The Controlled Trial of Apremilast for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment (CARAT)

Baylor Scott and White Health (BSWH)

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 2

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Treatments

Biological: apremilast

Other: Placebo

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01250548

009-293

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of apremilast with a placebo (an inactive substance that looks like apremilast) on you and other people with rheumatoid arthritis.

The investigators will be collecting information in this study to help us determine -

the safety of apremilast in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis
how long it takes for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis to respond to apremilast
how long the effects of apremilast last after the treatment has ended.

Full description

Many manifestations associated with RA result from, or are significantly influenced by, the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF, IL-1, IL-6). Specific inhibition of these cytokines with newer, parenterally administered biologic agents has revolutionized the treatment of RA. Apremilast is a novel, orally administered drug which approaches the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4).

Apremilast, Acetamide, N-[2-[ (1S)-1-(3-ethoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(methylsulfonyl) ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-1,3-dioxo-1H-isoindol-4-yl] is a phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitor under development for use in the treatment of inflammatory conditions.

PDE4 is one of the major phosphodiesterases expressed in leukocytes. Inhibitors of PDE4 cause accumulation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which in turn activates protein kinase A and other downstream effectors, resulting in inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine transcription and other cellular responses such as neutrophil degranulation, chemotaxis, and adhesion to endothelial cells.

In human cellular models, apremilast inhibited production of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL-12, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-8, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and the adhesion molecule CD18/CD11b (Mac-1).

Apremilast has also been shown to be a potent anti-inflammatory agent in several animal models of inflammation.

Enrollment

34 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Must be able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements
documented rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis by the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for at least 6 months
disease duration 6 or more months (from symptom onset)
failed 1 or more DMARD
active RA despite current DMARD therapy; active disease defined as 4 or more tender and 4 or more swollen joints (out of 28 joints examined) and any one of the following:
ESR 28 or higher mm/hr;
CRP 1.0 or more mg/dl;
Morning stiffness 45 or more minutes.
Patients receiving DMARD or biologic therapy must undergo a drug washout.
Patients receiving a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and/or prednisone (10 or less mg day) must be on stable doses of these agents for more than 2 weeks.
Must meet laboratory criteria as specified in the protocol
Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening and must adhere to adequate forms of contraception as defined in the protocol. Must agree to pregnancy tests every 28 days while on study medication.
Males (including those who have had a vasectomy) must agree to use barrier contraception (latex condoms) when engaging in sexual activity with FCBP while on study medication and for 28 days after taking the last dose of study medication

Exclusion criteria

Inability to provide voluntary consent
History of any clinically significant cardiac, endocrinologic, pulmonary, neurologic, psychiatric, hepatic, renal, hematologic, neurologic, gastrointestinal, immunologic, or other major diseases
Any condition, including the presence of laboratory abnormalities, which places the subject at unacceptable risk if he/she were to participate in the study or confounds the ability to interpret data from the study
Pregnant or breastfeeding female
Systemic fungal infection
Active tuberculosis (TB) or a history of incompletely treated tuberculosis.
History of recurrent bacterial infection (at least 3 major infections resulting in hospitalization and/or requiring intravenous antibiotic treatment within the past 2 years)
Clinically significant abnormality on the chest x-ray (CXR) at screening. Chest x-rays performed within 3 months prior to start of study drug are acceptable.
Use of any investigational medication within 28 days prior to randomization or 5 half-lives if known (whichever is longer)
Any clinically significant abnormality on 12-lead ECG at screening
History of congenital or acquired immunodeficiency (eg, Common Variable Immunodeficiency [CVID])
History of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection
Presence of hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) or Hepatitis core antibody positive at screening.
Antibodies to Hepatitis C virus at screening
History of malignancy within 5 years prior to the screening visit (except for treated [i.e. cured] basal cell skin carcinomas and treated [i.e. cured] carcinoma in situ of the cervix)
currently on DMARD therapy
currently taking biologics
treated with rituximab in the last 6 months
Recent hospitalization (last 3 months)
Planned pregnancy or major surgery