This study will investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of a novel doxycycline topical formulation in subjects with Atopic Dermatitis (AD). The investigators hypothesize that daily application of the study drug in AD subjects will reduce severity of the disease, by reducing skin driven inflammation and restoring skin barrier function. The investigators will also monitor the anti-microbial activity of this product on AD skin, as colonization with Staph aureus is typically associated with disease severity.
Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory skin disease, affecting about 17% of children and 6% adults in the USA , . AD is characterized by skin barrier disruption, an aberrant adaptive immune response (i.e., Th2 polarized) to environmental allergens, susceptibility to cutaneous bacterial infections and intractable itch , . The intense pruritus and cutaneous infections contribute to the morbidity of AD and are major drivers of the reduced quality-of-life associated with this disease , . In the World Health Organization 2010 Global Burden of Disease survey, AD has ranked first among common skin diseases . So far, AD treatments have targeted inflammation with the widespread use of topical and more intermittent use of systemic corticosteroids. In summary, despite its high prevalence, effects on quality-of-life and economic burden - there are few effective treatments for AD. Doxycycline are tetracycline antibiotics broadly used systemically to treat inflammatory-dermatologic conditions. Several studies in human and animal models have shown doxycycline have anti-inflammatory and pro-healing properties, mainly by blocking tissue proteolytic activity. Doxycycline have been reported to nonselectively inhibit members of the metalloproteinases (MMP) superfamily \[reviewed in , \]. In addition to this direct inhibitory activity, doxycycline indirectly prevents tryptic kallikreins activation by MMPs . Growing body of evidence suggests that the tetracycline might also directly downregulate Protease Activator receptor (PAR)-2 expression and function, which was also found to play a role in induction of local inflammatory mediators . Importantly, the doxycycline antimicrobial activity could lead to reduced Staphylococcus infection/colonization in AD skin, a known trigger of AD flares
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
23
Subjects will be asked to apply NanoDOX® Hydrogel 1% once daily at bedtime for up to four weeks or until complete clearance whichever is sooner
UF HealthStreet
Gainesville, Florida, United States
UF Health Springhill
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Number of Participants With Treatment-related Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE v4.0
comparing dermatological scores of treated lesions vs non treated lesions and treated peri-lesional areas with non-treated non-lesional areas
Time frame: up to 4 weeks of study drug use
Number of Participants With Reduction in Growth of Skin Flora Including S.Aureus
(positive or negative), difference in number of growth (0 to 3+++)
Time frame: up to 4 weeks of study drug use
Number of Participant With a Change in Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) in Target Area
1 point reduction of IGA score in Target area pre-treatment compared to post treatment (v3)
Time frame: 4 weeks of topical therapy
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