NCT07366268

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

65
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
36

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
22mo left

Started May 2026

Typical duration for not_applicable

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress1%
May 2026Mar 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 10, 2026

Completed
16 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 26, 2026

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2026

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 1, 2027

Expected
10 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2028

Last Updated

March 3, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

1 year

First QC Date

January 10, 2026

Last Update Submit

March 2, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

PsoriasisApremilastNanotechnologyTopical

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

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive topical apremilast nanoformula 0.3% applied twice daily for 12 weeks.

Drug: Apremilast Nanoformula 0.3٪

Topical betamethasone valerate

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive topical betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream applied twice daily for 12 weeks.

Drug: betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream

Combination therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive combined topical apremilast nanoformula 0.3% and topical betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream applied for 12 weeks.

Drug: Apremilast Nanoformula 0.3٪Drug: betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream

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

Combination therapyTopical Apremilast Nanoformula

• 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

Combination therapyTopical betamethasone valerate

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

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: 23437104BACKGROUND
  • Nestor 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: 32129962BACKGROUND
  • Louden 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: 15530297BACKGROUND
  • Parmar 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: 32588281BACKGROUND
  • Rapalli 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: 37018989BACKGROUND
  • Sarango-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: 33371334BACKGROUND
  • Papp 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: 22748702BACKGROUND
  • Papp 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: 26089047BACKGROUND
  • Paul 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: 26357944BACKGROUND
  • Schafer 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: 24882690BACKGROUND
  • Ahmed 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: 37822388BACKGROUND
  • Chan JJ. Psoriasis: an update on topical and systemic therapies. Aust Prescr. 2025 Jun;48(3):87-92. doi: 10.18773/austprescr.2025.026.

    PMID: 40568686BACKGROUND
  • Schafer 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: 26806620BACKGROUND
  • Ponikowska 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: 40330837BACKGROUND
  • Parisi 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

Psoriasis

Interventions

Betamethasone Valerate

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Skin Diseases, PapulosquamousSkin DiseasesSkin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

BetamethasonePregnadienetriolsPregnadienesPregnanesSteroidsFused-Ring CompoundsPolycyclic CompoundsSteroids, Fluorinated

Central Study Contacts

Heba Hassan Hassan, Dr

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Model Details: Each Participant will receive the different treatment included within the study( intrapatient study)
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