Safety and Efficacy of Topical TolaSure Targeting Aggregated Mutant Keratin in Severe Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex

TolaSure is a topical gel for the promotion of accelerated wound healing. This Phase I study will assess the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of TolaSure when applied to wounded skin areas of patients diagnosed with severe epidermolysis bullosa simplex (i.e., EBS-Dowling Meara). A total of 10, severe EBS patients, males and females ages 18 years and older, will be enrolled. Patients will apply TolaSure and Vehicle Gel once-daily for a maximum of 10 weeks.

This is a closed-label, randomized, double-blind, Phase I clinical study to assess the safety and tolerability of the investigational product (IP), TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w, in patients diagnosed with severe epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS, previously known as EBS-Dowling Meara). Each patient (5 to complete) will apply TolaSure Gel, 5% w/w and TolaSure Vehicle Gel once-daily to defined Treatment Areas and Suction Blister Areas. End of Study (EOS) will occur at the Principal Investigator's (PI's) discretion according to the resolution or lack of improvement of the Treatment Areas. The maximum time a patient could be in the study is 10 weeks. The average time frame for each patient to complete the study is expected to be 6-8 weeks.

The primary safety endpoint will be the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Safety monitoring will include physical exams, vital sign measurements, clinical laboratory testing (blood and urinalysis), and urine pregnancy testing (as appropriate).

Secondary efficacy endpoints will (1) assess wound severity within the Treatment Areas using an Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scoring system, (2) examine under a microscope keratinocyte morphology and the incidence of keratin aggregates in Treatment Area skin biopsies, (3) determine the time required to induce a suction blister within the designated Suction Blister Areas, and (4) evaluate patient self-assessment of overall impression, pain, and itch within the Treatment Areas. The information obtained from these assessments will be used to examine the efficacy of TolaSure treatment in improving EBS symptoms.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient is a male or female at least 18 years of age.
* Patient has a documented genetic mutation in either the keratin 14 (K14) or keratin 5 (K5) gene and that their EBS diagnosis and/or specific mutation are consistent with severe EBS (previously EBS-DM). (If severe EBS is suspected but not genetically confirmed, confirmatory testing will be performed).
* Patient possesses the four required skin areas:

  * Treatment Areas:

    * Must have two (2) Treatment Areas defined as an IGA score ≥ 3. Treatment Areas may have defined erosions, erythema, and ulcerations.
    * Must be comparable in size with an area of approximately 300-400 cm\^2 per area. Individually, a treatment area may be continuous or non-contiguous and must contain newly-formed blisters/erosions. Ideally, the two Treatment Areas on the patient should not be adjacent to each other and should be located bilaterally and roughly symmetrically on the trunk, abdomen, or upper or lower extremities.
    * May not be infected (as assessed by the Principal Investigator) or have been treated with a topical antibiotic within 14 days.
    * May not be located on palms, soles, scalp, groin, and any other areas that the Principal Investigator believes there will be difficulty in applying treatments and bandaging or assessing outcome measures.
  * Suction Blister Areas (SBAs):

    * Must have two (2) areas of non-wounded and visually uninvolved skin, defined as an IGA score of zero (0).
    * Must be comparable in size (approximately 50 cm\^2)
* If the patient is a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP),

  * Has a negative urine pregnancy test.
  * Agrees to use an approved effective form of birth control with failure rates \<1% per year (e.g., implant, injectable, combined oral contraceptive, intrauterine contraceptive device, sexual abstinence, vasectomized partner) during participation in the study (and at least 3 months thereafter).
  * Is not nursing.
* Patient's laboratory values (blood and urine) are within the range of normal or abnormal values are within normal levels for the disease and in the opinion of the Principal Investigator the values are not clinically relevant for study participation.
* Patient is in good general health and free of any known disease state or physical condition which, in the Investigator's opinion, might impair evaluation of the EBS wounds or which exposes the patient to an unacceptable risk by study participation.
* Over the duration of the study, the patient agrees to not use any other topical therapies and/or impregnated dressings within the Treatment Areas or Suction Blister Areas (e.g., medicated cleansers, CBD oil, MediHoney, Silvadine cream 1%, topicals containing antimicrobials, keratin, and/or collagen, lipido-colloid or polymeric membrane dressings, and/or hydrogels).
* Patient must be able and willing to follow study procedures and instructions in order to maintain compliance throughout the study period.
* Patient has been informed, has read and understood the subject informed consent form, and has given written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient's use of prior or concomitant medication or medical treatments/procedures:

  * Any investigational drug within 30 days.
  * Systemic steroidal therapy within 30 days.
  * Topical steroidal therapy within 14 days (Note: inhaled and ophthalmic products containing steroids are allowed).
  * Systemic antibiotic therapy within 7 days.
  * Systemic diuretics or cardiac glycosides within 30 days.
  * Currently receiving chemotherapy or radiation.
  * Patient has undergone stem cell transplant or gene therapy for the treatment of inherited EB.
  * Surgery within the previous 3 months (except for minor cosmetic or dental procedures).
* Patient's medical history includes:

  * Cancer that is currently undergoing treatment.
  * History of severe vitamin, mineral, or protein deficiency.
  * Current systemic infection.
  * HIV/AIDS.
  * Non-EBS skin disease (e.g., psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, sun damage, etc.), or condition (e.g., sunburn) that, in the opinion of the Investigator, might put the subject at undue risk by study participation or interferes with the study medication application or the study assessments.
  * An illness (e.g., neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, renal, or metabolic disease), condition, or situation that in the opinion of the Investigator is likely to interfere with the patient's participation in or completion of the study.
* Factors present in the patient and/or his/her legal representative that could interfere with study compliance such as inability to attend scheduled study visits or to perform study protocol procedures.
* Patient is a member of the investigational team or his/her immediate family.
* History of drug or alcohol abuse (as defined by the Investigator).
* Patient's use of smoking/vaping tobacco products.
* Other unspecified reasons that, in the opinion of the Investigator, make the subject unsuitable for enrollment.