Brain Changes in Psoriasis After Secukinumab Treatment

June 4, 2025 updated by: Gil Yosipovitch, University of Miami

Brain Morphological Changes Accompanied by Effective Biologic Treatments for Psoriasis and Their Associations With the Improvement of Well-being, Itch, and Pain

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a biologic drug targeting the Interleukin (IL)-17 pathway (secukinumab) on brain plasticity and examine whether the plastic changes correlate with the improvement of perception of well-being, itch, and pain in participants with psoriasis.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Miami, Florida, United States, 33136
        • University of Miami

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion:

  1. Between 18 and 65 years of age.
  2. Psoriasis patients (with/without psoriatic arthritis): Psoriasis Area (BSA) is more than 5%.
  3. Psoriasis patients must have had a TB test in the past 8 months (if a patient has not had one, the study will provide one).
  4. Healthy subjects: in general, good health without history of neurological and psychiatric diseases. No chronic itch, pain, skin or systemic conditions currently or in the past.
  5. Women of child bearing potential will be administered a pregnancy test to verify that they are not pregnant.
  6. MRI Compatibility: No major contraindication for MRI (pacemaker, vascular stents, metallic ear tubes, and absence of metal implants or braces) as assessed by MRI technologist using site approved screening form.
  7. Participants have to be able to speak and read English fluently.
  8. Participants must have signed a written informed consent before being enrolled in the study

Exclusion:

  1. Individuals under 18 or over 65 years of age.
  2. Inability to complete the required measures.
  3. Participants who use antihistamine drugs for itch relief
  4. Suffering from any disease state or physical condition, which would increase their health risk by study participation.
  5. Patients with chronic infectious diseases (e.g., mycobacterial and fungal infections and chronic tuberculosis) or inflammatory bowel disease.
  6. Patients without a negative TB test in the past 12 months.
  7. Hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis to biologics
  8. Patients with treatment of biologics should not receive live vaccines. Thus, age appropriate immunizations according to current immunization guidelines must be completed before the experiment.
  9. Patients with primary immunodeficient lacking IL-17, patients with autoantibodies against IL-17
  10. Currently enrolled in any investigational study in which the subject is receiving any type of drug, biological, or non-drug therapy.
  11. Recent initiation (within last 3 months) or change in dose of centrally acting agents such as antidepressants, neuroleptics or neuropathic medications.
  12. Patients who were previously treated with drugs targeting IL-17
  13. Patients who have used biologics in the past in the past 8 weeks or Otezla in the past 4 weeks.
  14. Patients who use centrally acting agents only when they need. The purpose is to avoid a risk of acute effect of these agents on brain activity.
  15. Current treatment with opioid analgesics.
  16. Uncontrolled thyroid disease.
  17. Use of illicit drugs or history of opiate addiction.
  18. Diagnosis of a major psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder that is active currently.
  19. Morbid obesity
  20. Weight: 250 lb or more
  21. Any known diseases or disorders that may affect conducting the experiments (e.g., intracranial pathology, claustrophobia, severe respiratory or cardiovascular problems, active fibromyalgia) or diseases that have potential risks of infections (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis C, etc).
  22. Inability to speak and read English.
  23. Pregnant.
  24. Incarcerated.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Psoriasis Group
Psoriasis participants will be given Secukinumab for a total of 4 months. This is a 300mg subcutaneous injection that will occur at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12.
Biological: Secukinumab
300mg subcutaneous injection
No Intervention: Healthy Group
Healthy participants will not receive any intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Gray Matter Density
Time Frame: Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Change in brain anatomy for participants will be reported as the change in average gray matter density as measured by Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM) analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans from baseline to week 4
Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Change in Brain Activity
Time Frame: Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Changes in brain activity in participants will be measured using Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MRI from baseline to week 4. ASL quantifies cerebral blood flow CBF in units of ml/100g/min (milliliters of blood per 100 grams of tissue per minute).
Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Itch Score as Measured by the NRS
Time Frame: Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Itch will be measured using the Numerical Rating Scaling (NRS) ranging from 0 (no itch) to 10 (the worst itch imaginable) baseline to week 4 in psoriasis participant group only.
Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Change in Pain Score as Measured by the NRS
Time Frame: Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Pain will be measured using a Numerical Rating Scaling (NRS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain imaginable) baseline to week 4 in psoriasis participant group only.
Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Change in PASI Scores
Time Frame: Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Severity of psoriasis will be measured using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), ranging from 0 to 100 with a higher score indicating more severe psoriasis, from baseline to week 4 in psoriasis participant group only.
Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Change in Participant Well-being as Measured by WHO-5
Time Frame: Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Well-being will be measured using the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), ranging from 0 to 25 with a higher score indicating better well-being, from baseline to week 4.
Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Change in Quality of Sleep as Measured by a Sleep Numerical Rating Scale Scores
Time Frame: Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Changes in participants' quality of sleep by using the Numerical Rating Scaling (NRS) ranging from 0 to 10, with a higher score indicating lower sleep quality between baseline, from baseline to week 4.
Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Change in Physical Activity as Measured by 7D-PAR
Time Frame: Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Physical activity will be measured using the 7-days physical activity recall (7D-PAR), with 0 denoting no exercise and a higher score indicating more physical activity (there is not cap for this score), from baseline to week 4.
Baseline to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Changes in Stress in Daily Life as Measured by PSQ
Time Frame: Baseline, Up to Week 4 (Visit 3)
Stress in daily life in psoriasis participants will be measured using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), ranging from 0 to 1 with a higher score indicating more stress, from baseline to week 4.
Baseline, Up to Week 4 (Visit 3)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Miami

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Novartis

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Gil Yosipovitch, MD, University of Miami

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 29, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 16, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 4, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 15, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 15, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 5, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 4, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 20200857

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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