Evaluation the Topical Apremilast Nanoformulation in Treatment of Localized Plaque Psoriasis
Evaluation of Topical Apremilast Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis: Clinical, Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Study
1 other identifier
interventional
36
0 countries
N/A
Brief Summary
This study is a comparative randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of topical apremilast nanoemulsion 0.3% in the treatment of localized mild to moderate plaque psoriasis.Clinical efficacy will be assessed using TES score, Physician Global Assessment (PGA), dermoscopy, and patient satisfaction, while safety is monitored through adverse effect reporting. In addition, histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of PDE4 expression will be performed before and after treatment to assess tissue-level responses. The study aims to determine whether topical apremilast nano-formulation, alone or combined with corticosteroids, offers an effective and safer alternative to conventional topical therapy, with improved local efficacy and reduced corticosteroid-related adverse effects.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable
Started May 2026
Typical duration for not_applicable
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
January 10, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
January 26, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
May 1, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
May 1, 2027
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
March 1, 2028
March 3, 2026
January 1, 2026
1 year
January 10, 2026
March 2, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Change in Psoriasis thickness,erythema, and scaling (TES score) from baseline to Week 12
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical apremilast nanoemulsion 0.3٪ for treatment of localized plaque psoriasis as a monotherapy versus topical betamethasone valerate 0.1٪ cream alone and its combination with a topical betamethasone valerate 0.1٪ cream
Baseline to week 12 and two months after to detect recurrence .
Secondary Outcomes (3)
Change in dermoscopic features of psoriatic plaques from baseline to Week 12
Baseline to week 12
Change in histopathological features of psoriatic plaques from baseline to Week 12
Baseline to week 12
Change in immunohistochemical expression of PDE4( B/C/D) from baseline to Week 12
Baseline to week 12
Study Arms (3)
Topical Apremilast Nanoformula
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive topical apremilast nanoformula 0.3% applied twice daily for 12 weeks.
Topical betamethasone valerate
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants will receive topical betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream applied twice daily for 12 weeks.
Combination therapy
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive combined topical apremilast nanoformula 0.3% and topical betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream applied for 12 weeks.
Interventions
the nano based formula of apremilast will be prepared from its raw powder at Assuit international center of nanomedicine, Alrajhy Liver hospital, Assuit university. Nanoparticles loaded-apremilast 0.3% will be filled into sealed containers labeled as (number 1) and provided to patients and they will be instructed to apply thin a film twice daily for 12 weeks
• Betamethsone valerate cream 0.1%: The commercially available betamethasone valerate cream will be re-packaged into identical, non-identifiable containers labeled (number 2 ) in order to ensure patient blinding and it will be applied twice daily for 12 weeks
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Age: ≥18 years.
- Pattern: Patients with chronic plaque psoriasis not exceeding 10% of the body surface area.
You may not qualify if:
- History of phototherapy or systemic treatment in the previous 12 weeks, topical psoriasis treatment within the last 4 weeks.
- Renal, hepatic disease, cardiovascular, Immunosuppressive therapy, endocrine and blood disease or mental illness.
- Pregnancy, breast-feeding or women planning to become pregnant within 3 months.
- Psoriasis exceeding 10% of body surface area or other severe types of psoriasis requiring systemic treatment.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Related Publications (15)
Delestras S, Roustit M, Bedouch P, Minoves M, Dobremez V, Mazet R, Lehmann A, Baudrant M, Allenet B. Comparison between two generic questionnaires to assess satisfaction with medication in chronic diseases. PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e56247. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056247. Epub 2013 Feb 20.
PMID: 23437104BACKGROUNDNestor MS, Fischer D, Arnold D. Randomized, Investigator-Blinded Study to Compare the Efficacy and Tolerance of a 650-microsecond, 1064-nm YAG Laser to a 308-nm Excimer Laser for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Psoriasis Vulgaris. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020 Feb 1;19(2):176-183. doi: 10.36849/JDD.2020.4769.
PMID: 32129962BACKGROUNDLouden BA, Pearce DJ, Lang W, Feldman SR. A Simplified Psoriasis Area Severity Index (SPASI) for rating psoriasis severity in clinic patients. Dermatol Online J. 2004 Oct 15;10(2):7.
PMID: 15530297BACKGROUNDParmar PK, Bansal AK. Novel nanocrystal-based formulations of apremilast for improved topical delivery. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2021 Jun;11(3):966-983. doi: 10.1007/s13346-020-00809-1.
PMID: 32588281BACKGROUNDRapalli VK, Tomar Y, Sharma S, Roy A, Singhvi G. Apremilast loaded lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles embedded hydrogel for improved permeation and skin retention: An effective approach for psoriasis treatment. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Jun;162:114634. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114634. Epub 2023 Apr 3.
PMID: 37018989BACKGROUNDSarango-Granda P, Silva-Abreu M, Calpena AC, Halbaut L, Fabrega MJ, Rodriguez-Lagunas MJ, Diaz-Garrido N, Badia J, Espinoza LC. Apremilast Microemulsion as Topical Therapy for Local Inflammation: Design, Characterization and Efficacy Evaluation. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020 Dec 21;13(12):484. doi: 10.3390/ph13120484.
PMID: 33371334BACKGROUNDPapp K, Cather JC, Rosoph L, Sofen H, Langley RG, Matheson RT, Hu C, Day RM. Efficacy of apremilast in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2012 Aug 25;380(9843):738-46. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60642-4. Epub 2012 Jun 29.
PMID: 22748702BACKGROUNDPapp K, Reich K, Leonardi CL, Kircik L, Chimenti S, Langley RG, Hu C, Stevens RM, Day RM, Gordon KB, Korman NJ, Griffiths CE. Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: Results of a phase III, randomized, controlled trial (Efficacy and Safety Trial Evaluating the Effects of Apremilast in Psoriasis [ESTEEM] 1). J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Jul;73(1):37-49. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.03.049.
PMID: 26089047BACKGROUNDPaul C, Cather J, Gooderham M, Poulin Y, Mrowietz U, Ferrandiz C, Crowley J, Hu C, Stevens RM, Shah K, Day RM, Girolomoni G, Gottlieb AB. Efficacy and safety of apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis over 52 weeks: a phase III, randomized controlled trial (ESTEEM 2). Br J Dermatol. 2015 Dec;173(6):1387-99. doi: 10.1111/bjd.14164. Epub 2015 Nov 7.
PMID: 26357944BACKGROUNDSchafer PH, Parton A, Capone L, Cedzik D, Brady H, Evans JF, Man HW, Muller GW, Stirling DI, Chopra R. Apremilast is a selective PDE4 inhibitor with regulatory effects on innate immunity. Cell Signal. 2014 Sep;26(9):2016-29. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2014.05.014. Epub 2014 May 29.
PMID: 24882690BACKGROUNDAhmed SS, Manchanda Y, De A, Das S, Kumar R. Topical Therapy in Psoriasis. Indian J Dermatol. 2023 Jul-Aug;68(4):437-445. doi: 10.4103/ijd.ijd_422_23.
PMID: 37822388BACKGROUNDChan JJ. Psoriasis: an update on topical and systemic therapies. Aust Prescr. 2025 Jun;48(3):87-92. doi: 10.18773/austprescr.2025.026.
PMID: 40568686BACKGROUNDSchafer PH, Truzzi F, Parton A, Wu L, Kosek J, Zhang LH, Horan G, Saltari A, Quadri M, Lotti R, Marconi A, Pincelli C. Phosphodiesterase 4 in inflammatory diseases: Effects of apremilast in psoriatic blood and in dermal myofibroblasts through the PDE4/CD271 complex. Cell Signal. 2016 Jul;28(7):753-63. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2016.01.007. Epub 2016 Jan 22.
PMID: 26806620BACKGROUNDPonikowska M, Vellone E, Czapla M, Uchmanowicz I. Challenges Psoriasis and Its Impact on Quality of Life: Challenges in Treatment and Management. Psoriasis (Auckl). 2025 May 1;15:175-183. doi: 10.2147/PTT.S519420. eCollection 2025.
PMID: 40330837BACKGROUNDParisi R, Iskandar IYK, Kontopantelis E, Augustin M, Griffiths CEM, Ashcroft DM; Global Psoriasis Atlas. National, regional, and worldwide epidemiology of psoriasis: systematic analysis and modelling study. BMJ. 2020 May 28;369:m1590. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m1590.
PMID: 32467098BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- CROSSOVER
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Assistant lecturer
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
January 10, 2026
First Posted
January 26, 2026
Study Start
May 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
May 1, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
March 1, 2028
Last Updated
March 3, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-01