Dovramilast in Leprosy Type 2 Reaction (ENL)
Official title: A 12-week, Open-label, Randomized, Standard of Care Controlled, Dose-ranging Safety and Efficacy Study of Dovramilast in People With Moderate to Severe Acute or Recurrent Leprosy Type 2 Reaction
Run by Medicines Development for Global Health · NCT07172659 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests whether dovramilast, at 100 mg or 150 mg, works as well as standard treatments for leprosy type 2 reaction in adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 45 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Medicines Development for Global Health Academic / other |
| Locations | 6 sites (Seattle, Washington and 5 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 12, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 2027 |
| Study ends | July 2028 |
| Registry record updated | November 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07172659 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) with active leprosy type 2 reaction meeting specific clinical and scoring criteria.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients not responding to dovramilast or not meeting ENL criteria may not experience benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This Phase 2 interventional trial compares dovramilast at two dose levels to standard care for erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). Participants are adults with confirmed ENL and promise to monitor safety and effectiveness of the two doses alongside current therapies. The study includes prednisolone and thalidomide as comparators or concomitant treatments and uses defined ENLIST scoring criteria to gauge response. Enrollment requires informed consent, confirmed infection, and specific ENL criteria, with contraception considerations for women of reproductive potential. The trial is led by Medicines Development for Global Health with sites in Seattle and other international locations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer an effective alternative or adjunct to current ENL treatments and potentially reduce disease burden.
How similar studies have gone: Few studies have tested dovramilast for ENL; this represents an exploratory evaluation of a novel use of the drug.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Aged 18 years of age or older.
2. Provision of written informed consent.
3. Laboratory confirmed previous or current Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis infection.
4. Leprosy type 2 reaction meeting the following criteria:
* Either:
i. Acute (first episode and no treatment initiated) or ii. Recurrent (at least one further episode occurring 28 days or more after withdrawal of leprosy type 2 reaction treatment).
* Presence of at least 10 leprosy type 2 reaction tender papular and/or nodular skin lesions (not including scars).
* An ENLIST score of at least 9.
5. If a woman of reproductive potential, agree to the use of two reliable contraceptive measures (at least one of which is a highly effective form of contraception) from Screening until at least 4 weeks after completion of treatment with dovramilast or standard of care. Refer to Special Considerations for additional information.
6. If male (including those who have had a successful vasectomy), agree to using a latex condom during any sexual contact with women of reproductive potential from Screening until at least 4 weeks after completion of treatment with dovramilast or standard of care.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Chronic leprosy type 2 reaction, defined as the reaction occurring for 24 weeks or more during which a subject has required treatment either continuously or where any treatment free period had been \< 28 days.
2. Receipt of thalidomide, lenalidomide, pomalidomide, systemic corticosteroids, clofazimine (\> 50 mg/day), apremilast or any other phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 inhibitor, or immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory treatment within 28 days of Baseline.
3. Receipt of an investigational agent within 28 days of Baseline or 5 half-lives of the investigational agent (whichever is longer).
4. Leprosy type 2 reaction with orchitis, uveitis, iritis, or severe neuritis (Grade 3 or greater severe neuritis).
5. Current diagnosis of leprosy type 1 reaction or Lucio's phenomenon.
6. Current tuberculosis, malaria, cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis or other serious bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection at Screening or Baseline.
7. Active systemic fungal infection requiring or undergoing treatment.
8. Other than leprosy type 2 reaction, 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.
9. Other than leprosy type 2 reaction, any other dermatological condition that could, in the opinion of the Investigator, interfere with the study assessments.
10. Chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive.
11. Pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers.
12. Use (or planned use) of antimetabolites or alkylating agents, rifampin use more frequent than monthly, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin, traditional or herbal preparations (including St. John's wort), foods (including grapefruit) known to affect activity of the cytochrome (CYP)3A4 enzyme; of all strong CYP3A and P-gp inhibitors including ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, cobicistat, diltiazem; and sensitive substrates of CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and P-gp. Other CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and P-gp non-sensitive substrates should be used with caution when concomitantly administered with dovramilast.
13. Known or suspected active substance abuse or a history of substance abuse within 6 months prior to Screening.
14. Prior history of suicide attempt at any time in the subject's lifetime prior to Screening or Randomization, or major psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization within the last 3 years.
15. Current diagnosis of depression, and/or history of suicide ideation
16. History of or presence of cardiac disease, including:
* Clinically significant abnormal electrocardiogram
* QTcF \> 450 msec
17. Receipt of a vaccination within 7 days of Baseline.
18. Known or suspected hypersensitivity to: PDE4 inhibitors including dovramilast or apremilast; thalidomide; prednisolone, or; excipients used in the formulation of dovramilast, thalidomide or prednisolone.
19. Body Mass Index \< 15 kg/m\^2 or \> 35 kg/m\^2.
20. Unable to, or significant difficulty with, swallowing tablets/capsules.
21. Anemia requiring transfusion.
22. History of or current pancreatitis.
23. Known or suspected cirrhosis of the liver.
24. The following laboratory abnormalities:
* White blood cells (WBC) \< 2.5 x 10\^9/ L.
* Neutrophils (granulocytes) \< 1.0 x 10\^9/L.
* Platelets \< 80 x 10\^9/L.
* Aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase \> 2 times the upper limit of reference range.
* Albumin \< 30 mg/dL.
* Bilirubin \> 2 mg/dL
* Calculated creatinine clearance (Cockcroft Gault) \< 50 milliliter (mL)/minute.
* Lipase ≥ 1.6 times the upper limit
25. Previous participation in this study
26. Unwilling, unlikely or unable to comply with all protocol specified assessments, including photographic assessments
27. Enrolled in another leprosy type 2 reaction treatment study
Where it's running
-
Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, United States Recruiting -
Universitas Gadjah Mada
Yogyakarta, Indonesia Recruiting -
Programme national lutte contre la lèpre
Tôlanaro, Madagascar Recruiting -
Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines, Manila
Manila, Philippines Recruiting -
Centre de Dépistage de Traitement de la Lèpre et de l'Ulcère de Burulli
Abomey-Calavi, Benin Not yet recruiting -
Chr de Divo
Divo, Côte d’Ivoire Not yet recruiting
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.