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Apremilast for Erythema Multiforme

Apremilast for the Treatment of Refractory Erythema Multiforme

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05875714
Acronym
AEM
Enrollment
6
Registered
2023-05-25
Start date
2022-01-13
Completion date
2024-12-31
Last updated
2026-06-03

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

Conditions

Erythema Multiforme

Brief summary

This study is recruiting patients with chronic, treatment resistant erythema multiforme (EM), which is a disease that can affect the skin and mucous membranes (mucocutaneous). EM often impacts quality of life with pain, anorexia, hospitalization, and related long-term issues. While there are medications used to treat EM, no single therapeutic agent has been consistently effective for long-term management of disease. Apremilast (trade name: Otezla) is approved to treat Bechet's Disease, a different but similar mucocutaneous disease. In this study, eligible patients will receive apremilast for 6 months of treatment so we can evaluate if there is a difference in pain and the number of EM flares compared to prior to treatment with apremilast.

Interventions

DRUGApremilast

Apremilast (Otezla), oral medication Day 1: 10 mg in the morning. Day 2: 10 mg in the morning and 10 mg in the evening. Day 3: 10 mg in the morning and 20 mg in the evening. Day 4: 20 mg in the morning and 20 mg in the evening. Day 5: 20 mg in the morning and 30 mg in the evening Day 6: 30 mg twice daily Maintenance dosing: 30 mg twice daily

Sponsors

Robert Micheletti
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 89 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Subjects must satisfy the following criteria to be enrolled in the study: 1. Presence of oral, genital, or cutaneous erythema multiforme (EM) diagnosed or confirmed by a dermatologist based on clinical and/or histopathologic data. 2. EM must be recurrent, defined as having =\>2 flares in the six months prior to enrollment (or =\>4 flares in the year prior to enrollment). 3. EM must be refractory to standard therapy defined as 3-month treatment course with valacyclovir and/or a systemic immunomodulatory therapy such as colchicine, dapsone, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, or methotrexate. 4. Must be in general good health (except for disease under study) as judged by the Investigator, based on medical history, physical examination, and clinical laboratories. (NOTE: The definition of good health means a subject does not have uncontrolled significant co-morbid conditions). 5. Willing and able to provide personally signed and dated informed consent form. 6. Stated willingness and ability to comply with all study procedures including adhering to oral apremilast regimen and availability for the duration of the study. 7. Adults aged 18-89 years old. 8. People of childbearing potential (PCBP) must have a negative pregnancy test at Screening and Baseline. While on investigational product and for at least 28 days after taking the last dose of investigational product, PCBP who engage in activity by which conception is possible must use one of the approved contraceptive options described below: Option 1: Any one of the following highly effective methods: hormonal contraception (oral, injection, implant, transdermal patch, vaginal ring); intrauterine device (IUD); tubal ligation; or partner's vasectomy; OR Option 2: External or internal condom (latex condom or nonlatex condom NOT made out of natural \[animal\] membrane \[for example, polyurethane\]; PLUS one additional barrier method: (a) diaphragm with spermicide; (b) cervical cap with spermicide; or (c) contraceptive sponge with spermicide. NOTE: This criterion is satisfied as "not applicable" (N/A) for those who practice abstinence as part of their usual and customary way of life, so long as this is maintained throughout study period plus 28 days post-treatment; are postmenopausal; or are of male sex/assigned male at birth (AMAB).

Exclusion criteria

The presence of any of the following will exclude a subject from enrollment: 1. Other than disease under study, any clinically significant (as determined by the Investigator) cardiac, endocrinological, pulmonary, neurologic, psychiatric, hepatic, renal, hematologic, immunologic disease, or other major disease that is currently uncontrolled. 2. Any condition, including the presence of laboratory abnormalities, which would place the subject at unacceptable risk if they were to participate in the study. 3. Prior history of unmanaged depressive symptoms, suicide attempt at any time in the subject's life time prior to screening or randomization, or major psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization within the last 3 years. 4. A score of 4 or higher on Patient Health Questionnaire at screening. 5. Pregnant or breast feeding. 6. Active substance abuse or a history of substance abuse within 6 months prior to Screening. 7. Malignancy or history of malignancy, except for: 1. treated \[ie, cured\] basal cell or squamous cell in situ skin carcinomas; 2. treated \[ie, cured\] cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or carcinoma in situ of cervix with no evidence of recurrence within the previous 5 years. 8. Use of any investigational drug within 4 weeks prior to randomization, or 5 pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic half-lives, if known (whichever is longer). 9. Prior treatment with apremilast. 10. Patient unable to comply with study or conform to treatment diary or regular follow up visits. 11. Patients with ocular EM. 12. Concomitant use of immunosuppressive medications for treatment of other diseases. 13. Patients with contraindications to Apremilast according to package insert.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Erythema Multiforme Flares on Medication24 weeksNumber of flares occurring in 24 weeks on apremilast compared to the preceding 24 weeks

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pain on Medication24 weeksAverage pain severity of erythema multiforme at 24-week evaluation (units on a 0 to 10 scale; 10 = maximum pain)
Number of Flares Weeks 24-3636 weeksNumber of erythema multiforme flares occurring in the 12 weeks after completing the 24-week course of apremilast
Average Pain Associated With Flares in Weeks 24-3636 weeksAverage pain severity (units on a 0-10 scale; 10 = maximum pain) associated with erythema multiforme flares occurring in the 12 weeks after completing the 24-week course of apremilast
Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life Score24-weeks17-item patient-reported tool developed to measure the significant impact of rare blistering skin conditions (Autoimmune Bullous Diseases or AIBDs) on a person's daily life, focusing on symptoms, physical function, social impact, and psychological well-being
Investigator Global Assessment24 weeksInvestigator global assessment of disease severity (units on a 0-10 scale; 10 is max severity)
Investigator Global Assessment--week 36Week 36

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRobert G Micheletti, MD

University of Pennsylvania

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Six patients with recurrent and treatment-refractory erythema multiforme were enrolled in this study from the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic
Age, Continuous28.7 years
Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life Scale24.5 Units on a 0-51 scale; higher is worse
Average Duration of Erythema Multiforme Flares in Preceding 6 Months8 days
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
6 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Investigator Global Assessment of Disease Severity6.5 units on a 0-10 scale; max severity = 10
Number of Erythema Multiforme Flares in Preceding 6 months6.3 number of flares
Pain (units on a 0-10 scale; maximum = 10) with Flares of Erythema Multiforme in Preceding 6 Months7.5 units on a 0-10 scale; max pain = 10
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
3 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 6
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 6
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 6

Outcome results

None listed

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