Open Label Pilot Study of Apremilast in Treatment of Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder with the signs and symptoms of facial flushing, persistent redness, small visible spider-like veins, papules (inflamed red bumps under the skin) and pustules. Rosacea is also a a recurring skin disorder. In addition to causing uncomfortable and embarrassing physical symptoms such as flushing, burning, and itching, rosacea can also contribute to lower self-esteem, which can have a significant psychosocial impact on quality of life. Rosacea flares can be triggered by every day factors such as sun exposure, heat, hot or caffeinated drinks, alcoholic beverages, spices and stress.

Many of the currently available treatments for rosacea are only partially effective and some patients do not respond to them, or are unable to tolerate the side effects.

This is a single-center, open label trial of Apremilast in ten (10) subjects with moderate to severe inflammatory rosacea who will be treated with Apremilast 20 mg twice per day for 12 weeks. Following the screening period and baseline visit, study subjects will return at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. There is a follow up study visit at week 16.

Recent research has shown an increase of specific proinflammatory cytokines in the biopsies of inflammatory lesions from rosacea and acne patients. The cytokines then trigger a chain of chemical responses in the body that likely result in the development of the papules an pustules that are seen in rosacea and acne patients. Apremilast is an oral agent that modulates multiple anti-inflammatory pathways and has pharmacodynamic properties with potential therapeutic benefit for treating inflammatory autoimmune disorders.

The investigators therefore propose a pilot study to evaluate the potential for Apremilast to improve the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe inflammatory rosacea.

This is a single-center, open label pilot study of Apremilast in ten subjects with both erythematotelangiectatic rosacea and papulopustular rosacea in which subjects will be treated with Apremilast 20mg twice per day for 12 weeks. There is a total of 10 visits over a period of 16 weeks.

Adult male and female subjects 18 years of age or older will participate in the study after the objectives, methods, and potential hazards of the study have been fully explained, and after they have signed the informed consent form. Subjects must have a diagnosis or findings consistent with erythematotelangiectatic and papulopustular rosacea. Subjects must have at least 10 papulopustular lesions with underlying erythema/telangiectasias visible to the unassisted naked eye.

Subjects will take Apremilast capsules 20mg twice per day for 12 weeks. If at anytime during the study a subject encounters overt study medication related adverse effects, dose reduction will be allowed following discussions between the subject and the investigator. Dose reductions to 20mg once per day will be allowed for subjects who experience intolerable adverse effects from the study medication. If the subject cannot tolerate 20mg per day, he/she will be terminated from the study.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Must be a healthy, post-pubescent male or female 18 years of age or older with moderate to severe erythematotelangiectatic and papulopustular rosacea, defined as 10 to 40 papules and pustules
* Must have presence of moderate to severe erythema
* Must have presence of telangiectasia
* Must have a diagnosis or findings consistent with a diagnosis of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea and papulopustular rosacea
* Must understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent form
* Must be ale to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements
* Must be able to restrict diet in order to avoid foods/drinks that are known triggers that would exacerbate the signs/symptoms of rosacea
* Must have within normal range for routine blood laboratory tests
* Females of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening and if sexually active must agree to use two(2) forms of contraception (adequate forms of contraception are outlined in the protocol)
* Females of childbearing potential must agree to serum pregnancy tests every 4 weeks while on study medication
* Males (including those who have had a vasectomy) must agree to use barrier contraception (latex condoms) when engaging in sexual activity with females of childbearing potential while on study medication and for 84 days after taking the last dose of study medication

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to provide voluntary consent
* Diagnosis of acne vulgaris or perioral dermatitis
* Use of topical acne or rosacea treatments within 4 weeks of baseline
* Use of systemic retinoids within 90 days of baseline
* Known or suspected excessive alcohol intake (which in the opinion of the investigator will exacerbate the signs and symptoms of rosacea)
* Use of any investigational medication within 4 weeks prior to start of study drug or 5 pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic half-lives (whichever is longer)
* A known sensitivity to tetracyclines
* Currently taking clinically significant concomitant drug therapy
* Use of any acne or rosacea treatment during the course of the study or within four weeks of starting the study medication, including azelaic acid, topical or systemic retinoids, sulfa drugs, erythromycin, cephalosporins, quinolones, tetracycline, benzoyl peroxide products, as well as pulse dye laser, intense pulsed light and photodynamic therapy
* Current use and inability to discontinue use of PDE 4 inhibitors, theophylline, systemic steroids (oral or inhaled), penicillin antibiotics, niacin greater than 500 mg/day, chronic use of NSAIDS, or use of any medication that in the opinion of the investigator affects the severity of rosacea
* Long-term use (greater than 14 days) of topical or systemic anti-inflammatories in the 4 weeks prior to baseline and during the study. Chronic use of aspirin at sub-analgesic doses (less than 325 mg once daily) is acceptable for patients requiring platelet aggregation inhibition
* Use of topical or systemic corticosteroids 4 weeks prior to baseline and during the study
* Patients with ocular rosacea and/or blepharitis/meibomianitis who required treatment by an ophthalmologist
* Patients who had surgeries that bypassed or excluded the duodenum
* Any condition, including the presence of laboratory abnormalities, which places the subject at unacceptable risk if he/she were to participate in the study or confounds the ability to interpret data from the study
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or women of childbearing potential who are not using an adequate form of birth control as described in the inclusion criteria
* Initiation of a hormonal method of birth contraception within 4 months of baseline, discontinuation during the course of the study, or change in the product within 4 months of baseline during the study
* Subject is a woman who is perimenopausal whos symptoms cause flushing that may affect the rosacea
* Systemic fungal infection
* History of active mycobacterial infection with any species within 3 years prior to screening, subjects with mycobacterium tuberculosis infection more than 3 years prior to screening are allowed if successful treatment was completed at least 3 years prior to randomization and is documented and available for verification
* Latent mycobacterium tuberculosis infection as indicated by a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test. Subjects with a positive PPD skin test and documented completion of treatment for latent TB are eligible. Subjects with a positive PPD skin test and not treated or no documentation of completion of treatment are ineligible
* History of incompletely treated mycobacterium tuberculosis infection as indicated by: a)subject's medical records documenting incomplete treatment for mycobacterium tuberculosis b)subject's self reported history of incomplete treatment for mycobacterium tuberculosis
* History of recurrent bacterial infection (at least 3 major infections resulting in hospitalization and/or requiring intravenous antibiotic treatment within the past 2 years)
* Clinically significant abnormality on the chest x-ray at screening, chest x-rays performed within 3 months prior to start of study drug are acceptable
* Any clinically significant abnormality on 12-lead electrocardiogram at screening
* History of congenital or acquired immunodeficiency (common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) Hepatitis B surface antigen positive or Hepatitis B core antibody positive at screening
* History of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
* Antibodies to hepatitis C at screening
* Malignancy or history of malignancy (except for treated/cured basal cell skin carcinoma) greater than 3 years prior to screening