Preliminary Efficacy and Safety of Apremilast in the Treatment of Acne Conglobata

Dr. Frank Behrens1 enrolled

Overview

Apremilast mediates its clinical effect through the cAMP-PKA-NFkappaB pathway which results in a clinical picture changes to a decrease of all signs of inflammation. Due to the NFkappaB mediated chronical inflammation in the pathogenesis of acne conglobata, a treatment with Apremilast seems to be an effective option. In this study, treatment with Apremilast (Otezla®) will be performed in patients with acne conglobata to observe its preliminary efficacy and safety in an open label, single-centre proof of concept study design.

Treatment options for acne conglobata are limited and those which are effective can only be used in short term such as systemic steroids, antibiotics or retinoids due to their association to side effects or potentially teratogenetic effects. Apremilast, a specific inhibitor for PDE-4, mediates its clinical effect through the cAMP-PKA-NFkappaB pathway which results in a decrease of pro-inflammatory and increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines in several types of leukocytes. The clinical picture changes to a decrease of all signs of inflammation. Due to the NFkappaB mediated chronical inflammation in the pathogenesis of acne conglobata, a treatment with Apremilast seems to be an effective option. In this study, treatment with Apremilast (Otezla®) will be performed in patients with acne conglobata to observe its preliminary efficacy and safety in an open label, single-centre proof of concept study design.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Acne Conglobata

Interventions

ApremilastDRUG

Apremilast twice daily 30 mg

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of acne conglobata for a minimum of 6 months * Active condition of acne conglobata, defined as minimum IGA of 2 (5-point scale) of severity of acne conglobate * No clinical significant or severe abnormality of skin (e.g. scars, other severe skin disease) based on medical/medication history or physical examination as determined by the treating physician * Number of abscesses ≤ 2 * Written informed consent obtained from the patients prior to the initiation of any protocol-required procedures * Compliance to study procedures and study protocol * Age 18 - 65 years * patients who do not tolerate or no longer tolerate therapies or for whom the following treatment options are contraindicated: * Topical retinoid therapy * isotretinoin and/or acitretin as standard therapy * Topical treatment with antibiotics, glucocorticoids, retinoids, Vit-D-analogue, calcineurin inhibitors * systemic antibiotics, systemic glucocorticoids * systemic retinoids Exclusion Criteria: * Previous use of Apremilast, or any other PDE-4 inhibitor * According to Summary of Product characteristics (SmPC); see special warnings regarding suicidal ideation and behaviour * Known hypersensitivity to any component of the investigator medicinal product (IMP) * Current use of strong CYP3A4 enzyme inducers (e.g., rifampicin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and St. John's Wort) Active dermatologic conditions which may confound the diagnosis of acne conglobata or would interfere with the assessment of treatment (e.g., acne inversa, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, ichthyosis, and psoriasis) * History of clinically significant infection within the last 4 weeks before screening, which, in the opinion of the treating physician, may compromise the safety of the patient * Presentation of special type of acne, including but not limited to: * Medication related acne (e.g., steroid abuse) * Acne with facial edema * Recalcitrant acne * Acne cosmetic, pomade acne * Acne mechanica * Chloracne * History of any kind of cancer or carcinoma in situ within the last 5 years before screening * History of chronic alcohol/drug abuse within the last 12 months before screening * Pregnant or breastfeeding women * Females of childbearing potential not willing to use effective contraception (defined as PEARL index \<1 - e.g. hormonal contraceptive containing estrogen and progesterone, or progesterone only, applied orally, intravaginal, transdermal or to be injected, IUD) for the duration of the study including also strict abstinence, or partner had a vasectomy * Severe kidney insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 30 ml/min) * Any severe disease, which, in the opinion of the treating physician, may interfere or worsen the acne conglobata or could become a safety problem for patients * History of or current Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C or HIV infection * Any active medication which suppresses the immune system, including disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologicals * Current participation in another investigational clinical trial or participation within 30 days prior to screening * Major surgery within the last 4 weeks before screening * Subject susceptible to take a local corticosteroid treatment (class I - III) during the study except inhaled or topic when needed to treat a condition outside the treatment area (head, neck, upper trunk) * History and current status of suicidal thoughts or behaviour or previous suicidal attempt * Washout times for previous therapy for acne conglobata before screening: * 1 week for any topical treatment (e.g., antibiotics, glucocorticoids, retinoids, Vit-D-analogue, calcineurin inhibitors) * 4 weeks for any systemic antibiotics, systemic glucocorticoids or UV-therapy * 12 weeks for any systemic retinoids or any investigational drug * Patients who take any kind of contraceptive therapy (eg. estrogen, gestagen) with known positive effect on acne must be on stable dosage for a minimum of 6 month * Underage or incapable patients * Patients who are legally institutionalized

Locations (1)

University Hospital Frankfurt

Frankfurt, Hessia, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

50% reduction in number of lesion

proportion of subjects who achieve at least a 50% reduction in total number of inflammatory lesions

Time frame: 24 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Proportionof subjects in Investigator global assessment (IGA)

proportion of subjects who achieve an IGA 0 / 1 or an improvement of a minimum 2 points on an IGA 5-point scale (value 0 to 4, whereby 0 is symptom-free and 4 severe symptoms)

Time frame: Baseline to visit 3 (week 2)

proportion of subjects in Investigator global assessment (IGA)

proportion of subjects who achieve an IGA 0 / 1 or an improvement of a minimum 2 points on an IGA 5-point scale (value 0 to 4, whereby 0 is symptom-free and 4 severe symptoms)

Time frame: Baseline to visit 4 (week 4)

proportion of subjects in Investigator global assessment (IGA)

proportion of subjects who achieve an IGA 0 / 1 or an improvement of a minimum 2 points on an IGA 5-point scale (value 0 to 4, whereby 0 is symptom-free and 4 severe symptoms)

Time frame: Baseline to visit 5 (week 8)

proportion of subjects in Investigator global assessment (IGA)

proportion of subjects who achieve an IGA 0 / 1 or an improvement of a minimum 2 points on an IGA 5-point scale (value 0 to 4, whereby 0 is symptom-free and 4 severe symptoms)

Time frame: Baseline to visit 6 (week 16)

proportion of subjects in Investigator global assessment (IGA)

proportion of subjects who achieve an IGA 0 / 1 or an improvement of a minimum 2 points on an IGA 5-point scale (value 0 to 4, whereby 0 is symptom-free and 4 severe symptoms)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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Time frame: Baseline to visit 7 (week 24)

change in skin condition

skin condition measured in Symptoms Score REduction Index (SSRI), calculated as the percentage of lesions after treatment in relation to before treatment. The lower the value the more reduction of lesions was achieved by treatment

Time frame: at visit 3 (week 2)

change in skin condition

skin condition measured in Symptoms Score REduction Index (SSRI)calculated as the percentage of lesions after treatment in relation to before treatment. The lower the value the more reduction of lesions was achieved by treatment

Time frame: at visit 4 (week 4)

change in skin condition

skin condition measured in Symptoms Score Reduction Index (SSRI)calculated as the percentage of lesions after treatment in relation to before treatment. The lower the value the more reduction of lesions was achieved by treatment

Time frame: at visit 5 (week 8)

change in skin condition

Time frame: at visit 6 (week 16)

change in skin condition

Time frame: at visit 7 (week 24)

change in pain of the inflammatory lesions

pain of the inflammatory lesions measured by a visual analog scale (VAS), measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more pain is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 3 (week 2)

change in pain of the inflammatory lesions

pain of the inflammatory lesions measured by a visual analog scale (VAS)measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more pain is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 4 (week 4)

change in pain of the inflammatory lesions

pain of the inflammatory lesions measured by a visual analog scale (VAS)measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more pain is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 5 (week 8)

change in pain of the inflammatory lesions

pain of the inflammatory lesions measured by a visual analog scale (VAS)measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more pain is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 6 (week 16)

change in pain of the inflammatory lesions

pain of the inflammatory lesions measured by a visual analog scale (VAS)measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more pain is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 7 (week 24)

change in itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS

itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS, measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more itching is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 3 (week 2)

change in itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS

itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS, measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more itching is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 4 (week 4)

change in itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS

itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS, measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more itching is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 5 (week 8)

change in itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS

itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS, measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more itching is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 6 (week 16)

change in itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS

itch of the inflammatory lesions measured by a VAS, measured in mm values (0 mm to 100 mm). The higher the value the more itching is experienced by the subject.

Time frame: at visit 7 (week 24)

change in quality of life

change in quality of life measured by Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The DLQI is calculated by summing the score of each of the 10 questions resulting in a maximum of 30 and a minimum of 0. The higher the score, the more quality of life is impaired.

Time frame: Baseline to visit 3 (week 2)

change in quality of life

change in quality of life measured by Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).The DLQI is calculated by summing the score of each of the 10 questions resulting in a maximum of 30 and a minimum of 0. The higher the score, the more quality of life is impaired.

Time frame: Baseline to visit 4 (week 4)

change in quality of life

Time frame: Baseline to visit 5 (week 8)

change in quality of life

Time frame: Baseline to visit 6 (week 16)

change in quality of life

Time frame: Baseline to visit 7 (week 24)

change in depression profile

change in depression profile measured by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is the 9-item depression module from the full PHQ. As a severity measure, the PHQ-9 score can range from 0 to 27, since each of the 9-items can be scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day).

Time frame: Baseline to Visit 3 (week 2)

change in depression profile

Time frame: Baseline to Visit 4 (week 4)

change in depression profile

change in depression profile measured by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).The PHQ-9 is the 9-item depression module from the full PHQ. As a severity measure, the PHQ-9 score can range from 0 to 27, since each of the 9-items can be scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day).

Time frame: Baseline to Visit 5 (week 8)

change in depression profile

Time frame: Baseline to Visit 6 (week 16)

change in depression profile

Time frame: Baseline to Visit 7 (week 24)

compliance to therapy (drug accountability)

compliance to therapy measured by drug accountability (counting of returned IMP)

Time frame: at visit 3 (week 2)

compliance to therapy (drug accountability)

compliance to therapy measured by drug accountability (counting of returned IMP)

Time frame: at visit 4 (week 4)

compliance to therapy (drug accountability)

compliance to therapy measured by drug accountability (counting of returned IMP)

Time frame: at visit 5 (week 8)

compliance to therapy (drug accountability)

compliance to therapy measured by drug accountability (counting of returned IMP)

Time frame: at visit 6 (week 16)

compliance to therapy (drug accountability)

compliance to therapy measured by drug accountability (counting of returned IMP)

Time frame: at visit 7 (week 24)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs) as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 3 (week 2)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs) as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 4 (week 4)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs) as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 5 (week 8)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs) as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 6 (week 16)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs) as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 7 (week 24)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs)

Frequency of adverse events (AEs) as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at Follow-up (week 28)

Seriousness of adverse events (AEs)

Determination of seriousness of adverse events (AEs) and rate of seriousness as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 3 (week 2)

Seriousness of adverse events (AEs)

Determination of seriousness of adverse events (AEs) and rate of seriousness as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 4 (week 4)

Seriousness of adverse events (AEs)

Determination of seriousness of adverse events (AEs) and rate of seriousness as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 5 (week 8)

Seriousness of adverse events (AEs)

Determination of seriousness of adverse events (AEs) and rate of seriousness as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 6 (week 18)

Seriousness of adverse events (AEs)

Determination of seriousness of adverse events (AEs) and rate of seriousness as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at visit 7 (week 24)

Seriousness of adverse events (AEs)

Determination of seriousness of adverse events (AEs) and rate of seriousness as documented in Case Report Form (CRF)

Time frame: at Follow-up (week 28)