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A Phase II, Placebo Controlled, Clinical Trial of Topical TolaSure Targeting Aggregated Mutant Keratin in Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex

A Phase II, Closed Label, Placebo Controlled, Randomized, Double-Blinded Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w Targeting Aggregated Mutant Keratin in Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex (TAMES)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07027345
Acronym
(TAMES)
Enrollment
40
Registered
2025-06-18
Start date
2025-09-11
Completion date
2027-09-01
Last updated
2026-08-13

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

Conditions

Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex

Keywords

Epidermolysis Bullosa, Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex, EBS, Severe EBS, EBS Dowling-Meara, EBS Koebner, Skin Diseases, Keratin, Aggregate, Mutant, EBS-DM, Keratin Disorder, Skin Abnormalities, generalized, intermediate

Brief summary

This Phase II clinical study will assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of topical TolaSure Gel in adults and pediatric patients (2 years of age and older) diagnosed with localized, intermediate, or severe epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS). Each patient (40 to complete) will be enrolled in the study and will be randomized to receive either TolaSure Gel or a topical Placebo for daily application for 2-months. After 2-months, all patients will receive TolaSure Gel to daily apply for an additional 2-months. A remote follow-up visit will occur 2-months after the end of study. Total time in the study is 6-months. Localized patients will be applying study medication to their feet, with the option to treat their hands as well throughout the study. Intermediate and severe EBS patients will be applying study medication to randomized treatment area(s) (a minimum of \ 2-3% Body Surface Area (BSA)), with the option to treat their feet as well throughout the study.

Detailed description

This is a closed-label, Phase II clinical study to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the investigational product (IP), topical TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w, in adults and pediatric patients diagnosed with localized, intermediate, or severe epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS). TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w and Placebo tubes will be placed into kits where all labels (tubes and kit labels) will be blinded for drug content. Kits will be bundled (based on expected amount of study gel usage) and distributed randomly to patients \[Goal of patient population, 1:1 M:F and approximately 70% pediatric patients\]. Each patient (40 to complete) will be enrolled in the study and once a blistering flare is confirmed by the clinical study team, and the patient will be randomized to receive either TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w or Placebo (50:50 chance). For Part I of the study, participants apply the randomized study treatment once daily for 2 months to a defined Target Lesional Area (TLA). The TLA and clinical presentation required for enrollment for each EBS subtype is described below. For localized EBS subjects, the TLA will consist of daily treating the feet (tops and bottoms) which is approximately 7% body surface area (BSA). At the Baseline Visit, localized EBS subjects must have at least moderate plantar disease activity, defined as ≥15% involvement of the plantar surface of at least one foot, as assessed by clinical examination or standardized imaging, with evidence of active disease (e.g., blisters, erosions, or crusting). Localized EBS subjects will also have the option to treat their hands (tops and bottoms), which is approximately an additional 6% BSA. Palmoplantar evaluations for localized EBS subjects are separate from the intermediate to severe EBS subjects' TLA-treated regions per protocol. For intermediate to severe EBS subject, the TLA can be a contiguous or non-contiguous region totaling up to approximately 15-20% BSA, excluding palmoplantar surfaces, groin, and apocrine areas. At the subject Baseline Visit, intermediate to severe EBS subject's TLA must consist of a 2-3% BSA active flaring sub-region consisting mainly of intact or freshly ruptured blisters. Subjects have the option to treat their feet, but plantar evaluation for intermediate to severe EBS subjects is separate from the TLA per protocol. Study drug (TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w or Placebo Gel) is applied to the entire TLA, not just the symptomatic regions (e.g., blistering, keratoderma, erosions, crusting). If symptoms resolve, treatment continues daily on all assigned TLAs. For Part 2 of the study, a single arm crossover will then allow those subjects that received Placebo to go on TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w for a subsequent 2 months. The subjects already in the TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w cohort will continue with daily IP application for an additional 2 months as well. At End of Study (EOS), subjects will cease IP application and EOS procedures will be completed. A subject follow-up visit will occur after 6 months. The primary endpoint will assess changes in disease severity within the TLAs (excluding palmoplantar surfaces) and recurrence of blistering using clinical imaging of blister surface area over time. The secondary efficacy endpoints will evaluate blistering on the feet, subject self-assessments including pain, itch, modified Foot Function Index (mFFI), and Quality of Life (QoL) assessment. An exploratory endpoint will examine blistering and keratoderma of localized EBS subjects that treat their hands. Safety endpoints will include the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). In order to provide adequate assurance of subject safety, safety monitoring will include physical exams, vital sign measurements, clinical laboratory testing (blood and urinalysis), and urine pregnancy testing (as appropriate). These safety assessments in addition to AE reviews will be sufficient to identify potential TEAEs. The information obtained from these assessments will be utilized to examine the efficacy of TolaSure treatment in ameliorating EBS symptoms as well as the accuracy of the proposed mechanism of action (MOA) of TolaSure for this disease indication.

Interventions

DRUG5% TolaSure Topical Gel

TolaSure Topical Gel is applied once-daily to designated treatment areas for up to 4 months (Part 2 End of Study).

Topical Placebo Gel is applied once-daily to designated treatment areas for up to 2 months (Part 1 End of Study).

Sponsors

BioMendics, LLC
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY
Northwestern University
CollaboratorOTHER
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
CollaboratorOTHER
Stanford University
CollaboratorOTHER
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

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

Masking description

Sponsor

Intervention model description

Part 1 of the study (2-months total) will involve a randomized, double-blinded treatment assignment model where one arm will receive active, and the other arm will receive placebo. Part 2 of the study (2-months total) will involve a single arm crossover where the placebo arm will crossover and receive active. The active arm will continue treating with active. During this part of the study the treatment labels will still be blinded.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
2 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient is a male or female at least 2 years of age. * Patient has a documented diagnosis and confirmed clinical history of localized (previously known as Weber-Cockayne), intermediate (previously Kӧbner), or severe (previously EBS-Dowling Meara) autosomal dominant EBS and/or a genetic mutation in either the KRT14 or KRT5 gene consistent with localized, intermediate, or severe EBS. The Investigator will determine patient eligibility based on historical phenotypic presentation of EBS symptoms along with genetic/diagnosis documentation to determine EBS severity. (If localized, intermediate, or severe EBS is suspected but not diagnosed or genetically confirmed, confirmatory testing will be performed). * For localized EBS participants: * Patient must have at least moderate plantar disease activity, defined as ≥15% involvement of the plantar surface of at least one foot, as assessed by clinical examination or standardized imaging, with evidence of active disease (e.g., blisters, erosions, or crusting). * For treatment, the Target Lesional Area (TLA) will consist of daily treating the feet (tops and bottoms) which is approximately 7% body surface area (BSA). Localized EBS subjects will also have the option to treat their hands (tops and bottoms), which is approximately an additional 6% BSA. Palmoplantar evaluation is separate from the intermediate to severe TLA-treated regions per protocol. * For intermediate to severe EBS participants: Patient is actively flaring in one of the preferred target lesional areas (TLAs): 1) lower extremities (ideally below the knee and above the ankle or between the knee and top of the thigh) or 2) torso (excluding the groin and apocrine areas). The following skin conditions are required for treatment purposes: * A TLA is defined as a contiguous or non-contiguous region totaling up to \~15-20% body surface area (BSA). * A flare is defined as a minimum area of \~2-3% Body Surface Area (BSA) containing intact blisters (of varying size and number), and freshly ruptured blisters across 50% of the TLA (as assessed by the principal investigator (PI)). Skin erosions, keratoderma, fissures and/or erythema may also be present. * Patients will be permitted to treat their feet to assess plantar blister surface area but blistering on the feet is not a requirement for study inclusion and is evaluated separately per protocol. * For all patients (with localized, intermediate, and severe EBS), the TLA may not be infected (as assessed by PI) or have been treated with a topical antibiotic within 14 days. * If the patient is a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP), * Has a negative urine pregnancy test. * Agrees to use an approved effective form of birth control with failure rates \<1% per year (e.g., implant, injectable, combined oral contraceptive, intrauterine contraceptive device, sexual abstinence, vasectomized partner) during participation in the study (and at least 3 months thereafter). * Is not nursing. * Patient's laboratory values (blood and urine) are within the range of normal or abnormal values are within normal levels for the disease and in the opinion of the PI the values are not clinically relevant for study participation. * Patient is in good, general health and free of any known disease state or physical condition which, in the investigator's opinion, might impair evaluation of the EBS lesions or which exposes the subject to an unacceptable risk by study participation. * Over the duration of the study, the patient agrees to not use any other topical therapies and/or impregnated dressings within the TLAs (e.g., medicated cleansers, CBD oil, MediHoney, Silvadine cream 1%, topicals containing antimicrobials, keratin, and/or collagen, lipido-colloid or polymeric membrane dressings, and/or hydrogels). * Patient and/or legally appointed and authorized representative must be able and willing to follow study procedures and instructions in order to maintain compliance throughout the study period. * The patient or legally appointed and authorized representative must have read, understood and signed an Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee (IRB/EC) approved Informed Consent or Assent Form.

Exclusion criteria

* Patient's use of prior or concomitant medication or medical treatments/procedures: * Any investigational drug or therapy within 30 days. * Systemic steroidal therapy within 30 days. * Topical steroidal therapy within 14 days (Note: inhaled and ophthalmic products containing steroids are allowed). * Systemic antibiotic therapy within 7 days. * Currently receiving chemotherapy or radiation. * Surgery within the previous 2 weeks (except for minor surgery, cosmetic or dental procedures as determined by the investigator). * Started to take chronic medications (NSAIDs, antihistamines, etc.) at least 30 days prior to starting study medication. * Patient's medical history includes: * Cancer that is currently undergoing treatment. * History of chronic and severe vitamin, mineral, or protein deficiency. * Current systemic infection. * HIV/AIDS. * Non-EBS skin disease (e.g., psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, sun damage, etc.), or condition (e.g., sunburn) that, in the opinion of the investigator, might put the patient at undue risk by study participation or interferes with the study medication application or the study assessments. * An illness (e.g., neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, renal, or metabolic disease), condition, or situation that in the opinion of the principal investigator is likely to interfere with the patient's participation in or completion of the study. * Factors present in the patient and/or his/her legal representative that could interfere with study compliance such as inability to attend scheduled study visits or to perform study protocol procedures. * Patient is a member of the investigational team or his/her immediate family. * Other unspecified reasons that, in the opinion of the Investigator, make the patient unsuitable for enrollment.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Blister Surface Area of the Designated Treatment Area(s)Day 1 (Baseline) and weekly until End of Study (2-months and maximum 4-months)Clinical photography will be used to assess changes in disease severity within the target lesional area (TLA) and recurrence of blistering by measuring blister surface area in the designated TLA over time.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Plantar Blister Surface Area ReductionDay 1 (Baseline) and weekly until End of Study (2-months and maximum 4-months)Plantar blister surface area changes over time will be examined using clinical photography for localized EBS patients that treat their feet and those intermediate to severe EBS subjects that opt-in to treat their feet.
Subject-reported Pain Score in Target Lesional Areas During Treatment ApplicationDay 1 (Baseline) and weekly until End of Study (2-months and maximum 4-months)Using the adult or pediatric PROMIS® Measure form, peak pain during treatment application will be reported on a weekly basis until Part 2 End of Study (EOS, 4-months), with a possible assessment at the 6-month follow up visit. Pain trends in TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w and Placebo groups will be compared. The following PROMIS® Measure forms will be used depending on the patient's age: The Adult Pain Interference-Short Form 8a, Pediatric Pain Interference-Short Form 8a, and Parent Proxy Pain Interference-Short Form 8a. These scales are from 1 to 5 and relate to how much pain interferes with daily activities, with 1 indicating Never/Not at All and 5 indicating Almost Always/Very Much. For 2-4 year-old subjects, worst pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) questionnaire will be reported by caregivers/guardians. Pain NRS is from 0 to 10 with 0=no pain and 10=worst pain imaginable.
Subject-reported Itch Score in Target Lesional AreaDay 1 (Baseline) and weekly until End of Study (2-months and maximum 4-months)Using the adult or pediatric PROMIS® Measure form, itch characteristics will be reported on a weekly basis until Part 2 End of Study (EOS, 4-months), with a possible assessment at the 6-month follow up visit. Itch trends in TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w and Placebo groups will be compared. The following PROMIS® Measure forms will be used depending on the patient's age: The Adult Itch Interference-Short Form 8a, Pediatric Itch-Short Form 8a (PIQ-C), and Parent Proxy Itch-Short Form 8a (PIQ-C). These scales are from 1 to 5 and relate to how much itch interferes with daily activities and the level of itch, with 1 indicating Never/No Itch and 5 indicating Almost Always/Very Severe. For 2-4 year-old subjects, worst scratch/itch Numeric Rating Scale (WSI-NRS) questionnaire will be reported by caregivers/guardians. WSI-NRS is from 0 to 10 with 0=no itching or scratching and 10=worst imaginable itching or scratching.
Subject-reported Quality of Life (QoL)Day 1 (Baseline), Part 1 End of Study (2-months), Part 2 End of Study (4-months)Patient's quality of life (QoL) metrics, highlighting symptoms and daily living concerns of EBS patients, will be reported at Visit 2/ Baseline, Part 1 End of Study (EOS), and Part 2 EOS, with a possible assessment at the 6-month follow up visit. This QoL assessment will be given to patients in a questionnaire format. The questions focus on how EBS blistering areas affect daily physical and social activities as well as mental and emotional health. The scale range is from 0 to 10, with 0 being not at all affected and 10 being severely affected. QoL metrics in TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w and Placebo control groups will be examined.
Subject-reported Modified Foot Function Index (mFFI)Day 1 (Baseline), Part 1 End of Study (2-months), Part 2 End of Study (4-months)Patient's modified Foot Function Index (mFFI), is a questionnaire about foot pathology as it relates to pain, disability, and/or activity restrictions. Questions relating to pain are on a 0 to 10 scale with 0 being no pain at all and 10 being the worst pain imaginable. Daily activity scores also range from 0 to 10 with 0 being Not at All/Not Difficult at All and 10 being All the Time/So Difficult. The mFFI questionnaire will be reported at Visit 2/ Baseline, Part 1 End of Study (EOS), and Part 2 EOS, with a possible assessment at the 6-month follow up visit. mFFI metrics in TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w and Placebo control groups will be examined.
Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs)Day 1 (Baseline) and bi-weekly until End of Study (maximum 4-months)Safety monitoring will include clinical laboratory testing (blood and urine) and urine pregnancy testing (as appropriate) only at Visit 1/Screening and Part 2 EOS, physical examinations (including assessment of treatment areas), and vital sign measurements at baseline and bi-weekly until Part 1 EOS and Part 2 EOS. These assessments along with AE reviews will identify potential TEAEs.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 14, 2026