Trial of Topical C-82 in Systemic Sclerosis - A Phase I/II Biomarker and Safety Trial

Inclusion Criteria: * meet the American College of Rheumatology criteria for systemic sclerosis with diffuse cutaneous involvement (clinical skin involvement proximal to forearms and or knees, not including the face). * Disease duration of \<36 months since the onset of the first SSc manifestation other than Raynaud's phenomenon, or patients with progressive disease based on new or worsening skin disease based on physician assessment. * local skin score over the bilateral forearm of ≥ 2. * a MRSS of ≥ 12. * on stable dose of any immunosuppressive other than cyclophosphamide or high dose steroids (excluded treatments) for at least one month and through the course of study treatment. * Subjects of child-producing potential must agree to use effective contraception while and for at least 3 months after the last treatment. Exclusion Criteria: * Receiving treatment as part of an interventional clinical trial within 4 weeks of screening or 5 half-lives of the investigational drug (whichever is longer). * Ongoing use of high dose steroids (\> 10mg/day prednisone or equivalent) or unstable steroid dose in the past 4 weeks. * Use of topical creams or gels on the forearm area within the past month and through the course of study treatment. * UV light therapy for 4 weeks before or during the study period. * Treatment with cyclophosphamide within the past month and through the course of study treatment. * Known active bacterial, viral fungal mycobacterial, or other infection * history of malignancy within the past 2 years. * Moderate to severe hepatic impairment, . * Scleroderma renal crisis within 4 months or creatinine greater than 2.0. * Pregnancy. * Nursing mothers are to be excluded. * Gastrointestinal involvement requiring total parenteral nutrition or hospitalization within the past 3 months for pseudo-obstruction * Moderately severe pulmonary disease with FVC \< 40%, or DLCO \< 30% predicted or evidence of progressive lung disease as manifest by a decrease in FVC or 10% or more over the previous year. * Moderately severe cardiac disease with clinically significant heart failure, or unstable angina. * AST or ALT \> 2.5 x Upper Limit of Normal. * Total bilirubin \> 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN). Patients with Gilbert's Disease may be included if their total bilirubin is ≤ 3.0 mg/dL. * significant medical or psychosocial problems that warrant exclusion.