Veregen 10% ointment for actinic keratosis on the face and bald scalp

A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Adaptive Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Sinecatechins (Defined Extract of Green Tea Leaves) Ointment in Adult Patients With Actinic Keratosis of the Scalp and the Face

This trial will test whether applying Veregen 10% ointment clears mild-to-moderate actinic keratoses on the face or bald scalp better than a placebo in adults.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 280 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Aresus Pharma GmbH (Industry-sponsored)
• Locations: 1 site (Strausberg)
• Trial ID: NCT07137819 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults with clinically confirmed mild-to-moderate actinic keratosis on the face or bald scalp who have 4–8 discrete lesions within a 25 cm² treatment area will apply a topical ointment for up to 12 weeks. The investigational arm receives Veregen 10% (sinecatechins), and outcomes are compared with a placebo ointment, with a 4-week post-treatment observation for final clearance. The primary endpoint is complete (100%) clearance of the predefined treatment area by the end of the follow-up period. The trial is conducted in Germany at an Aresus Pharma site and excludes patients with nearby unhealed or infected wounds or those unable to avoid intense sun exposure during the study.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18 years) with clinically typical Olsen grade I–II actinic keratoses on the face or bald scalp, having 4–8 isolated lesions within a 25 cm² contiguous treatment area and able to follow study procedures.

Not a fit: Patients with more than 8 lesions, lesions on eyelids or lips, nearby incompletely healed or infected skin, or those who cannot avoid intense sun exposure during the study may not receive benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a topical, plant-derived option that clears AK lesions with a defined short treatment course.

How similar studies have performed: Sinecatechins (green-tea extract) have demonstrated efficacy in other dermatologic conditions such as external genital warts, but robust Phase 3 evidence specifically for actinic keratosis is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients willing to participate, obtained written informed consent.
* Male or female patients ≥ 18 years.
* Clinically confirmed diagnosis of mild to moderate Actinic keratosis (AK) of the face including the forehead (excluding eyelids, lips and mucosa) and/or the bald scalp.
* Presence of at least 4 but not more than 8 isolated (i.e. discrete and quantifiable) AK lesions located in a contiguous treatment area (TA) on the face and/or bald scalp of 25 square-cm.
* AK lesions of the TA must be clinically typical AK lesions of Olsen grade I and/or grade Olsen grade II.
* Ability to follow study instructions and likely to complete all study requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

* TA is within 5 cm of an incompletely healed wound or infected area of the skin.
* Patients not willing to abstain from sunbathing (including solarium) or any outdoor activities with intensive sun exposure without taking appropriate measures to protect the treatment areas during the study.
* Patients with a tendency to manipulate skin parts e.g. scratching.
* Pregnant or breast-feeding patients.
* Patients currently or within the past 4 weeks participating in another clinical study.
* Any previous randomization into this clinical study.
* Any suspicion of current drug and/or alcohol abuse.
* Patient is institutionalized because of legal or regulatory order.
* Dependency (as an employee or relative) to the sponsor/responsible CRO or investigator.
* Any condition that in the opinion of the investigator can influence the evaluation of the treatment, and other assessments.
* Hypersensitivity, intolerance or allergies against ingredients of Veregen® 10% ointment and/or Placebo ointment.
* AK lesions in the TA with atypical clinical appearance (e.g. TA contains massively hyperkeratotic and hypertrohic lesions (Olsen grade III AK), recalcitrant lesions, cutaneous horns, and/or lesions that had not responded to 2 previous cryotherapies).
* Have received the following topical or physical treatments for any indication in the treatment area within the designated time period before treatment with study drug: a) Curettage, Photodynamic therapy, Topical inhibitors of Src tyrosine kinase signaling and tubulin polymerization (e.g.,Tirbanibulin) for/in a period of 12 weeks; b) Topical retinoids, Topical diclofenac preparations, Topical 5-fluorouracil preparations, Topical immunomodulators (e.g., Imiquimod) for/in a period of 6 weeks; c) Topical steroids, Cryo-, thermo- or chemodestruction, Surgical excision for/in a period of 4 weeks.
* Initiation of treatment with the following systemic treatments for any indication within 2 weeks before Baseline: Immunomodulators or immunosuppressive therapies, Diclofenac, Corticosteroids (oral or injectable), Inhaled corticosteroids (\>1200 µg/day for beclomethasone, or \>600 µg/day for fluticasone)
* Current or planned intake of high dosed oral green tea preparations for any reason
* Current or planned application of dermal preparations with astringent effect on the TA, such as zinc paste or tannin-containing ointments/creams
* Patients taking a drug with known potential for skin reactions must have taken it at a stable dose for at least 2 weeks prior to Baseline, except in cases where no previous skin reactions have occurred at any dose.
* Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) will not be considered unless they use a highly effective method of contraception (failure rate of less than 1% per year) during the interventional period until 4-weeks PT (EoI, V9).
* Within the TA, any suspicion of other malignant or benign skin tumors.
* History of a genetic skin-cancer disorder (e.g. xeroderma pigmentosum) and/or invasive tumor in the TA, such as a Merkel cell tumor, an invasive spinocellular carcinoma or a BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma) and/or any skin cancer (suspected or diagnosed recently or within 5 years ago before screening).
* History or evidence of skin conditions other than AK that would interfere with evaluation of the study medication (e.g. eczema, unstable psoriasis).
* Patients having any significant physical abnormalities in the TA that may cause difficulty with examination or AK assessments (e.g. tattoes, scars, hyperpigmentation, etc.).
* Evidence of clinically significant or unstable medical conditions such as: (a) metastatic tumor or tumor with high probability of metastatic spread, (b) heart failure (NYHA class III or higher), (c) immunosuppressive disorder (e.g. HIV, organ transplant patients), (d) hematologic, hepatic, renal, neurologic or endocrine disorder, (e) collagen-vascular disorder (e.g. cerebro-vascular or other bleeding disorder), (f) gastrointestinal disorder (e.g. active ulcera or history of recurrent peptic ulcera or hemorrhage).
* Patients not willing to stop using skin care products (e.g. self-tanning products, sunscreens, make-ups/colored day care cremes, topical treatments with anti-aging products, vitamin A, vitamin C, and/or vitamin E containing ointments and gels) in the TA during the interventional period of the study (i.e., during the treatment and until 4 weeks post-treatment).
* Patients not willing to stop any use of make-ups colored day care cremes, and sunscreens in the treatment area within 12 hours prior to an on-site visit during the PTFU period.

Where this trial is running

Strausberg

• Aresus Pharma GmbH — Strausberg, Germany (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Sven Schimansky-Wabra, Managing Director

Conditions Actinic Keratosis of Face and Scalp; Veregen® 10% ointment; Actinic Keratosis of the Scalp and/or the Face; Germany; Sinecatechins; Green tea