LEO Pharma initiates the first Phase 3 clinical trial with delgocitinib cream in adult patients with moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema (CHE)

Delgocitinib inhibits activation of the JAK-STAT pathway, which plays a key role in the immune system in driving the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory skin diseases.[i]^,[ii] The cream formulation of delgocitinib is an investigational therapy under clinical development and has not been approved by any regulatory authority.

The primary objective for the randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, multi-center Phase 3 clinical trials (DELTA 1 and DELTA 2) is to evaluate the efficacy of twice-daily applications of delgocitinib cream 20 mg/g compared with vehicle in the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe CHE.[iii]^,[iv]

The primary endpoint of the trials is the Investigator’s Global Assessment for chronic hand eczema treatment success (IGA-CHE TS) at Week 16.^3,4 Treatment success is defined as an IGA-CHE score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) with at least a two-step improvement from baseline.^3,4

Key secondary endpoints at Week 16 include reduction of itch and pain scores of ≥4 points measured by the Hand Eczema Symptom Diary (HESD) from baseline to Week 16,^3,4 as well as at least 75% improvement from baseline and at least 90% improvement from baseline on the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) at Week 16.^3,4 The number of treatment-emergent adverse events per patient from baseline to Week 16 defines the key safety endpoint of the trials.^3,4    

"Managing moderate-to-severe CHE is challenging because of limited available treatment options for chronic use,” said Dr. Sibylle Schliemann, Consultant, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Germany and lead investigator for DELTA 2. “These trials will evaluate whether delgocitinib cream can potentially offer a new treatment option for adult patients with moderate-to-severe CHE who suffer from a considerable burden of disease.”

CHE is defined as hand eczema (HE) that lasts for more than three months or relapses twice or more within a year.[v]^,[vi] HE is the most common skin disorder of the hands[vii] that affects an estimated 1 – 5% of the general population[viii] with a one-year prevalence rate of approximately 10%.[ix] It is an inflammatory, non-infectious skin disorder of the hands and wrists^5,[x]and can cause itching, blisters, swelling and pain so severe that it can impair the ability to work.^5,7,[xi]In a substantial number of patients, HE can develop into a chronic condition.⁷

“We have been encouraged by the positive results from the Phase 2b CHE clinical trial with delgocitinib cream and look forward to learning whether it has the potential to offer benefits to adult patients through a larger Phase 3 clinical development program,” said Dr. Jörg Möller, Executive Vice President, Global Research & Development, LEO Pharma. “We are committed to developing innovative therapies that may help improve the lives of patients who need more treatment options for skin diseases.”

[i]   Damsky W, and King BA. JAAD; 2017;76(4):736-744.

[ii]   Virtanen AT, et al. BioDrugs. 2019;33:15–32.

[iii] ClinicalTrials.Gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04871711?term=delgocitinib&draw=1&rank=8 (Accessed May 2021).

[iv] ClinicalTrials.Gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04872101?term=delgocitinib&draw=1&rank=7 (Accessed May 2021).

[v]Lynde C, et al. J Cutan Med Surg. 2010;14:267–84.

[vi]Diepgen TL, et al. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2015 Jan;13(1):e1–22. doi: 10.1111/ddg.12510_1.

[vii] Bissonnette R, et al. JEADV. 2010;24;1–20.

[viii]                              Christoffers WA, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;4:CD004055.

[ix] Thyssen, et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2010;62:75-87.

[x]Menné T, et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2011;65:3–12.

[xi]Politiek K, et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2016;75:67–76.