Efficacy and Safety of Fumaric Acid Esters (Fumaderm®) in the Treatment of Patients With Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of fumaric acid esters (Fumaderm®) in the treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus with respect to proportion of responders based on the Revised Cutaneous Lupus Disease Area and Severity Index (RCLASI) activity score for skin lesions at baseline and after 24 weeks of treatment or at the latest assessment for patients who withdrew prematurely (Last Observation Carried Forward, LOCF).

At screening, patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be asked to provide written informed consent. Male patients and female patients without childbearing potential will also complete other screening procedures including vital signs, physical examination, and patients and physicians efficacy assessments.

Treatment will be started as soon as possible after screening and not later than 1 month after screening.

The patients will receive a treatment either with Fumaderm® initial and/or Fumaderm® enteric-coated tablets. Fumaderm® initial will be usually administered during the first three weeks of treatment and / or during the trial when adaptation of the daily dosage will be required due to the occurrence of adverse reactions, e.g gastrointestinal.

Throughout the trial, daily use of sunscreens (sun protection factor, SPF≥50) will be recommended to all patients. The management of CLE may also involve the use of topical medications, such as topical steroids, or systemic rescue medications, such as antimalarials.

All patients will be evaluated with the RCLASI, PAGI and VAS after 12 weeks and at the end of treatment. Adverse Events (AE) will be recorded at each visit until 4 weeks after the end of therapy. Serious Adverse Events (SAE) must be reported if they occur up to 4 weeks after the end of therapy.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* A clinical and histological diagnosis of CLE (DLE, SCLE, LET, without major systemic involvement) who failed to response to topical corticosteroids;
* Total RCLASI activity score of \>6 (at least 3 points in at least 2 locations) on an assessment of erythema, scale/hyperkeratosis, edema/infiltration and subcutaneous nodule/plaque of the lesion (mucous membrane lesions/alopecia excluded);
* Women of childbearing potential must agree to use at least one primary method of contraception and preferably, at the same time, a secondary method of contraception from the time of screening, throughout trial treatment, and for at least one month after finishing treatment.
* Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients unable to comply with the requirements of the study;
* Only scarred cutaneous target lesions without activity;
* Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with major systemic organ involvement, e.g. clinical significant renal involvement, requiring systemic medical treatment for the disease;
* Active skin disease other than CLE or another progressive or serious disease that interferes with the study outcome;
* Symptoms of a clinically significant illness that may influence the outcome of the study in the four weeks before and during the study;
* Active severe infection diseases, including chronic or localized;
* Known malignancies in the last 5 years, other than effective treated non melanoma skin cancer;
* Severe liver- or kidney- disease;
* Severe gastrointestinal disease, like gastric or duodenal ulcer;
* Severe hematologic disorders;
* Patients with leucopenia (\<3.000/mm³);
* Patients with lymphopenia (\<500/mm³);
* Patients with known hypersensitivity to fumaric acid esters or their derivatives, or to any study medication components;
* Topical corticosteroids within 14 days prior to dosing;
* Local treatment with fumaric acid derivates;
* Initiation or change in the dose of any current systemic medication for the treatment of CLE/SLE prior to the study (time depending on drug class);
* Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs for other reasons, 4 weeks prior and within the study;
* Concomitant treatment with drugs with a known photosensitizing potential, e.g. tetracyclines, griseofulvin, thiazides, furosemide, sulfonamides or tolbutamide;
* Drugs associated to CLE-induction: terbinafine, hydrochlorothiazide, diltiazem, verapamil, nifedipine, nitrendipine, fluorouracil, penicillamine, infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept, pantoprazole;
* Drugs interfering/ interacting with fumaric acid esters;
* Drugs with nephrotoxic potential, e.g. retinoids, psoralens, methotrexate, cyclosporine, immunosuppressants, cytostatics;
* Participation in another clinical trial including the four week period preceding the study or having received a non-licensed drug within the last 3 months prior to the study;
* Pregnancy (according to pregnancy test) or nursing.