Study was terminated due to delay in enrollment.

Apremilast for the management of oral lichen planus.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) affects approximately 1.27% of the general population. Inflammatory responses constitute a major component of OLP pathogenesis where targeted therapies play an important role in managing this condition. Apremilast is a new well-tolerated and relatively safe anti-inflammatory therapy that has been approved for managing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Given its safer profile, Apremilast may ameliorate inflammatory responses in clinically active OLP without the experience of serious adverse events associated with other systemic immunosuppressive therapies used to treat OLP. The plan is to conduct a single-center, explanatory, randomized, 16 weeks, parallel group, superiority, blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

The main objective is treatment success assessment. Other objectives include exploring the efficacy of Apremilast in clinically active OLP adult patients considered for systemic treatment and failed topical corticosteroid therapy. It is hypothesized that Apremilast will induce more treatment success as compared to placebo in patients who failed the standard treatment of topical corticosteroids.

Inclusion Criteria:

Each participant must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to participate in this study:

1. Must be 18 years or older at time of consent.

2. Patients must have clinically active OLP that is being considered for systemic therapy; and an oral biopsy within the last 12 months of randomization showing a lichenoid reaction correlating clinically with OLP.

3. Must have failed topical corticosteroids therapy. Topical corticosteroid failure is defined as receiving a trial of at least 4 weeks of high potency topical corticosteroids without achieving sufficient improvement by patients.

4. Must be in general good health (except for disease under study) 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). Laboratory work-up includes the following: complete blood count (CBC), creatinine, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin, serum, Beta-HCG (if female), Hepatitis C antibodies and HgbA1C.

5. Male participants must use a recognized effective method of contraception with any female partner (i.e. at a minimum, barrier plus an additional method of contraception) while on investigational product and for at least 4 weeks after taking the last dose of investigational product.

6. Female participants of childbearing potential (FCBP)† must have a negative pregnancy test at Screening. While on investigational product and for at least 4 weeks 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:

   1. Option 1: Any one of the following highly effective methods: hormonal contraception (oral, injection, implant, transdermal patch, vaginal ring); intrauterine device (IUD); tubal ligation; prior hysterectomy; prior bilateral oophorectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy; or partner's vasectomy;

      OR

   2. 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.

      • A female of childbearing potential is a sexually mature female who 1) has not undergone a hysterectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus) or bilateral oophorectomy (the surgical removal of both ovaries) or 2) has not been postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months (that is, has had menses at any time during the preceding 24 consecutive months).
      • 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).

Exclusion Criteria:

All participants meeting any of the following exclusion criteria at baseline will be excluded from participation in this study:

1. Inability to give written consent by the patient or alternative decision maker (will be assessed at screening visit).

2. Unwillingness to use at least one effective method of contraception due to unknown fetal risks

3. Use of systemic or topical therapy for OLP other than allowed concomitant care for symptomatic relief in the past 4 weeks.

4. Hypersensitivity to Apremilast or use of Apremilast within 4 weeks prior to start of study drug. The contraindications to Apremilast use include prior hypersensitivity reactions, breast-feeding, and pregnancy (Uptodate.com® accessed August 1st, 2016). An increased incidence of depression or depressed mood by 1.3% for Apremilast 30 mg BID (twice a day) (OTEZLA® drug monograph accessed August 1st, 2016) was observed in phase 3 psoriasis studies. Celgene suggests that prescribers should carefully weigh the risks and benefits in patients with a history of depression and/or suicidal thoughts or behaviour. The research team will discuss these psychiatric adverse events in the screening visit where patients/caregivers will be instructed to notify the treating team for any mood changes.

5. History of palpitations/tachyarrhythmia, severe renal impairment (eGFR less than or equal to 29), or lactose intolerance within the past 5 years. Apremilast pills contain lactose; however, the use of concurrent lactase enzyme in lactose intolerant participants will not be considered and lactose intolerant patients will still be excluded even if they take lactase enzyme supplementation. This is explained by the potential exacerbation of gastrointestinal symptoms with Apremilast as an Adverse Event (AE).

6. CYP3A4 inducers have been shown to diminish Apremilast levels (Lexi-Comp Online™ Interaction Monograph accessed August 1st, 2015); hence, patients will be excluded if they are on concomitant Carbamazepine, Enzalutamide, Fosphenytoin, Lumacaftor, Mitotane, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, Primidone, Rifabutin, Rifampin, and Rifapentine.

7. As per Celgene, 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, endocrinologic, 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 he/she were to participate in the study.

   3. Prior history of 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. Pregnant or breast feeding.

   5. Active substance abuse or a history of substance abuse within 6 months prior to Screening.

   6. Malignancy or history of malignancy, except for:

      • treated [ie, cured] basal cell or squamous cell in situ skin carcinomas;
      • treated [ie, cured] cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or carcinoma in situ of cervix with no evidence of recurrence within the previous 5 years.

   7. Use of any investigational drug within 4 weeks prior to randomization, or 5 pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic half-lives, if known (whichever is longer).

   8. Prior treatment with apremilast