Randomized, Placebo and Ciclosporin Controlled Study of ISA247 in Plaque Psoriasis Patients

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that can have a significant impact on a patient's physical and mental well being. The most common form of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis. Targeted treatments in psoriasis have been reported recently, yet ciclosporin, a calcineurin inhibitor (CNi) remains one of the treatments which has the greatest efficacy. Voclosporin represents the possibility of a calcineurin inhibitor which is not only as efficacious as ciclosporin A, but also has an improved toxicity profile.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged greater than or equal to 18 years of age inclusive at time of screening.
• Diagnosed with plaque psoriasis greater than or equal to 6 months prior to screening.
• Diagnosis of stable, plaque psoriasis; i.e. psoriasis must not be spontaneously improving or worsening in the 4 weeks prior to the screening visit.
• Psoriasis failing at least one systemic treatment regimen or where other systemic therapies are contraindicated or where tolerability is an issue.
• Plaque psoriasis involving greater than or equal to 10% of the body surface area and a SPGA score greater than or equal to 3 at screening and prior to randomization at the day 0 visit.
• Not pregnant or nursing.
• Sexually active women of childbearing potential or less than 1 year post-menopausal and sexually active men who are not surgically sterile must use a reliable form of birth control during study treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose of study drug. Surgically sterile females are not considered to be of childbearing potential. Reliable forms of birth control include oral or depot contraceptives, and double-barrier methods.
• Written informed consent prior to washout and screening procedures.
• Able to keep study appointments and cooperate with all study requirements, in the opinion of the Investigator.

Exclusion criteria

• Has generalized erythrodermic, guttate, or pustular psoriasis.
• Have other dermatoses that would interfere with the evaluation of psoriasis, at the discretion of the Investigator.
• A current malignancy or history of malignancy within 5 years or a history of lymphoma at any time. Subjects can be enrolled with a history of squamous or basal cell carcinoma that has been surgically excised or removed with curettage and electrodesiccation.
• Has a current, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection that requires intravenous antibiotics or antifungals or has had such infections within 60 days prior to screening.
• A known history of tuberculosis.
• Serologic evidence or known latent HIV, HBV or HCV virus.
• Uncontrolled hypertension of systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.
• MDRD GFR < 60 mL/min.
• Variation between the screening and Visit 1 SCr greater than or equal to 30%.
• ALT, AST, GGT greater than or equal to 2x upper limit of normal (ULN).
• White blood cell count less than or equal to 2.8 x 10 to the ninth power/L.
• Requires the following prohibited medications or treatments during the washout or treatment period: drugs potentiating the nephrotoxicity of voclosporin, drugs interfering with its pharmacokinetics, drugs considered to contribute to psoriasis flare; or, systemic and topical psoriasis medication that may interfere with assessment of study drug efficacy.
• Has used any investigational drug or device within 30 days or 10 half lives (whichever is longer) prior to the screening visit.
• Current participation in another clinical trial of any drug or biological agent.
• Has taken biological agent(s), except flu shots, tetanus shots, or boosters, within 3 months of randomization. Biological agents include any virus, live vaccine, therapeutic serum, toxin, antitoxin, monoclonal antibodies or analogous product applicable to the prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases or injuries of man.
• Previous exposure to voclosporin.
• A history of clinically defined allergy to ciclosporin, constituents of Neoral or any of the constituents of the ISA247 formulation.
• A history of alcoholism or drug addiction.
• Weighs < 45kg (99 lbs).
• A history of disease, including mental/emotional disorder that would interfere with the subject's participation in the study, in the evaluation of his/her response or that might cause the administration of voclosporin to pose a significant risk to the subject, in the opinion of the Investigator.