A Double Blinded, Prospective, Randomized, Vehicle Controlled Multi-center Study of Photodynamic Therapy With Visonac® Cream in Patients With Acne Vulgaris
Condition: Acne Vulgaris
MeSH terms: Acne Vulgaris
Intervention: Visonac PDT; Vehicle cream with PDT
Intervention description: cream application prior to illumination with red light; placebo/vehicle cream application prior to illumination with red light
Phase: Phase 2
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Enrollment: 153.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 12 Years
Maximum age: 35 Years
Healthy volunteers: No
Keywords: Acne vulgaris; PDT

Summary:

      This study is intended to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Visonac Photodynamic Therapy
      (PDT) in patients with severe acne, score 4 on global IGA scale. The null hypothesis is that
      Visonac PDT is equal to vehicle PDT against the alternative hypothesis that Visonac PDT is
      different compared to vehicle PDT at week 12.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          -  Female and male patients, from 12-35 years of age with severe facial acne vulgaris
             (IGA score 4 on IGA scale)

          -  Signed and verified informed consent form and photo consent form. For subjects under
             age of 18, an assent form in conjunction with an informed consent form, signed and
             verified by parent/guardian.

          -  Female patients who are surgically sterile, pre-menstrual, postmenopausal, abstinent,
             or willing to use an adequate means of contraception including birth control pills, or
             barrier methods and spermicide for at least 14 days prior to T1. Patients using birth
             control pills must have used the same product and dose for at least 3 months and must
             agree to stay with the same product and dose for an additional 3 months.

          -  Fitzpatrick skin type I through VI,

          -  Patients with 25 to 75 inflammatory lesions (papules, pustules, and nodules) on the
             face.

          -  Patients with 20 to 100 non-inflammatory lesions (open and closed comedones) on the
             face.

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Patients with acne conglobata, acne fulminans, secondary acne (chloracne, drug-induced
             acne, etc.)

          -  Patients with more than 3 nodules on the face.

          -  Patient is the investigator or any sub investigator, research assistant, pharmacist,
             study coordinator, other staff or relative thereof directly involved in the conduct of
             the study.

          -  Patients unlikely to comply with the protocol, e.g. mental condition rendering the
             patient unable to understand the nature, scope, and possible consequences of the
             clinical study, uncooperative attitude or unlikelihood of completing the study (e.g.
             drug or alcohol abuse).

          -  Female patients with childbearing potential (i.e. ovulation, pre-menopausal, not
             surgically sterilized) and sexually active, not willing to use a medically accepted
             contraceptive regimen (as described under inclusion criteria) while on treatment.

          -  Pregnancy.

          -  Nursing.

          -  Participation in other clinical studies either currently or within the last 30 days.

          -  Patients with porphyria.

          -  Patients with cutaneous photosensitivity.

          -  Known allergy to MAL, to a similar PDT compound, or to excipients of the cream

          -  Patients using testosterone, any other systemic hormonal treatment or hormonal
             contraceptives solely for control of acne.

          -  Patients who have received topical treatments for their facial acne within the last 14
             days (e.g steroids, retinoids, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, anti inflammatory
             agents, antibiotics). Medicated cleansers may be used during the washout period and
             stopped before the treatment.

          -  Patients who have received oral antibiotics for treatment of their acne within the
             last month.

          -  Patients who have received oral isotretinoin within the last 6 months.

          -  Patient who have received facial procedures like dermabrasion, chemical or laser peels
             within the last 1 month.

          -  Patients using testosterone, any systemic hormonal treatment for other reasons than
             acne treatment and has not been on the same product and dose for at least 3 months

          -  Patients with moderate, severe or very severe facial acne scarring according to
             scarring scale described in section 10.4.3.

          -  Patients with a beard that might interfere with study assessments.

          -  Patients with melanoma or dysplastic nevi in the treatment area.

          -  Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVB phototherapy, sun tanning salons) within the
             last 30 days

          -  Exposure to PDT within 12 weeks before T1.