Efficacy and Tolerability Study of Topical Ciclosporin in a Psoriasis Plaque Test

Summary

Ciclosporin is a cyclic nonribosomal polypeptide of 11 amino acids produced by the fungi Tolypocladium inflatum and Cylindrocarpon lucidum. Ciclosporin is a highly efficient immunosuppressant drug widely used in post-allergenic organ transplant to reduce the activity of the subject's immune system and so the risk of organ rejection. Apart from transplant medicine, ciclosporin is also used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases like psoriasis and infrequently in rheumatoid arthritis and related diseases, although it is only used in severe cases. Ciclosporin blocks the lymphocytes, especially the T-lymphocytes, in the G0- or G1-phase of the cell cycle. Moreover it inhibits the production and release of lymphokines including interleukin 2 or the T-cell growth factor. Generally ciclosporin is taken orally (capsule or solution)or by injection in doses of 1.5 to 5.5 mg/kg/day. In the topical cutaneous emulsion presented here, ciclosporin is available at a concentration of 0.5 and 1.5%. The purpose of this study is the demonstration of antipsoriatic efficacy and tolerability of topical cutaneous ciclosporin in subjects with psoriasis vulgaris.

Timeline

Start

2007-11

Primary completion

2008-04

Completion

2008-04

Publications

• Background Dumas KJ, Scholtz JR. The psoriasis bio-assay for topical corticosteroid activity. Acta Derm Venereol. 1972;52(1):43-8. No abstract available.
• Background Wendt H, Frosch PJ. Psoriasis-Plaque Test. 31 - 35 in: Clinico-pharmacological models for the assay of topical corticoids. Wendt H, Frosch PJ (eds.) 1982, Karger Verlag, Basel

Drugs

Indications