Rimegepant in Moderate Plaque-type Psoriasis

June 27, 2025 updated by: Weill Medical College of Cornell University

A Pilot Study of Rimegepant in Moderate Plaque-type Psoriasis

The purpose of this study is to examine the use of a new investigational medication for the treatment of moderate plaque-type psoriasis. The study medication is rimegepant, an orally administered small molecule competitive inhibitor of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor. This medication, rimegepant, has been approved by the FDA under the trade name Nurtec for the treatment of acute migraine. However, rimegepant has not been studied in the treatment of moderate plaque-type psoriasis and is investigational for this indication.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of rimegepant 75 mg dosed every other day for the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis. Subjects must have at 3% body surface area involvement before entry into the study. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) scores will be calculated and subjects will each complete the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) instrument as well an itch assessments. These assessments will be performed at baseline and every 2 weeks in follow-up. Areas of psoriasis in each subject will be photographed at baseline and two very similar appearing lesions identified for biopsy of one on day 1 and the other at the end of week 16. Patients will also repeat the DLQI at each visit. Subjects will also be photographed at each visit. Subjects will discontinue medications after the end of week 16. Subjects who complete the 20-week protocol will have the option of entering a 3-month, open-label extension of the study in which they will take 75 mg of rimegepant every other day for an additional 12 weeks. Eligible subjects have 2 weeks past visit 11 to enroll in the extension. For those rolling over before visit 11, visits 11 and 12 can be combined. They will have the same 7 assessments as in the previous portion of the study every 4 Protocol #20-07022368 Version Date 5/10/24 weeks including an EKG. The inclusion and exclusion criteria remain the same.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

41

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10021
        • Weill Cornell Medicine
      • New York, New York, United States, 10075
        • Sadick Dermatology

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female patients with at least 3% body surface are involved with psoriasis and a PASI score >5.
  • Between 18 and 75 years of age.
  • Documentation of a definite diagnosis of psoriasis by a dermatologist or biopsy.
  • For women of childbearing potential, a negative urine pregnancy test within 48 hours of randomization. Female subjects should not have attempted to become pregnant in the month prior to exposure to rimegepant and agree not to attempt to become pregnant for 8 weeks after exposure to rimegepant.

  • A valid form of contraception must be documented for men and women of child-bearing potential.

    • The two methods for women of childbearing potential should include:

      • One barrier method (for example, Diaphragm with spermicidal gel, condom with spermicidal gel, cervical caps or intrauterine devices placed for at least four weeks before sexual intercourse); AND
      • One additional method. The other method could include hormonal contraceptives, or second barrier method as listed above.

    • The two options for men of childbearing potential should include:

      • Simultaneous use of male condom, and for the female partner, hormonal contraceptives (for example, birth control pills, implants, patch, depot injection, used since at least 4 weeks) or intra-uterine contraceptive device (placed since at least 4 weeks) before sexual intercourse; OR simultaneous use of male condom, and for the female partner, diaphragm with intravaginally applied spermicide.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any ongoing medical illness or condition that places the participant at higher risk for adverse outcomes or inability to complete study procedures in the opinion of the study investigator.
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • Known autoimmune disorders other than psoriasis.
  • Current use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications (for any reason).
  • Immunodeficiency diseases.
  • Use of any biologic agent/monoclonal antibody within 5 half-lifes prior to baseline.
  • Ultraviolet light treatment, cyclosporine, oral corticosteroids, methotrexate, oral retinoids, mycophenolate mofetil, thioguanine, hydroxyurea, sirolimus or azathioprine within the 4 weeks prior to baseline or had topical psoriasis treatment within the previous 2 weeks prior to baseline.
  • Participation in another clinical trial involving an investigational drug within the last 30 days prior to baseline.
  • Inability for woman of child-bearing potential to use an effective form of contraception if sexually active.
  • Use of any medication that is a strong or moderate inhibitor of CYP3A, a strong or moderate inducer of CYP3A, or an inhibitor of glycoprotein (P-gp) or Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP). Please see Section 7.8 for more information.
  • Subject history with current evidence of uncontrolled, unstable or recently diagnosed cardiovascular disease, such as ischemic heart disease, coronary artery vasospasm, and cerebral ischemia. Subjects with myocardial infarction (MI), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), cardiac surgery, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) during 6 months (24 weeks) prior to screening.
  • Uncontrolled hypertension or uncontrolled diabetes (however, subjects can be included who have stable hypertension and/or diabetes for 3 months (12 weeks) prior to screening). Blood pressure greater than 150 mm Hg systolic or 100 mm Hg diastolic after 10 minutes of rest is exclusionary
  • Subjects with an active episode of major depressive episode within the last 6 months are ineligible. Subjects with major depressive disorder or any anxiety disorder are eligible only if they are on stable medication for each disorder for at least 3 months prior to the Screening visit.
  • Subject has a history or diagnosis of Gilbert's Syndrome or any other active hepatic or biliary disorder
  • Hematologic or solid malignancy diagnosis within 5 years prior to screening. Subjects with a history of localized basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer are eligible for the study if they are cancer-free prior to the screening visit in this study.
  • Subject has current diagnosis of major depressive disorder requiring treatment with atypical antipsychotics, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder.
  • History of gallstones.
  • Subject has current diagnosis of major depressive disorder requiring treatment with atypical antipsychotics, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder.
  • The use of CGRP antagonists (biologic [e.g. Aimovig™, Emgality® and Ajovy™, VyeptiTM] or small molecule [ e.g. Ubrelvy™ {ubrogepant]]) other than rimegepant is prohibited during the study.
  • Concomitant use of atypical antipsychotics such as Abilify (aripiprazole), Zyprexa (olanzapine), Seroquel (quetiapine), Geodon (ziprasidone), or Risperdal (risperidone).
  • Depakote/Depakene (divalproex/valproic acid/valproate) is prohibited during the study.
  • Concomitant use of LAMICTAL (lamotrigine) is prohibited during the study.
  • Concomitant use of Modafinil (PROVIGIL®) is prohibited during the study.

  • Exclusionary screening lab test findings:

    • Serum bilirubin (Total, Direct or Indirect) > 1 x ULN (Only abnormal values of between 1-1.5x ULN may be repeated once for assessment of eligibility prior to randomization)
    • AST or ALT > 1 x ULN (Only abnormal values of between 1-1.5x ULN may be repeated once for assessment of eligibility prior to randomization)
    • Neutrophil count ≤ 1000/μL (or equivalent)
    • HbA1c > 6.5%

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Rimegepant
Participants receive a rimegepant 75 mg tablet orally every other day for 16 weeks.
Drug: Rimegepant
Active Agent
Other Names:
  • Nurtec
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Participants receive a placebo tablet matching rimegepant orally every other day for 16 weeks.
Drug: Placebo
Placebo Comparator
Experimental: Rimegepant Extension-Previously Received Rimegepant-Open Label

Participants who previously received rimegepant receive a rimegepant 75 mg tablet orally every other day for an additional 12 weeks.

Rimegepant: Active Agent
Drug: Rimegepant
Active Agent
Other Names:
  • Nurtec
Experimental: Rimegepant Extension-Previously Received Placebo-Open Label

Participants who previously received placebo receive a rimegepant 75 mg tablet orally every other day for an additional 12 weeks.

Rimegepant: Active Agent
Drug: Rimegepant
Active Agent
Other Names:
  • Nurtec

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Severity of Psoriasis as Measured by Percentage Change in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) Instrument
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Visit 15 (Week 12).

Total score of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index ranges from 0 to 72. Change = (Week 16 score - Baseline score) for the placebo-controlled phase and (Week 15 score-Visit 12 score) for the extension phase. A low score means less severe disease while a high score reflects more severe disease. A score of 0 means no psoriasis. A PASI score of 5 to 10 is considered moderate disease and a score over 10 is considered severe. A score over 40 is rare.

The primary outcome measure is the mean percent change in PASI score from baseline to week 16 in the placebo-controlled phase.

For the extension phase, it is particularly interesting if a change is noted in the group that received placebo prior to the extension phase.
Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Visit 15 (Week 12).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Subjects Who Had a 50% or Greater Reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index Instrument Score
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Visit 15 (Week 12).
To record the number of subjects whose PASI Score Improves by at least 50% by week 16 (Week 16 average score - Baseline average score) for the placebo-controled phase and the change from Visit 12 (Day 1) to Visit 15 (Week 12) for the extension phase. PASI range is 0-72 although PASI must be at least 5 for entry into the study. A score of 0 means no psoriasis. A PASI score of 5 to 10 is considered moderate disease and a score over 10 is considered severe. A score over 40 is rare.
Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Visit 15 (Week 12).
Change in Severity of Psoriasis as Assessed by the Investigator's Global Assessment Instrument
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Week 12.

Score of the Investigator's Global Assessment instrument ranges from 0 to 5.

Three parameters (erythema, induration and scaling, each is scored on a scale of 0 to 5. Erythema: 0 to 5 is the scale of intensity of erythema with 5 being the highest. Induration: 0 to 5 reflects the degree of elevation of the lesion with 5 being the most elevated. Scaling: 0 to 5 is the abundance of scale as well as the thickness and tenacious character of the scale with 5 being the most abundant, thick and tenacious scale) were each measured and averaged to obtain a score averaged to the nearest integer. The change from baseline to week 16 for each subject was calculated for the placebo-controlled phase and the change from Visit 12 to Visit 15 for the extension phase and the mean difference +/- standard deviation between groups was compared.

For the extension phase, it is particularly interesting if a change is noted in the group that received placebo prior to the extension phase.
Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Week 12.
Change in Dermatology Quality of Life Index
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Visit 15 (Week 12).

Dermatology Quality of Life Index score ranges from 0-30. Average Change in Score of Each Group= (Week 16 average score - Baseline average score) for the placebo-controlled phase and (Visit 15 average score-Visit 12 average score) for the extension phase. 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.

For the extension phase, it is particularly interesting if a change is noted in the group that received placebo prior to the extension phase.
Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Visit 15 (Week 12).
Change in Degree of Itching Assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Week 12.

The Visual Analogue Scale ranges from 0 to 10. 0= no pruritus, < 3= mild pruritus, ≥ 3-<7= moderate pruritus, ≥ 7-<9 = severe pruritus, ≥ 9= very severe pruritus.

We separately measured the reduction in average itch over the preceding 3 days and the reduction in maximum itch over the previous 7 days for each subject.

For the extension phase, it is particularly interesting if a change is noted in the group that received placebo prior to the extension phase.
Baseline and Week 16 for placebo controlled trial. For Extension Phase, Visit 11/12 (Day 1) to Week 12.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Collaborators

Pfizer

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Richard D Granstein, MD, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

January 19, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 20, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

November 18, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 11, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 11, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

November 16, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 17, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 27, 2025

Last Verified

June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 20-07022368

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

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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