Etanercept With Tacrolimus for Psoriasis

Condition(s) targeted: Psoriasis

Intervention: Etanercept plus tacrolimus (Drug)

Phase: Phase 2

Status: Active, not recruiting

Sponsored by: University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Melissa Magliocco, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: UMDNJ - RWJMS

The study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of etanercept 50 mg subcutaneously (SQ) weekly plus tacrolimus 0. 1% topical ointment twice daily compared to etanercept 50 mg SQ weekly plus placebo ointment twice daily.

Official title: Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Bilateral Comparison of Topical Tacrolimus 0.1% vs. Placebo Ointment as Adjunctive Therapy for Patients With Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Who Are Candidates for or Poor Responders to Etanercept Therapy

Study design: Treatment, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study

Primary outcome:

Target lesion scoring (on a scale of 0-12) at week 12

The percentage of lesions having scores of < 2 in the topical tacrolimus and vehicle-treated sites will be assessed.

Secondary outcome:

Photography of target lesions

Quarter-body photography

Static Physician’s Global Assessment (PGA) on each side of each subject’s body

Detailed description: The study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of etanercept 50 mg SQ weekly plus tacrolimus 0. 1% topical ointment twice daily compared to etanercept 50 mg SQ weekly plus placebo ointment twice daily. Subjects will be either beginning etanercept therapy or already using a stable dose of etanercept when they begin to apply tacrolimus to half of their body and placebo ointment to the other half. The study is double blinded. Total duration of the study is 12 weeks.

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: N/A. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria Adults 18 years or older with moderate to severe psoriasis, who are candidates for systemic or phototherapy, with a baseline score of 6 or higher on the target lesion score, and a baseline score of 3 or higher on the Physician’s Global Assessment, on each side of the body Patients who are already on a stable dose of etanercept for at least 2 months and have the above criteria Subjects must have target lesions on each side of the body that are at least 1. 5 cm in diameter and roughly symmetrical in appearance and location Exclusion Criteria Inability to understand consent or comply with study requirements Pregnancy or unwillingness to use adequate birth control method Lactation Psoriasis plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) or systemic therapy within the past 4 weeks (other than a stable dose of Enbrel for at least 2 months) Ultraviolet B (UVB) or topical therapy (other than over-the-counter moisturizers) within the past 2 weeks Active tuberculosis or other opportunistic infection Demyelinating disease Uncontrolled congestive heart failure Known allergy to or any contraindications to using topical tacrolimus or etanercept Lack of insurance coverage or inability/refusal to pay out of pocket for etanercept and standard of care laboratory tests and PPD/CXR

UMDNJ Psoriasis Center of Excellence, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, United States

Starting date: February 2005
Ending date: December 2007
Last updated: April 27, 2007