This is a single-center, open-label, single-arm pilot study evaluating topical ruxolitinib (OPZELURA) as a treatment for adults with Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG), a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes painful ulcers. Approximately 12 participants will apply ruxolitinib cream twice daily for 24 weeks while continuing standard wound care, with the goal of determining whether the drug helps target ulcers heal completely without the need for systemic immunosuppressive therapy. Participants will be followed for a total of 28 weeks, with the option to continue treatment in a 48-week open-label extension if they respond well and remain safe on the drug. The study is sponsored by Oregon Health \& Science University and funded by Incyte Corporation.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum is a rare, ulcerative inflammatory skin condition most commonly treated with systemic corticosteroids or cyclosporine, both of which carry significant long-term toxicity risks. Topical therapy has shown effectiveness for smaller lesions, but existing topical options (corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors) also carry risks with prolonged use and lack robust long-term safety data. Emerging evidence implicates the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in PG pathogenesis, with JAK1/2/3 and TYK2 found to be overexpressed in PG lesions and several PG-associated inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12, IL-15, IL-23) acting through JAK-STAT-dependent mechanisms. Ruxolitinib, a selective JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor already FDA-approved as a topical cream for atopic dermatitis, has not previously been studied for PG in a clinical trial; prior evidence is limited to case reports of oral JAK inhibitors used off-label for PG. This investigator-initiated trial will enroll approximately 12 adults (ages 18-99) with a PARACELSUS score \>10 and a target ulcer ≤10 cm². Participants will apply ruxolitinib cream twice daily via a Topi-Click applicator for 24 weeks, continuing standard-of-care wound care throughout (cleansing, antimicrobial and hyper-absorbent dressings, compression, and debridement as needed). No additional systemic immunosuppressive therapy will be introduced during the study, though participants may remain on a stable pre-existing dose of a biologic for an associated autoimmune comorbidity. The study includes 10 scheduled visits over 28 weeks (Screening, Weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28), with select later visits available via telemedicine for participants living more than 30 miles from OHSU. Assessments include full body skin exams with ulcer measurement, high-frequency ultrasound imaging at Weeks 0, 6, 12, and 24, blood draws for safety labs (CBC, CMP, eGFR, ESR, CRP, G6PD, lipid panel) and infectious disease screening (HIV, HBV, HCV, TB), wound fluid collection for cytokine analysis, and patient-reported outcome measures (Skindex Mini, pain NRS, PHQ-9, GAD-7). The primary endpoint is the proportion of participants achieving complete re-epithelialization of the target ulcer at Week 24. Secondary endpoints assessed by the investigator include Physician Global Assessment (PGA) scores, percent reduction in ulcer area, time to healing, time to recurrence, and treatment failure rate; secondary endpoints assessed by the participant include quality-of-life measured by Skindex Mini and pain reduction measured by NRS. Exploratory/mechanistic endpoints include changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression in blood and lesional tissue, and ultrasound-based assessment of tissue remodeling during healing. Participants who complete the study through Week 24 with a PGA score of 1-3 and no significant safety concerns will be eligible to enroll in a 48-week open-label extension, with continued dosing for as long as clinical benefit is observed, re-evaluated annually.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
12
topical ruxolitinib 1.5% cream applied to wound bed twice daily for 24 weeks.
Complete healing of target ulcer
The proportion of patients with complete re-epithelization, defined as 100% re-epithelialization without any drainage, of the target ulcer at week 24.
Time frame: Up to 24 weeks
PGA between 0-1
1\. Assessing the proportion of patients that show target ulcer healing in response to study treatment as measured by achieving PGA between 0 and 1 after treatment with baricitinib at week-24. This scale has been used in previous trials: 0 = total resolution of target ulcer with no signs of active PG 1= almost completely healed target ulcer with only minimal signs of active PG 2 = evidence of target ulcer healing which involves at least 50% of ulcer/ulcer margin 3 = evidence of target ulcer healing which involves less than 50% of ulcer/margin 4 = no evidence of target healing ulcer
Time frame: Through week 24
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0
To determine the safety of ruxolitinib for the treatment of subjects with PG who are candidates for systemic therapy, by the number of participants who experienced treatment-related adverse events while on study.
Time frame: Through week 24
Impact of skin disease on quality of life using Skindex Mini
A 3-item questionnaire assessing three domains of quality of life impact; symptoms, emotions, and function related to skin disease on a scale of 0 (never bothered) to 5 (always bothered)
Time frame: By week 28
Quality of life via Participant Global Assessment
Measures an individual's overall impression of their health, disease severity, or treatment response on a scale of clear to severe.
Time frame: By week 28
Quality of life via Participant Physical Function Assessment
Evaluates an individual's ability to perform daily activities, mobility, strength, balance, and overall functional capacity on a scale from "no difficulty at all" to "can't do because of ulcer"
Time frame: By week 28
Patient Health Questionnaire-9
Measures the presence and severity of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks in 9 questions ranking on a scale of "Not at all" to "Nearly every day".
Time frame: By week 28
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment
Measures the severity of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms over the past two weeks in 7 questions ranking on a scale of "not at all" to "nearly every day".
Time frame: By week 28
Pain improvement determined by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
To determine the improvement in pain by NRS scale in the last 7 days and the peak pain by NRS scale in the last 24 hours from 0 (no pain/sensation) to 10 (worst possible pain/sensation)
Time frame: Through week 24
Time to healing
Determine time to healing
Time frame: Through week 24
Time to recurrence
Determine time to recurrence, appearance of new ulcer after complete closure
Time frame: Through week 24
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