Combined Therapy With Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B Phototherapy and Apremilast for the Treatment of Vitiligo

A Split Body Study of the Effects of Combined Therapy With Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B Phototherapy and Apremilast for the Treatment of Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common acquired disorder of pigmentation affecting 0.5% to 1% of the world population. Sharply demarcated patches of depigmentation, which can affect all ethnicities, and can lead to cosmetic disfiguration and psychosocial distress, characterize the disease. The etiology of vitiligo remains unknown. Various mechanisms have been proposed, such as autoimmunity, self-destruction, biochemical, genetic, neural, oxidative stress, and an imbalance of epidermal cytokines leading to inflammation and selective loss of epidermal melanocytes. Currently, the most popular theory is autoimmunity. Previous studies noted that around 25-30% of patients have at least one other autoimmune disease, such as autoimmune thyroid disease, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, and alopecia areata. Currently, NB-UVB phototherapy is the most widely used therapeutic option for vitiligo affecting more than 10-20% of the skin surface, as it is generally considered to be a safe initial treatment. Potential side effects include phototoxic reaction, thickening of the skin and koebnerization. NB-UVB is a band of UV radiation with a wavelength of 311-313 nm. UVB induces mitogenesis and migration in melanocytes mediated by several factors such as IL-1, TNF alpha, and leukotriene C4. UV radiation produces increased number and activity of melanocytes, increased melanin density, elongation and branching of dendrites, with increased transfer of more heavily melanized melanosomes to keratinocytes, seen clinically as increased pigmentation. Apremilast is an oral small molecule phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor that has been shown to regulate inflammatory mediators. Apremilast enters cells by passive diffusion and, once intracellular, binds PDE4. PDE-4, the dominant phosphodiesterase expressed in immune cells, degrades cyclic AMP (cAMP) into AMP. PDE4 inhibition thereby elevates intracellular cAMP, which can down-regulate the inflammatory responses such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, interleukins (IL) 2, 12 and 23 through mechanisms such as partially inhibiting expression of inflammatory cytokines and increasing expression of anti-inflammatory mediators such as IL2 and IL10. The hypothesis is that apremilast will shut down the inflammatory insult in vitiligo and NB-UVB phototherapy will then be able to regenerate melanocytes and their activity. By examination of skin biopsies taken pre- and post-therapy, the study team aims to assess changes in immune and cellular markers in affected skin.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males or females, ≥ 18 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent document.

• Must be in general good health (except vitiligo) as judged by the Investigator, based on medical history, physical examination, clinical laboratories, and urinalysis. (NOTE: The definition of good health means a subject does not have uncontrolled significant co-morbid conditions).

• Understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent document prior to any study related assessments/procedures being conducted.

• Able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.

• Subjects must be clinically diagnosed by the investigator to have at least 20% body surface area involvement of generalized type vitiligo.

• Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV, V, and VI.

• Must meet the following laboratory criteria

  1. White blood cell count ≥ 3000/mm3 (≥ 3.0 x 109/L) and < 14,000/mm3 (< 14 x 109/L).
  2. Platelet count ≥ 100,000/μL (≥ 100 x 109/L).
  3. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL (≤ 132.6 μmol/L).
  4. AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN). If the initial test shows ALT or AST > 2 times the ULN, one repeat test is allowed during the Screening Phase.
  5. Total bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL (34 μmol/L). If the initial test shows total bilirubin > 2 mg/dL (34 μmol/L), one repeat test is allowed during the Screening Phase.
  6. Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL (≥ 6.2 mmol/L).

• Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) 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, FCBP who engage in activity in 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: Male or female 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.

The female subject's chosen form of contraception must be effective by the time the female subject is randomized into the study (for example, hormonal contraception should be initiated at least 28 days before randomization).

• Male subjects (including those who have had a vasectomy) who engage in activity in which conception is possible must use barrier contraception (male latex condom or nonlatex condom NOT made out of natural [animal] membrane [for example, polyurethane]) while on investigational product and for at least 28 days after the last dose of investigational product.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinically significant (as determined by the investigator) cardiac, endocrine, pulmonary, neurologic, psychiatric, hepatic, renal, hematologic, or immunologic disease, or other major uncontrolled diseases that will affect the health of the subject during the study or interfere with the interpretation of study results.

• Hepatitis B surface antigen positive at Screening (Visit 1).

• Hepatitis C antibody positive at Screening (Visit 1).

• History of positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or congenital or acquired immunodeficiency (eg, Common Variable Immunodeficiency [CVID]). Active TB or a history of inadequately treated TB.

• Active substance abuse or a history of substance abuse within six months prior to Screening.

• Pregnant or breast feeding.

• History of allergy to any component of the IP.

• Major surgery within eight weeks prior to Screening (Visit 1) and/or planned surgery during the length of the study.

• 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 the cervix with no evidence of recurrence within 5 years prior to Screening (Visit 1).

• Unstable asthma (eg, acute episodes of exacerbation [nocturnal episodes, sudden episodes triggered by unidentifiable factors] despite a stable regimen of anti-asthmatic medications); prior episode(s) of life-threatening asthma; or asthma that requires inhaled budesonide or equivalent at >1200 μg/day or fluticasone propionate at > 880 μg/day along with another anti-asthmatic drug such as a long-acting beta-agonist.

• A history of and/or concurrent condition of serious hypersensitivity (eg, anaphylaxis) to drugs, foods, or other allergens without access to emergency rescue medication such as epinephrine.

• Persistent or recurring bacterial infection requiring systemic antibiotics, or clinically significant viral or fungal infections, within two weeks of Screening (Visit 1). Any treatment for such infections must have been completed at least two weeks prior to the Screening Visit and no new/recurrent infections should have occurred prior to the Baseline Visit.

• Active skin infection requiring systemic antimicrobials at Baseline/Randomization (Visit 2).

• Skin lesion(s) due to conditions other than vitiligo that would interfere with the study specified assessments.

• Prior treatment with apremilast, or participation in a clinical study involving apremilast.

• Use of phototherapy (ie, UVB, UVA) or systemic immunosuppressive drugs (including, but not limited to, cyclosporine, corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, Methotrexate, or tacrolimus), or oral preparations of herbal immunomodulatory medications within four weeks prior to Baseline/Randomization (Visit 2).

• Use of interferon-γ within 12 weeks prior to Baseline/Randomization (Visit 2).

• Use of abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, or tocilizumab within 12 weeks prior to Baseline/Randomization (Visit 2).

• Use of oral janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (e.g. tofacitinib, ruxolitinib) within 12 weeks prior to Baseline/Randomization (Visit 2).

• Use of omalizumab, rituximab, ustekinumab, alefacept, briakinumab, or other therapeutic antibody products within 24 weeks prior to Baseline/Randomization (Visit 2).

• Use of any investigational drug within four weeks or five PK or PD half lives (whichever is longer) prior to Baseline/Randomization (Visit 2).

• Use of topical corticosteroid preparations, topical calcineurin inhibitors, or other topical preparations with immunomodulatory properties within 2 weeks prior to Baseline/Randomization (Visit 2).

• Prior history of suicide attempt at any time in the subject's lifetime prior to Baseline (Visit 2) or major psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization within 3 years prior to Baseline (Visit 2).

• Prolonged sun exposure or use of tanning booths, which may confound the ability to interpret data from the study.

• Subjects whose vitiligo has not responded to at least 6 months of treatment with NB-UVB.

• Subjects with segmental or localized vitiligo.

• Subjects with a history of therapeutic attempts at depigmentation.

• Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I, II, and III

• Subjects with history of photosensitivity ⁄ photo exaggerated dermatoses