Treatment for moderate to severe alopecia areata using dupilumab

Dupilumab in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata Patients With an Atopic Background and/or High IgE

This study is testing if a medication called dupilumab can help people with moderate to severe alopecia areata, which causes significant hair loss, to regrow their hair.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 68 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: dupiliumab, tofacitinib, ruxolitinib, baricitinib, methotrexate, dupilumab
• Locations: 3 sites (Irvine, California and 2 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT05551793 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy of dupilumab in patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata affecting more than 50% of the scalp. A total of 68 participants will be enrolled across four sites, with subjects randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either dupilumab or a placebo for 48 weeks. Participants who complete the initial 48 weeks will receive an additional 48 weeks of dupilumab treatment. Eligible patients must have a history of hair regrowth within the last seven years and meet specific IgE and atopy criteria.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with moderate to severe alopecia areata and a history of hair regrowth.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have a history of hair regrowth or those with less than 50% scalp involvement may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve hair regrowth in patients suffering from alopecia areata.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using dupilumab for other atopic conditions, suggesting potential success in this novel application for alopecia areata.

Eligibility criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Male or female subjects who are at least 18 years old at the time of informed consent.
* Subject is able to understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent document prior to participation in any study assessments or procedures.
* Subject is able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.
* 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 (IP), 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 non-latex 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.
* If subject is a female of non-childbearing potential, she must have documented history of infertility, be in a menopausal state for one year, or had a hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy.
* Subject has a history of at least 6 months of moderate to severe AA (≥ 50% scalp involvement) as measured using the SALT score; OR subject has ≥ 95% loss of scalp hair for enrollment as AA totalis (AT) or universalis (AU) subtypes.
* Subject has a screening IgE \> 200 and/or personal and/or familial history of atopy.
* Subjects must meet the following laboratory criteria:

  * White blood cell count ≥ 3000/mm3 (≥ 3.0 x 109/L) and \< 14,000/mm3 (≤ 14 x 109/L).
  * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/μL (≥ 100 x 109/L).
  * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL (≤ 132.6 μmol/L).
  * 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.
  * 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.
  * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL (≥ 6.2 mmol/L).
* Subject is judged to be in otherwise good overall health following a detailed medical and medication history, physical examination, and laboratory testing.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

The presence of any of the following will exclude a subject from enrollment:

* Subject is pregnant or breastfeeding.
* Subject's cause of hair loss is indeterminable and/or they have concomitant causes of alopecia, such traction, cicatricial, pregnancy-related, drug-induced, telogen effluvium, or advanced androgenetic alopecia (i.e. Ludwig Type III or Norwood-Hamilton Stage ≥ V).
* Subject has a history of AA with no evidence of hair regrowth for ≥ 7 years since their last episode of hair loss.
* Severe, uncontrolled asthma or a history of life-threatening asthma exacerbations while on appropriate anti-asthmatic mediations.
* Subject has an active bacterial, viral, or helminth parasitic infections; OR a history of ongoing, recurrent severe infections requiring systemic antibiotics
* Subject with a known or suspected underlying immunodeficiency or immune-compromised state as determined by the investigator.
* Subject has a concurrent or recent history of severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, hematological, intestinal, metabolic, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiovascular, or neurological disease.
* Active hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or positive HIV serology or active or untreated latent tuberculosis at the time of screening for subjects determined by the investigators to be at high-risk for this disease.
* Subject has a suspected or active lymphoproliferative disorder or malignancy; OR a history of malignancy within 5 years before the Baseline assessment, except for completely treated in situ non-melanoma skin and cervical cancers without evidence of metastasis.
* Subject has received a live attenuated vaccine ≤ 30 days prior to study randomization.
* Subject has any uncertain or clinically significant laboratory abnormalities that may affect interpretation of study data or endpoints.
* Subject has any other medical or psychological condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may present additional unreasonable risks as a result of their participation in the study and/or interfere with clinic visits and necessary study assessments.
* History of adverse systemic or allergic reactions to any component of the study drug.
* Severe, untreated asthma or a history of life-threatening asthma exacerbations while on appropriate anti-asthmatic mediations.
* Use of systemic immunosuppressive medications, including, but not limited to, cyclosporine, systemic or intralesional corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, methotrexate, tacrolimus, or ultraviolet (UV) phototherapy with/without Psoralen Ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy within 4 weeks prior to randomization.
* Use of an oral JAK inhibitor (tofacitinib, ruxolitinib, baricitinib, or investigational oral JAK Inhibitors) within 12 weeks prior to the Baseline visit.
* Subject has been previously treated with dupiliumab.
* Subject has used topical corticosteroids, and/or tacrolimus, and/or pimecrolimus within 1 week before the Baseline visit.
* Subject currently uses or plans to use anti-retroviral therapy at any time during the study.

Where this trial is running

Irvine, California and 2 other locations

• University of California, Irvine — Irvine, California, United States (Recruiting)
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, New York, United States (Recruiting)
• UR Dermatology at College Town — Rochester, New York, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Study coordinator: Giselle Singer

Conditions Alopecia Areata