MedPath

The ASCEND Study: Evaluating TMB-001 in the Treatment of RXLI or ARCI Ichthyosis

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Ichthyosis
Interventions
Drug: Matching Vehicle
Registration Number
NCT05295732
Lead Sponsor
Timber Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Brief Summary

This is a randomized, double-blind and vehicle-controlled Phase III study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical TMB-001 0.05% ointment for the treatment of CI in subjects with either the RXLI or ARCI subtypes.

In addition, a subset of preselected centers will recruit subjects in parallel with either the RXLI or ARCI subtypes for enrollment into an Optional Maximal Use arm for evaluation of the systemic exposure and safety of topical TMB-001 0.05% ointment for the treatment of CI.

The Phase III Study is designed in three periods:

• Period 1 - Induction (3 weeks): At the beginning of the 3-week Induction Period, eligible subjects will be randomized (2:1 ratio) to either TMB-001 0.05% once-a-day (QD) or Vehicle QD treatment, with use of mandatory standardized bland emollient (Cetaphil™) provided by the Sponsor.

• Period 2 - Treatment (9 weeks): The dosing frequency in the 9-week treatment period will be increased in each treatment group to TMB-001 0.05% BID or Vehicle BID. Mandatory bland emollient will be discontinued.

• Period 3 - Maintenance (12 weeks): At Week 12, eligible subjects in the TMB-001 treatment group will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to an open-label treatment with TMB-001 0.05% BID or TMB-001 0.05% QD. To be eligible, subjects must have achieved a ≥1-point reduction in IGA score from Baseline. Subjects with less than a 1-point reduction in IGA score from Baseline will be discontinued from the study.

Vehicle-treated subjects who achieved \<1-point reduction in IGA score from Baseline are eligible to cross over to the TMB-001 0.05% BID treatment group. Subjects with a ≥1-point reduction in IGA score from Baseline will be discontinued from the study.

Subjects at the end of the study or subjects discontinued from the study at any time will be followed-up for additional 2 weeks for AEs.

Detailed Description

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled Phase III study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TMB-001 0.05% topical ointment in the treatment of CI. Subjects will be selected according to predefined entry criteria. The study treatment duration is 24 weeks and expected to be sufficient to show a treatment effect.

Isotretinoin is an approved active pharmacological ingredient with a long history of safe use in humans. However, isotretinoin is a known teratogen with an extremely high risk for severe birth defects if pregnancy occur while taking oral isotretinoin in any amount, even for a short period of time. Therefore oral, systemic isotretinoin requires an iPLEDGE program (iPLEDGE 2012), which is a risk management distribution program mandated by the FDA. To minimize pregnancy risks, WOCBP will only be enrolled if they agree to use highly effective methods of contraception consistently and correctly as described in Table 17 and undergo regular pregnancy testing .

To minimize bias, subjects will be blinded and randomly assigned to treatment with TMB-001 0.05% or Vehicle, additionally subjects who had previously been treated with TMB 001 will be excluded from this study but can be enrolled in the optional Maximal Use arm (in a subset of preselected centers). The use of a vehicle control group is consistent with FDA's standard for generating valid scientific evidence to definitively support safety and efficacy. The vehicle group accounts for the effects of treatment that do not depend on the test treatment. The study is designed to mitigate safety risks by using an initial 2:1 randomization (active treatment to vehicle), along with frequent clinic visits over the 12-week treatment period. The subsequent 1:1 randomization of eligible TMB-001 0.05% treated subjects to two dosing regimen (QD or BID) allows for assessment of the optimal TMB-001 0.05% maintenance therapy as well as provides additional safety data for 12 weeks. The cross-over of eligible subjects from the vehicle control group will also provide additional safety data.

Overall, the study design is considered to be scientifically robust and clinically relevant for evaluating TMB-001 0.05% treatment for the safe and effective treatment of CI.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
209
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Subject is male or female, 6 years of age and older at Visit 2 (Baseline).

  2. Subject has provided written informed consent/assent. A subject under 18 years of age must provide written informed assent and be accompanied by the parent or legal guardian at the time of consent/assent signing. The parent or legal guardian must provide informed consent for the subject. If a subject becomes 18 years of age during the study, the subject must provide written informed consent at that time to continue study participation.

  3. Females must be postmenopausal (defined as amenorrhea greater than 12 consecutive months in women 50 years of age and older), surgically sterile (hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy), or use 2 acceptable forms of birth control. WOCBP must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and negative urine pregnancy test (UPT) at Visit 2 (Baseline) (UPTs must have a minimum sensitivity to detect 25 mIU beta human chorionic gonadotropin [β hCG]/mL). Female subjects who become sexually active or begin to have relations with a partner during the study must agree to use 2 forms of birth control for 30 days prior to having relations and to continue such forms of birth control for the duration of the study.

  4. Subject has clinical diagnosis of CI and has a genetic confirmation of either ARCI (including but not exclusively transglutaminase 1-deficient, ALOX-12B) or RXLI (e.g., deletion of steroid sulfatase gene) subtypes of CI. Other genetically confirmed ARCI-LI mutations can potentially be enrolled as long as the phenotype is consistent with ARCI and the other inclusion criteria are met, as determined by the Investigator

  5. The amount of CI affected skin in the Treatment Area at Baseline will be between a minimum of 10% and maximum of 90% of the total BSA (1% BSA is approximately equal to the surface area of the subject's palm and fingers, with the fingers extended yet grouped together, creating a flat oval-like surface area).

    • For the Optional Maximal Use arm: The amount of CI affected skin in the Treatment Area at Baseline will be between a minimum of 75% and maximum of 90% of the total BSA.

  6. Documented history of moderate to severe disease at Screening. Subject's designated VIIS Assessment Areas at Baseline (not applicable for Optional Maximal Use arm) MUST:

    • Include any of the 4 VIIS Assessment Areas that have some CI disease involving: (a) the upper back from the posterior axillary fold to the other encompassing the T1-T10, (b) the upper arm (excluding elbows), left or right, (c) the shin/lower leg (the portion below the proximal aspect of the kneecap), left or right, and (d) dorsal foot (left or right); AND
    • At least 2 of the 4 VIIS Assessment Areas MUST have a scaling score of 3 or more.
  7. Subject's IGA score in the Treatment Area at Baseline must be 3 or more.

  8. Subject and parent/guardian (if applicable) are willing and able to apply the study treatment(s) as directed, comply with study instructions, and commit to all follow-up visits for the duration of the study.

  9. Subject, in the Investigator's opinion, is in good general health and free of any disease state or physical condition that might impair evaluation of the Treatment Areas or exposes the subject to an unacceptable risk by study participation.

Exclusion Criteria
  1. Subject is pregnant, lactating, or is planning to become pregnant during the study.

  2. Subject has inflammatory skin diseases that confound the interpretation of results (e.g., atopic dermatitis) unrelated to ichthyosis.

  3. Subject has genetic abnormality consistent with non-lamellar type or syndromic ichthyoses (including but not exclusively KRT1, KRT10, KRT2, GJB3, GJB4, CDSN)

  4. Subject has previously failed on topical/oral retinoid therapy for treatment of CI, defined as documented intolerance and or lack of clinical efficacy as determined by the subject.

  5. Subject, in the Treatment Areas, has used: (a) any topical prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) therapies (except emollients, keratolytics, and topical steroids - see below), that are intended for, or that in the opinion of the Investigator, may improve CI within 2 weeks of Visit 2 (Baseline), or (b) keratolytics or topical corticosteroids within 5 days prior to Visit 2 (Baseline).

  6. Subject, in the Treatment Areas, has used TMB-001 in the past or oral isotretinoin in the past 12 months (not applicable for Optional Maximal Use arm).

  7. Subject has used any topical products in the Treatment Areas, including bland emollients, on Visit 2 (Baseline).

  8. Subject has used ultraviolet (UV) treatment within 4 weeks prior to Visit 2 (Baseline).

  9. Subject has undergone systemic therapies using vitamin A supplements or St. John's Wort within 4 weeks prior to Visit 2 (Baseline). Note: Use of a multivitamin including vitamin A is not exclusionary provided it is taken as directed on the packaging.

  10. Subject is immunosuppressed (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus, systemic malignancy, graft host disease) or receives systemic immunotherapy.

  11. Subject is currently taking concomitant immunosuppressive drugs, including systemic corticosteroids, within 2 weeks of Visit 2 (Baseline).

  12. Subject has untreated secondary infections; however, subject may become eligible after successful treatment of his/her infection(s) at the Investigator's discretion.

  13. Subject is currently enrolled in an investigational drug or device study or has used an investigational drug or investigational device treatment within 30 days or five half-lives prior to Visit 2 (Baseline).

  14. Subject has lesions suspicious for skin cancer (if skin cancer is not ruled out by biopsy) or untreated skin cancers within the Treatment Areas.

  15. Subject has a physical condition or other dermatologic disorder that, in the Investigator's opinion, might impair evaluation of CI, or that exposes the subject to unacceptable risk by study participation.

  16. Subjects with ALT or AST >2 x Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) and/or creatinine >1.5 x ULN.

  17. Subject is unable to communicate or cooperate with the Investigator due to language problems, impaired cerebral function, or physical limitations.

  18. Subject has a history of drug or alcohol abuse within the past 6 months, or if suspected to be noncompliant or is unlikely to comply with the requirements of the study protocol (e.g., due to alcoholism, drug dependency, mental incapacity) in the opinion of the Investigator.

  19. Subject has a history of sensitivity to any of the ingredients in the study treatments.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
TMB-001 0.05%TMB-001TMB-001 0.05% ointment: Induction phase QD for 3 weeks, followed by BID for 9 weeks. Maintenance therapy for additional 12 weeks randomized QD vs BID
VehicleMatching VehicleMatching vehicle ointment with no action isotretinoin: Induction phase QD for 3 weeks, followed by BID for 9 weeks. Cross over to 12 weeks TMB-001 0.05% BID.
Maximal useTMB-001Optional Parallel Arm to evaluate the systemic exposure and safety of TMB-001 0.05% under conditions of maximal use.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Investigator global assessment (IGA) score12 weeks

Comparison of proportions of subjects with ≥2-point changes from Baseline in Investigator Global Assessment (IGA)-scaling and fissuring scores in the Treatment Area at Week 12 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects. Investigator's Global Assessment Score is a 0-4 scale, where 0 is clear and 4 is severe.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of subjects with IGA scores12 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects with IGA scores of clear or almost clear at Week 12 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects. Investigator's Global Assessment Score is a 0-4 scale, where 0 is clear and 4 is severe.

Change in IGA-scaling severity sub-score12 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects who achieve IGA-scaling severity sub-score improvement ≥ 2-points from Baseline to Week 12 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects. Investigator's Global Assessment Score is a 0-4 scale, where 0 is clear and 4 is severe.

Change in Visual Index of Ichthyosis Severity (VIIS) score12 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects who achieve 50% reduction from Baseline in VIIS-scaling scores at Week 12 in all areas with Baseline VIIS score ≥3 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects. Visual Index for Ichthyosis Severity Score is a 0-4 scale where 0 is clear and 4 is severe.

To investigate the proportion of subjects experiencing LSRs with topically applied TMB-001 0.05% ointment.24 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects experiencing LSRs through Week 24 between subjects randomized to TMB-001 0.05% BID and QD maintenance dosing.

Change in Worst Itch-Quality of Life (QoL) scores12 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects with ≥4-point improvement from baseline in Worst Itch-QoL scores at Week 12 in subjects with baseline WI-NRS of ≥7 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects. Itch-Numeric Rating Scale (I-NRS) and Worst Itch-Numeric Rating Scale (WI-NRS) is an 0-10 scale where 0 is "no itching" and 10 is "worst itch imaginable".

Change in VIIS score24 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects who achieve 50% reduction from Baseline in VIIS-scaling scores at Week 24 in all areas with Baseline VIIS score ≥3 between subjects randomized to TMB-001 0.05% BID and QD maintenance dosing. Visual Index for Ichthyosis Severity Score is a 0-4 scale where 0 is clear and 4 is severe.

Change in IGA-fissuring severity sub-scores12 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects achieving ≥2 point improvement in IGA-fissuring severity sub-scores from Baseline to Week 12 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects. Investigator's Global Assessment Score is a 0-4 scale, where 0 is clear and 4 is severe.

Change in IGA score24 weeks

Comparison of proportions of subjects achieving ≥2-point improvement from Baseline in IGA scores at Week 24 between subjects randomized to TMB-001 0.05% BID and QD maintenance dosing. Investigator's Global Assessment Score is a 0-4 scale, where 0 is clear and 4 is severe.

Change in Ichthyosis Quality of Life (IQoL)-32 scores12 weeks

Comparison of proportions of subjects with ≥11-point changes from Baseline in IQOL-32 scores at Week 12 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects. The IQoL-32 is a questionnaire containing 32, each scored from 0 to 4 ('not applicable', 'not at all', 'a little', 'a lot', 'tremendously') for a total score that varies between 0 and 128. A higher score, the higher impact on quality of life.

Change in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) or Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) scores12 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects with reduction from Baseline in DLQI or CDLQI ≥4 points at Week 12 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects in adult subjects with Baseline scores ≥11 and pediatric subjects with Baseline scores of ≥13. The age-appropriate questionnaire contains 10 questions scored from 0 (no impact of skin disease on QoL) to 30 (maximum impact on QoL).

Change in Itch-Quality of Life scores24 weeks

Comparison of proportions of subjects with I-NRS and WI-NRS improvement ≥4 points from Baseline in Itch-QoL scores (in subjects with Baseline I-NRS ≥7 and WI-NRS ≥7, respectively) at Week 24 between subjects randomized to TMB-001 0.05% BID and QD maintenance dosing.

Change in DLQI or CDLQI scores24 weeks

Comparison of changes from Baseline in DLQI or CDLQI at Week 24 between subjects randomized to TMB-001 0.05% BID and QD maintenance dosing in adult subjects with Baseline scores ≥11 and pediatric subjects with Baseline scores of ≥13. The age-appropriate questionnaire contains 10 questions scored from 0 (no impact of skin disease on QoL) to 30 (maximum impact on QoL).

Change in IQoL-32 scores24 weeks

Proportions of subjects with ≥11-point change from Baseline in IQoL-32 at Week 24 between subjects randomized to TMB-001 0.05% BID and QD maintenance dosing in adult subjects. The IQoL-32 is a questionnaire containing 32, each scored from 0 to 4 ('not applicable', 'not at all', 'a little', 'a lot', 'tremendously') for a total score that varies between 0 and 128. A higher score, the higher impact on quality of life.

To investigate the proportion of subjects experiencing local skin reactions (LSRs) with topically applied TMB-001 0.05% ointment.12 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects experiencing LSRs through Week 12 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects.

To investigate the proportion of subjects experiencing treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs)12 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects experiencing TEAEs through Week 12 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects.

To investigate the proportion of subjects experiencing TEAEs24 weeks

Comparison of proportion of subjects experiencing TEAEs through Week 24.

To investigate the proportion of subjects demonstrating clinically confirmed allergic contact dermatitisDuring week 12

Comparison of proportion of subjects demonstrating clinically confirmed allergic contact dermatitis by patch testing through Week 12 between TMB-001 0.05% and vehicle-treated subjects.

Maximal Use arm: Safety and tolerability - TEAEs12 weeks

Local safety are reported as TEAEs related to treatment area.

Maximal Use arm: Change in the individual concentrations of isotretinoin, tretinoin, 4-oxo-tretinion and 4-oxo-isotretinoin.14 days

Assessment of individual concentrations of isotretinoin, tretinoin, 4-oxo-tretinion and 4-oxo-isotretinoin and their change from Baseline.

Maximal Use arm: Change in individual concentrations of metabolites14 days

Assessment of individual concentrations of metabolites (isotretinoin, tretinoin, and 4-oxo-isotretinoin, 4-oxo-tretinion) and their change from baseline in contemporaneously treated subjects with oral or topical isotretinoin.

Maximal Use arm: Safety and tolerability - LSRs12 weeks

Local skin reactions (burnings/stinging, erythema, erosions and edema) are reported as LSRs .

Trial Locations

Locations (33)

University of Miami, Dermatology Clinical Trial Unit

🇺🇸

Miami, Florida, United States

Dawes Fretzin Clinical Research Group, LLC

🇺🇸

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Hopital Necker APHP

🇫🇷

Paris, France

CHU de Nantes Hotel Dieu

🇫🇷

Nantes, France

Wiseman Dermatology Research Inc.

🇨🇦

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Austin Institute for Clinical Research, Inc.

🇺🇸

Pflugerville, Texas, United States

Dr. Chih-ho Hong Medical Inc.

🇨🇦

Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Katholisches Kinderkrankenhaus Wilhelmstift GmbH

🇩🇪

Hamburg, Germany

Sickkids Hospital, Toronto, Canada

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Ambulatorio di Malattie Rare Dermatologiche e Immunopatologia Cutanea

🇮🇹

Firenze, Italy

North Sound Dermatology

🇺🇸

Mill Creek, Washington, United States

Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine - Dermatology Department

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

U.O.C. di Dermatologia Dipartimento Pediatrico Universitario Ospedaliero

🇮🇹

Roma, Italy

Münster University Hospital

🇩🇪

Münster, Germany

Ambulatorio Malattie Rare IRCCS Sant'Orsola

🇮🇹

Bologna, Italy

Stollery children's hospital

🇨🇦

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Universitätsklinikum Erlangen

🇩🇪

Erlangen, Germany

U.O. di Dermatologia e Venereologia Universitaria

🇮🇹

Bari, Italy

Austin Institute for Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Houston, Texas, United States

Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant

🇫🇷

Bron, France

Hopital Larrey CHU Toulouse

🇫🇷

Toulouse, France

Yale Dermatology

🇺🇸

Middlebury, Connecticut, United States

About Skin Dermatology

🇺🇸

Centennial, Colorado, United States

Stanford Children's Health

🇺🇸

Palo Alto, California, United States

The Indiana Clinical Trials Center (Optima Research)

🇺🇸

Boardman, Ohio, United States

University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) - Face and Skin Center

🇺🇸

Ridgeland, Mississippi, United States

Steven Kempers

🇺🇸

New Brighton, Minnesota, United States

Pariser Dermatology Specialists

🇺🇸

Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

🇩🇪

Berlin, Germany

Medical Dermatology Specialists (US Derm Partners)

🇺🇸

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

🇺🇸

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Medical University of South Carolina

🇺🇸

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath