Skip to content

An Investigator-initiated Study of Apremilast to Demonstrate Efficacy Nummular Eczema

An Investigator-initiated, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo Controlled Study of Apremilast to Demonstrate Efficacy in Subjects With Nummular Eczema

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03160248
Acronym
APREMINUM
Enrollment
31
Registered
2017-05-19
Start date
2017-07-05
Completion date
2021-09-15
Last updated
2021-10-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dermatitis Eczema, Eczema, Nummular Dermatitis, Nummular Eczema

Brief summary

This is an investigator-initiated, single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, interventional phase IIb study. Forty patients with clinically and histologically confirmed nummular eczema will be enrolled according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients will be included after written informed consent is obtained. Prior to randomization, average application rate of class II topical steroids per day will be measured for 4 weeks. Subsequently, patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into one arm to receive Apremilast 30 mg BID (following titration phase) for 16 weeks or a second arm receiving identically matching placebo for 16 weeks. From beginning of week 17, all patients will start an open-label treatment with Apremilast 30 mg BID until week 32. Concomitant use of topical steroids (class II) is allowed during the study. During the treatment period both placebo and Apremilast will be applied p.o. from week 0 until week 32.

Interventions

DRUGApremilast

This study aims on investigating the efficacy of Apremilast in nummular eczema patients.

DRUGPlacebo Oral Tablet

This study aims on investigating the efficacy of Apremilast in nummular eczema patients - placebo controlled

Sponsors

Celgene Corporation
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Technical University of Munich
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Clinically confirmed diagnosis of nummular eczema 2. Biopsy-proven, meaning histology consistent with eczema (including PAS-staining) 3. PGA ≥ 3 on a 5 point scale 4. History of continuous use of topical steroids for the last 8 weeks 5. Age 18-85 years of age, body weight ≥ 40 kg and ≤ 160 kg 6. Signed informed consent from patient

Exclusion criteria

1. Permanent severe diseases, especially those affecting the immune system 2. Pregnancy or breast feeding 3. History or presence of epilepsy, significant neurological disorders, depression, suicidal ideation and behaviour, cerebrovascular attacks or ischemia 4. History or presence of myocardial infarction or cardiac arrhythmia which requires drug therapy 5. Evidence of severe renal dysfunction defined as: * eGFR \< 30 ml/min/1,73 m2 (calculated using the MDRD formula) at screening (Visit 1) 6. Evidence of significant hepatic disease defined as: At screening (Visit 1): * Alkaline phosphatase \>3x upper limit of normal (ULN) or alkaline phosphatase \>2,5x ULN and total bilirubin \> 2xULN or * Aspartate transaminase (AST, SGOT\]) and alanine transaminase (ALT, SGPT\]) \> 2.5x upper limit of normal (ULN) 7. History of lymphoproliferative disorders 8. Patients who are considered potentially unreliable or where it is envisaged the patient may not consistently attend scheduled study visits 9. Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant unless they use effective contraception during the study and for 4 weeks after study completion or discontinuation. The chosen form of birth control must be effective by the time the patient receives her first dose of study drug. 10. Inability or unwillingness to undergo repeated venipuncture (e.g., because of poor tolerability or lack of access to veins) 11. Inability or unwillingness to undergo repeated punch biopsies 12. History of allergy to any component of the study medication 13. Current use of strong cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers (eg, rifampicin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin and St John's wort) 14. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption 15. Evidence of acute contact dermatitis at screening 16. Evidence of underweight, defined as BMI \< 18,5 kg/m2 17. Evidence of Zink deficiency defined as Zink level \< 20 µg/dL in serum

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
PGAweek 16Number of Patients Achieving an Improvement (Decrease) in PGA (Physician Global Assessment) by two or more points at week 16 as compared to week 0 or achieving an absolute PGA of 0 or 1 at Week 16

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
PGA score Arm 2week 32Change in PGA score compared to baseline and week 16 for patients in Arm 2 at week 32 \- Comparison of the first and the second 16 weeks of the trial in terms of the change in PGA score from baseline for patients in Arm 2
Histologyweek 16Significant histological improvement at week 16 - Assessed by reduction of epidermal thickness \> 30% or reduction of inflammatory infiltrate \> 50 % compared to histological findings on baseline.
Use of topical steroidsweek 16 and 32Change From Baseline in the Reduction of the Use of Topical Steroids at week 16 and 32 \- Prior to randomization and during the treatment, average application rate of class II topical steroids per day will be calculated. Participants will receive prednicarbate from the study centre. On each visit the tube will be weighed to measure usage.
Pruritus Visual Analog Scale (VAS)week 16 and 32Change From Baseline in Pruritus Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Score at Week 16 and 32
TSQMweek 16 and 32Change From Baseline in the Global Satisfaction Subscale of the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) Score at Week 16 and 32
Safety: Safety of Apremilast will be Assessed by Evaluating Adverse Events (AEs) - Type, frequency, severity, and relationship of the AEs to apremilastweek 36Safety of Apremilast will be Assessed by Evaluating Adverse Events (AEs) - Type, frequency, severity, and relationship of the AEs to apremilast
EASIweek 16 and 32EASI 50 score at week 16 and 32 (Eczema Area and Severity Index)
Transepidermal Waterloss (TEWL)week 16 and 32Change From Baseline in Transepidermal Waterloss (TEWL) at week 16 and 32
DLQIweek 16 and 32Change From Baseline in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Total Score at Week 16 and 32

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Exploratory endpoint: Change From Baseline in metabolic functions at Week 16 and 32 - abdominal girthweek 16 and 32Assessed via physical examination (abdominal girth (cm)))
Exploratory endpoint: Change From Baseline in metabolic functions at Week 16 and 32 - serum parametersweek 16 and 32Assessed via serum parameters (glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Lipoprotein (a))
Exploratory endpoint: Change From Baseline in metabolic functions at Week 16 and 32 - characterization of molecular (gene expression profil)week 16 and 32Changes in metabolic functions during treatment with Apremilast vs. Placebo in the skin (biopsies at week 0 and week 16) as determined by RNA sequencing (RNAseq).
Exploratory endpoint: Change From Baseline in metabolic functions at Week 16 and 32 - weightweek 16 and 32Assessed via physical examination (weight (kg))
Exploratory endpoint: Change From Baseline in metabolic functions at Week 16 and 32 - BMIweek 16 and 32Assessed via physical examination (BMI (kg/m2))

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026