. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Change From Baseline in Genital Ulcer Pain as Measured by VAS Score at Week 12
Pain of genital ulcers was measured using a 100 mm visual analog scale. The participant was asked to draw a single line perpendicular to the VAS line at the point that represented the severity of their pain during the previous week, with 0 mm (the left-hand end of the scale) representing no pain and 100 mm (the right-hand end of the scale) representing the worst pain imaginable. The distance of the perpendicular line from the left-hand end of the scale was recorded. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.
Time frame: Baseline to week 12
Number of Participants With Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) During the Placebo-controlled Treatment Period
A TEAE is an adverse event (AE) with a start date on or after the date of the first dose of study drug and no later than 28 days after the last dose. An AE is any noxious, unintended, or untoward medical occurrence that may appear or worsen in a subject during the course of a study. A serious AE (SAE) is any AE that resulted in death; was life-threatening; required inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization; resulted in persistent or significant disability/incapacity; was a congenital anomaly/birth defect; or constituted an important medical event. For both AEs and SAEs the investigator assessed the severity of the event according to the grading scale: Mild: asymptomatic or with mild symptoms; Moderate: symptoms causing moderate discomfort and local or noninvasive intervention is indicated; Severe: symptoms causing severe discomfort or pain, symptoms requiring medical/surgical intervention.
Time frame: From first dose of study drug in the placebo-controlled phase to the first dose of apremilast in the active treatment phase (12 weeks) or up to 28 days after last dose for participants who did not receive study drug at week 12, whichever was earlier.
Number of Participants With TEAEs During the Apremilast-Exposure Period
The apremilast-exposure period started on the date of the first dose of apremilast (week 0 for participants assigned to apremilast or week 12 for participants who were originally assigned to placebo and switched to apremilast at week 12) and ended 28 days after last dose in the active treatment phase. An AE is any noxious, unintended, or untoward medical occurrence that may appear or worsen in a subject during the course of a study. An SAE is any AE that resulted in death; was life-threatening; required or prolonged inpatient hospitalization; resulted in persistent or significant disability/incapacity; was a congenital anomaly/birth defect; or constituted an important medical event. The investigator assessed the severity of each event according to the grading scale: Mild: asymptomatic or mild symptoms; Moderate: symptoms causing moderate discomfort, local or noninvasive intervention indicated; Severe: symptoms causing severe discomfort or pain, requiring medical/surgical intervention.
Time frame: From first dose of apremilast (week 0 for those assigned to apremilast or week 12 for those assigned to placebo) up to 28 days after last dose; up to 56 weeks and 68 weeks in each arm respectively.