Safety and Efficacy of Infliximab in Palmoplantar Psoriasis

A Double-Blind Study on the Safety and Efficacy of Infliximab in Palmoplantar Psoriasis

Palmoplantar psoriasis is a variant of psoriasis affecting palms and soles. It is one of the most debilitating variants of psoriasis which very often interferes with daily activities and with the ability to work. This type of psoriasis is very difficult to treat as topicals have difficulty penetrating the thick epidermis of palms and soles and are therefore not very effective. The response to standard agents (methotrexate, cyclosporine and acitretin) is also usually limited. A number of these patients have very severe hand and feet disease with mild to no involvement elsewhere on the body.

Given the efficacy of infliximab in psoriasis, the purpose of this study is to evaluate if infliximab is safe and if it will improve severity and quality of life in patients with palmoplantar psoriasis, a debilitating variant of psoriasis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Palmoplantar Psoriasis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Infliximab

Detailed Description

A total of 24 patients with non-pustular palmoplantar psoriasis affecting at least 10% of the combined palms and soles area and with a modified palmoplantar pustulosis area severity index (m-PPPASI) of at least 8 will be recruited. Patients will be randomized (1:1) to receive either infliximab 5 mg/kg or placebo (normal saline) on weeks 0, 2 and 6. Patients assigned to placebo during the first 3 infusions will receive infliximab 5 mg/kg at weeks 14, 16 and 20 and placebo again at week 22 while patients who were assigned to receive infliximab during the first 3 infusions will receive infliximab at week 14 and placebo at week 16 and week 20 as well as infliximab for the last infusion at week 22. The primary endpoint will be at week 14. Patients will come back to the clinic at week 26 for a final efficacy and safety assessment.

Efficacy will be evaluated by assessing psoriasis plaque severity on palms and soles (physician's global assessment PGA), percentage of palms and soles area affected by psoriasis (palmoplantar surface area - PPSA) as well as m-PPPASI (modified palmoplantar pustulosis area and severity index). Quality of life will be evaluated at every visit by performing the dermatology life quality index DLQI. Safety will be evaluated by repeating chemistry and haematology laboratories at regular visits as well as by physical examinations and assessment of adverse events.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 24
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Quebec, Canada, G1V 4X7
    • Centre De Recherche Dermatologique Du Quebec Metropolitain
  • Ontario
    • London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3H7
      • The Guenther Dermatology Research center
    • Markham, Ontario, Canada, L3P 1A8
      • Lynderm Research Inc.
  • Quebec
    • Laval, Quebec, Canada, H7S 2C6
      • Innovaderm Research Laval
    • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2K 4L5
      • Innovaderm Research

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient is 18 years of age or older.
• Patient has a history of palmoplantar psoriasis for at least 6 months.
• Patient has a m-PPPASI of at least 8 with at least 10% of the total surface of palms and soles affected with psoriasis at baseline
• Patients who failed either 4 weeks (or more) of treatment with a potent or superpotent topical corticosteroid, methotrexate, acitretin, cyclosporine, efalizumab, etanercept or alefacept for the treatment of palmoplantar psoriasis. Patients with a positive PPD who accept TB prophylaxis, will need to have failed 4 weeks (or more) of treatment with methotrexate, acitretin, cyclosporine, efalizumab, etanercept, alefacept or any other systemic therapies for the treatment of palmoplantar psoriasis.
• Patient with a history and/or the presence of typical plaque psoriasis outside palms and soles
• Female patient is either not of childbearing potential or is of childbearing potential and practicing an acceptable contraception
• Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at the Screening visit.
• Patient is judged to be in good general health as determined by the principal investigator based upon the results of medical history, laboratory profile, and physical examination performed at Screening
• The investigator evaluates that the benefit / risk ratio is acceptable for the patient.
• Patients must be able and willing to provide written informed consent and comply with the requirements of this study protocol.
• Negative PPD
• Patients with a positive PPD may be eligible if they initiate TB prophylaxis before the first injection of infliximab

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient has a history of pustules on palms and/or soles or currently has evidence of pustules on palms and/or soles.
• Patient with Chest X Ray findings positive or suspicious for active tuberculosis.
• Patient has had opportunistic infections.
• Patient has had active TB or recent close contact with an individual with active TB.
• Patient has had a serious infection, has been hospitalized for an infection, or has been treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotics for an infection within 2 months prior to Day 0.
• Patient has had a chronic or recurrent infectious disease including hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
• Patient has a known malignancy or history of malignancy within 5-year period prior to screening (with the exception of squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has been completely excised without evidence of recurrence).
• Patient has a history of lymphoproliferative disease, has multiple sclerosis, or other central demyelinating disorder, or congestive heart failure.
• Patient has elevated aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase levels more than twice the upper limit of normal at screening.
• Patient has received live vaccination within 3 months of randomization or plans to receive live vaccination during the study or within 3 months after the last infusion.
• Patient is pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy (both men and women) during the trial or within the 6-month period thereafter.
• Patient has a history of an allergic reaction to infliximab or any constituent of study drug.
• Patient who has used any topical treatment for psoriasis (except non-medicated emollients) in the last 2 weeks before Day 0 with the exception of hydrocortisone and desonide for the face, groin (including genitals) and inframammary areas as well as shampoos containing tar, salicylic acid or zinc pyrithione
• Patient who has used UVB phototherapy or excessive sun exposure less than 14 days before Day 0.
• Patient has used any non-biological systemic therapy for the treatment of psoriasis (including PUVA therapy), systemic steroids or systemic immunosuppressants less than 28 days before Day 0. Investigational non-biologics agents must be discontinued at least 28 days or 5 half-lives prior to Day 0 (whichever is longer).
• Patient is currently participating in a clinical trial with an experimental drug or device.
• Patient who has used any biological therapy for the treatment of psoriasis less than 90 days before day 0.
• Patient is taking or requires oral or injectable corticosteroids during the study. Inhaled corticosteroids for stable medical conditions are allowed. Patients who have used oral or injectable corticosteroids less than 28 days before Day 0 are excluded.
• Patient has a poorly controlled medical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the patient at risk if the patient participated in the study.
• Patient currently uses or plans to use anti-retroviral therapy at any time during the study.
• Patient is known to have immune deficiency or is immunocompromised.
• Patient is known to be infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus.
• Patient has current signs or symptoms or has a history of systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Patient has a history of clinically significant drug or alcohol abuse in the last year.
• Patient has erythrodermic psoriasis, generalized or localized pustular psoriasis, medication-induced or medication-exacerbated psoriasis.
• Patients with a positive PPD who accept TB prophylaxis must not have any pre-existing liver disease.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo then infliximab; Placebo at weeks 0, 2, 6 during the first intervention period and infliximab 5mg/kg at weeks 14, 16 and 20 during second intervention period.	Drug: Placebo; Patients receive placebo on weeks 0, 2 and 6. They receive infliximab 5mg/kg at weeks 14, 16 and 20.; Other Names: Saline; Drug: Infliximab; Patients in infliximab group receive infliximab 5mg/kg at weeks 0, 2, 6, 14 and 22. Patients in placebo then infliximab group receive placebo at weeks 0, 2, 6, then receive infliximab at weeks 14, 16 and 20.; Other Names: Remicade
Active Comparator: Infliximab; Infliximab 5mg/kg at weeks 0, 2, 6, 14 and 22.	Drug: Infliximab; Patients in infliximab group receive infliximab 5mg/kg at weeks 0, 2, 6, 14 and 22. Patients in placebo then infliximab group receive placebo at weeks 0, 2, 6, then receive infliximab at weeks 14, 16 and 20.; Other Names: Remicade

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
75% Improvement in Modified Palmoplantar Pustulosis Area and Severity Index (m-PPPASI) From Day 0	Efficacy by comparing the number of patients reaching a 75% improvement in m-PPPASI (m-PPPASI 75) m-PPPASI = (E + I + D)Area X 0.2 (R palm) + (E + I + D) Area X 0.2 (L palm) + (E + I + D) Area X 0.3 (R sole) + (E + I + D) Area X 0.3 (L sole). Erythema, induration and desquamation are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 4 while area is evaluated on a scale of 0 to 6. The m-PPPASI score can vary from 0 (absence of disease) to 72 (most severe palmoplantar psoriasis possible).	14 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Adverse Events at Week 14	Safety of infliximab administered for 14 weeks in patients who received by comparing adverse events	14 weeks
Mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at Week 14	Impact on quality of life with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) The aim of the questionnaire is to measure how much a patient's skin problem has affected their life over the previous week.; 0-1 = no effect at all on patient's life; 2-5 = small effect on patient's life; 6-10 = moderate effect on patient's life; 11-20 = very large effect on patient's life; 21-30 = extremely large effect on patient's life	14 weeks
Mean Percent Palmoplantar Psoriasis Surface Area (PPSA) at Week 14	Efficacy by comparing the mean percent PPSA. The surface affected by psoriasis on palms and soles is estimated on the day of the visit as a percentage of the total surface of palms and soles affected by psoriasis. Each palm represents 20% and each sole 30%. As a rule of thumb half a palm equals 10% of the total surface area of palm and soles. A sole completely covered with psoriasis would have a PPSA of 30% (if the other sole and the palms are unaffected) while a palm completely covered with psoriasis would have a PPSA of 20% (if the other palm and the soles are unaffected).	14 weeks
Mean Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) at Week 14	Efficacy by comparing the mean Physician's Global Assessment(PGA).; 0 = clear.; 1 = almost clear.; 2 = Mild.; 3 = Moderate.; 4 = Severe.; 5 = Very severe.	14 weeks
Mean Percent Improvement in Modified Palmoplantar Pustulosis Area and Severity Index (m-PPPASI) at Week 26	Efficacy of infliximab administered for 22 weeks in patients who received infliximab at Day 0 by evaluating the improvement over time in modified m-PPPASI from Day 0 to Week 26. m-PPPASI = (E + I + D)Area X 0.2 (R palm) + (E + I + D) Area X 0.2 (L palm) + (E + I + D) Area X 0.3 (R sole) + (E + I + D) Area X 0.3 (L sole). Erythema, induration and desquamation are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 4 while area is evaluated on a scale of 0 to 6. The m-PPPASI score can vary from 0 (absence of disease) to 72 (most severe palmoplantar psoriasis possible).	Baseline, 26 weeks
Mean Percent Improvement in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at Week 26	Efficacy of infliximab administered for 22 weeks in patients who received infliximab at Day 0 by evaluating the improvement over time in dermatology life quality index (DLQI) from Day 0 to Week 26. Impact on quality of life with the DLQI. The aim of the questionnaire is to measure how much a patient's skin problem has affected their life over the previous week.; 0-1 = no effect at all on patient's life; 2-5 = small effect on patient's life; 6-10 = moderate effect on patient's life; 11-20 = very large effect on patient's life; 21-30 = extremely large effect on patient's life	Baseline, 26 weeks
Mean Percent Improvement in Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) at Week 26	Efficacy of infliximab administered for 22 weeks in patients who received infliximab at Day 0 by evaluating the improvement over time in Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) from Day 0 to Week 26.; 0 = clear; 1 = almost clear; 2 = Mild; 3 = Moderate; 4 = Severe; 5 = Very severe	Baseline, 26 weeks
Mean Percent Improvement in Palmoplantar Psoriasis Surface Area (PPSA) at Week 26	Efficacy of infliximab administered for 22 weeks in patients who received infliximab at Day 0 by evaluating the improvement over time in percent PPSA from Day 0 to Week 26. The surface affected by psoriasis on palms and soles is estimated on the day of the visit as a percentage of the total surface of palms and soles affected by psoriasis. Each palm represents 20% and each sole 30%. As a rule of thumb half a palm equals 10% of the total surface area of palm and soles.	Baseline, 26 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Innovaderm Research Inc.
• Collaborators: Schering-Plough

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 27, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 5, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): March 6, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 9, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 1, 2011
• Last Verified: September 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Infliximab; Palmoplantar psoriasis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Skin Diseases, Papulosquamous; Psoriasis; Antirheumatic Agents; Gastrointestinal Agents; Dermatologic Agents; Infliximab
• Other Study ID Numbers: Inno-6003; P-05121 (Other Identifier: Schering Plough Canada)