Ritlecitinib for chronic spontaneous urticaria (chronic hives) in adults

Inclusion Criteria:

Age:

1. 18 years of age or older (or the minimum legal adult age as defined per local regulations, whichever is greater) at screening.

   Disease Characteristics:
2. Participants must meet the following Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) criteria:

   a. Chronic spontaneous urticaria diagnosis for ≥3 months at the time of screening (with the onset date assessed by the Investigator based on all available records) b. Diagnosis of CSU inadequately controlled by second generation antihistamine (sgAH) at the time of randomization, defined as: (i) The presence of itch and hives for ≥6 consecutive weeks prior to screening despite the use of sgAH during this time period.

(ii) Participants must have been on a sgAH at locally approved dose or higher for treatment of CSU for at least 7 consecutive days before screening assessment of UAS7 and ISS7 is initiated.

(iii) Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7) ≥16 (range 0-42) and an Itch Severity Score 7 (ISS7) ≥8 (range: 0-21) during the 7 days prior to randomization Day 1 c. Participants must complete at least 5 Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) eDiary entries during the 7 days immediately preceding randomization (Day 1) to confirm eligibility. If this requirement is not met due to documented, limited circumstances such as technical issues or short-term illness, the screening period may be extended only for the number of days necessary to allow completion of 5 UAS entries within any 7-day window. This extension period must not exceed 7 days.

d. Anti-Immunoglobulin E-naïve (IgE-naïve) and Anti-Immunoglobulin E-experienced (Anti-IgE-experienced) participants. Anti-IgE-experienced participants are defined as meeting any of the following criteria confirmed by the Site Investigator: (i) Did not adequately respond to the approved dosage of an anti-IgE therapy (eg, omalizumab 300 mg Q4W or an alternate approved anti-IgE therapy) for at least 3 months, as assessed by the Investigator (ii) Could not tolerate an anti-IgE therapy (iii) Stopped an anti-IgE therapy for any reason, eg, loss of access e. Anti-IgE-experienced participants must have stopped anti-IgE therapy for at least 16 weeks, or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to randomization Day 1

Exclusion Criteria:

Medical Conditions:

1. Medical conditions pertaining to CSU and other diseases/conditions affecting the skin

   * Urticaria is solely due to inducible urticaria.
   * Active dermatologic diseases (or conditions) other than chronic urticaria, with urticaria wheals or angioedema symptoms, including but not limited to urticarial vasculitis, erythema multiforme, cutaneous mastocytosis (urticaria pigmentosa) and hereditary or acquired angioedema (eg, due to Complement 1 (C1) inhibitor deficiency).
   * Any other active skin disease associated with chronic itching that might influence, in the investigator's opinion, the study evaluations and results (eg, atopic dermatitis, bullous pemphigold, dermatitis herpetiformis, senile pruritus, etc.).
2. History of severe allergic or anaphylactoid reaction to any kinase inhibitor or a known allergy/hypersensitivity to any component (including excipients) of the study intervention.
3. General Infection History:

   * Having a history of systemic infection requiring hospitalization or parenteral therapy (antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, or antifungal), or as otherwise judged clinically significant by the investigator, within 3 months prior to Day 1.
   * Have active acute or chronic infection requiring treatment with oral antibiotics, antivirals, antiparasitics, antiprotozoals, or antifungals within 4 weeks prior to Day 1.
   * Evidence or history of untreated, currently treated or inadequately treated active or latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
4. Specific Viral Infection History

   * History (single episode) of disseminated herpes zoster or disseminated herpes simplex, or a recurrent (more than one episode of) localized, dermatomal herpes zoster.
   * Infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C viruses: all participants will undergo screening for hepatitis B and C for eligibility.
   * Have a known immunodeficiency disorder (including positive serology for HIV at screening) or a first-degree relative with a hereditary immunodeficiency (unless known negative carrier status).
5. Other Medical Conditions

   * Current or recent history of clinically significant severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal (including but not limited to active renal disease or recent kidney stones), hepatic, hematological, gastrointestinal, metabolic, endocrine (eg, untreated hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism), pulmonary, cardiovascular, psychiatric, immunologic/rheumatologic or neurologic disease; or have any other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or investigational product administration, or interfere with the interpretation of study results; or in the opinion of the investigator or Pfizer (or designee), the participant is inappropriate for entry into this study, or unwilling/unable to comply with study procedures and lifestyle requirements.
   * Have hearing loss with progression over the previous 5 years, sudden hearing loss, or middle or inner ear disease such as otitis media, cholesteatoma, Meniere's disease, labyrinthitis, or other auditory condition that is considered acute, fluctuating, or progressive.
   * Abnormal findings on the screening chest imaging (eg, chest x-ray) including, but not limited to, presence of active TB or other infections, cardiomyopathy, or malignancy. Chest imaging may be performed up to 12 weeks prior to Screening.
   * Have any malignancies or have a history of malignancies with the exception of adequately treated or excised nonmetastatic basal cell or squamous cell cancer of the skin or cervical carcinoma in situ.
   * Have a history of any lymphoproliferative disorder such as Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-related lymphoproliferative disorder, history of lymphoma, history of leukemia, or signs and symptoms suggestive of current lymphatic or lymphoid disease.
   * Significant trauma or major surgery within 1 month of the first dose of study drug or considered in imminent need for surgery. Participants with elective surgery scheduled to occur during the study can only be enrolled with approval of the sponsor.
6. Any medical or psychiatric condition including any active suicidal ideation in the past year or suicidal behavior in the past 5 years or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk of study participation or, in the investigator's judgment, make the participant inappropriate for the study. Any psychiatric condition including recent or active suicidal ideation or behavior that protocol-defined criteria.

   Prior/Concomitant Therapy:
7. Current or prior use of any prohibited medication(s), vaccine(s), or treatment(s) within the protocol defined timelines.

   Prior/Concurrent Clinical Study Experience:
8. Previous administration of an investigational product (drug or vaccine) within 8 weeks or 5 half-lives preceding the first dose of study intervention used in this study (whichever is longer). Participation in studies of other investigational products (drug or vaccine) at any time during participation in this study.

   Diagnostic Assessments:
9. Any exclusionary abnormalities in laboratory values at Screening, as assessed by the study-specific laboratory and, if deemed necessary, confirmed by a single repeat.
10. Screening standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) that demonstrates clinically relevant abnormalities that may affect participant safety or interpretation of study results.

    Other Exclusion Criteria:
11. Investigator site staff directly involved in the conduct of the study and their family members, site staff otherwise supervised by the investigator, and sponsor and sponsor delegate employees directly involved in the conduct of the study and their family members.