A Phase 4 Study of Efficacy and Safety of Apremilast in Subjects With Moderate Plaque Psoriasis.

BSA is a measurement of involved skin. The overall BSA affected by psoriasis is estimated based on the palm area of the participant's hand (entire palmar surface or "handprint" including the fingers), which equates to approximately 1% of total body surface area. The sPGA is a 6-point scale ranging from 0 (clear), 1 (almost clear), 2 (mild), 3 (moderate), to 4 (severe), 5 (very severe) incorporating a separate assessment of the severity of the three primary signs of the plaques of all involved areas: erythema, scaling and plaque elevation with an overall sPGA calculated as (E + I + D)/3. Scores for each assessment are rounded to the nearest whole number to result in the final score. The range of BSA*sPGA mean percentage change from baseline to week 16 (end of phase) were -100 to 344.4 and -100 to 100 for the placebo and apremilast groups respectively. Higher scores represented worse outcomes.

DLQI is a simple, compact, and practical questionnaire for use in a dermatology clinical setting to assess limitations related to the impact of skin disease. The instrument contains ten items dealing with the participant's skin. With the exception of Item Number 7, the participant responds on a four-point scale, ranging from "Very Much" (score 3) to "Not at All" or "Not relevant" (score 0). Item Number 7 is a multi-part item, the first part of which ascertains whether the participant's skin prevented them from working or studying (Yes or No, scores 3 or 0 respectively), and if "No," then the participant is asked how much of a problem the skin has been at work or study over the past week, with response alternatives being "A lot," "A little," or "Not at all" (scores 2, 1, or 0 respectively). The DLQI total score is derived by summing all item scores, which has a possible range of 0 to 30, with 30 corresponding to the worst quality of life, and 0 corresponding to the best.

The sPGA is an assessment by the investigator of the overall disease severity at the time of evaluation. Erythema (E), induration (I), and desquamation (D) are scored on a 6-point scale, ranging from 0 (clear) to 5 (very severe), with an overall sPGA calculated as (E + I + D)/3. Scores for each assessment are averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number to result in the final sPGA score.

The PtGA response rate is defined as the percentage of participants achieving 0 (clear) or 1 (very mild) on the PtGA scale at Week 16. The PtGA is the assessment by the participant of the overall disease severity at the time of evaluation. The PtGA is a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (clear) to 4 (severe).

The Pruritus VAS assessment was conducted at the baseline visit and each post-baseline visit. The participant was asked to place a vertical stroke on a 100 mm VAS on which the left-hand boundary (0) represents no itch, and the right-hand boundary (100) represents itch as severe as can be imagined. The distance from the mark to the left-hand boundary will be recorded. The Pruritus VAS score ranges from 0 to 100. Higher scores correspond to more severe symptom.

The ScPGA assessed scalp involvement, if present at baseline. The 6-point ScPGA scale includes three dimensions (Plaque Thickening, Scaling, and Erythema) and a global assessment. Scores range from 0 (clear), 1 (minimal), 2 (mild), 3 (moderate), 4 (severe), to 5 (very severe). Analysis of ScPGA was restricted to the participants with scalp involvement at baseline.

The TSQM version II is an 11-question self-administered instrument to understand a participation's satisfaction with the current therapy. The TSQM scale comprises four domains, on which participants evaluate their medication (i.e., effectiveness, side effects, convenience and global satisfaction. TSQM scores range from 0 to 100 for each domain; a higher score mean indicates higher satisfaction with treatment.

The TSQM version II is an 11-question self-administered instrument to understand a participants satisfaction on the current therapy. The TSQM scale comprises four domains, on which participants evaluate their medication (i.e., effectiveness, side effects, convenience and global satisfaction. TSQM scores range from 0 to 100 for each domain; a higher score indicates higher satisfaction with treatment.

The PASI score is a measure of psoriatic disease severity taking into account qualitative lesion characteristics (erythema, thickness, and scaling) and degree of skin surface area involvement on defined anatomical regions. Erythema, thickness, and scaling are scored on a scale of 0 (none) to 4 (very severe) on 4 anatomic regions of the body: head, trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs. Degree of involvement on each of the 4 anatomic regions is scored on a scale of 0 (no involvement) to 6 (90% to 100% involvement). PASI scores range from 0 to 72, with higher scores reflecting greater disease severity.

The PASI score is a measure of psoriatic disease severity taking into account qualitative lesion characteristics (erythema, thickness, and scaling) and degree of skin surface area involvement on defined anatomical regions. Erythema, thickness, and scaling are scored on a scale of 0 (none) to 4 (very severe) on 4 anatomic regions of the body: head, trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs. Degree of involvement on each of the 4 anatomic regions is scored on a scale of 0 (no involvement) to 6 (90% to 100% involvement). PASI scores range from 0 to 72, with higher scores reflecting greater disease severity.

The PASI score is a measure of psoriatic disease severity taking into account qualitative lesion characteristics (erythema, thickness, and scaling) and degree of skin surface area involvement on defined anatomical regions. Erythema, thickness, and scaling are scored on a scale of 0 (none) to 4 (very severe) on 4 anatomic regions of the body: head, trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs. Degree of involvement on each of the 4 anatomic regions is scored on a scale of 0 (no involvement) to 6 (90% to 100% involvement). PASI scores range from 0 to 72, with higher scores reflecting greater disease severity.

BSA is a measurement of involved skin. The overall BSA affected by psoriasis is estimated based on the palm area of the participant's hand (entire palmar surface or "handprint" including the fingers), which equates to approximately 1% of total body surface area. The sPGA is a 6-point scale ranging from 0 (clear), 1 (almost clear), 2 (mild), 3 (moderate), to 4 (severe), 5 (very severe) incorporating a separate assessment of the severity of the three primary signs of the plaques of all involved areas: erythema, scaling and plaque elevation with an overall sPGA calculated as (E + I + D)/3. Scores for each assessment are rounded to the nearest whole number to result in the final score.

The ScPGA will assess scalp involvement, if present at baseline. The 6-point ScPGA scale includes three dimensions (Plaque Thickening, Scaling, and Erythema) and a global assessment with scores range from 0 (clear), 1 (minimal), 2 (mild), 3 (moderate), 4 (severe), to 5 (very severe). Analysis of ScPGA is restricted to the participants with scalp involvement at baseline.

Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) are defined as any AEs that begin or worsen on or after the start of study drug through 28 days after the last dose of study drug or study treatment discontinuation date, whichever was later. A serious AE (SAE) is any untoward adverse event that is fatal, life-threatening, results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, requires or prolongs existing in-patient hospitalization, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect, or is a condition that may jeopardize the patient or may require intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed above.

Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) are defined as any AEs that begin or worsen on or after the start of study drug through 28 days after the last dose of study drug or study treatment discontinuation date, whichever was later. A serious AE (SAE) is any untoward adverse event that is fatal, life-threatening, results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, requires or prolongs existing in-patient hospitalization, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect, or is a condition that may jeopardize the patient or may require intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed above.