Rimegepant in Moderate Plaque-type Psoriasis

NCT ID: NCT04629950

Last Updated: 2025-07-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 41 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-01-19
• Study Completion Date: 2024-11-18

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the use of a new investigational medication for the treatment of moderate plaque-type psoriasis. The study medication is rimegepant, an orally administered small molecule competitive inhibitor of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor. This medication, rimegepant, has been approved by the FDA under the trade name Nurtec for the treatment of acute migraine. However, rimegepant has not been studied in the treatment of moderate plaque-type psoriasis and is investigational for this indication.

Detailed Description

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of rimegepant 75 mg dosed every other day for the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis. Subjects must have at 3% body surface area involvement before entry into the study. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) scores will be calculated and subjects will each complete the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) instrument as well an itch assessments. These assessments will be performed at baseline and every 2 weeks in follow-up. Areas of psoriasis in each subject will be photographed at baseline and two very similar appearing lesions identified for biopsy of one on day 1 and the other at the end of week 16. Patients will also repeat the DLQI at each visit. Subjects will also be photographed at each visit. Subjects will discontinue medications after the end of week 16. Subjects who complete the 20-week protocol will have the option of entering a 3-month, open-label extension of the study in which they will take 75 mg of rimegepant every other day for an additional 12 weeks. Eligible subjects have 2 weeks past visit 11 to enroll in the extension. For those rolling over before visit 11, visits 11 and 12 can be combined. They will have the same 7 assessments as in the previous portion of the study every 4 Protocol #20-07022368 Version Date 5/10/24 weeks including an EKG. The inclusion and exclusion criteria remain the same.

Conditions

Psoriasis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Rimegepant

Participants receive a rimegepant 75 mg tablet orally every other day for 16 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Rimegepant

Intervention Type: DRUG

Active Agent

Placebo

Participants receive a placebo tablet matching rimegepant orally every other day for 16 weeks.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo Comparator

Rimegepant Extension-Previously Received Rimegepant-Open Label

Participants who previously received rimegepant receive a rimegepant 75 mg tablet orally every other day for an additional 12 weeks.

Rimegepant: Active Agent

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Rimegepant

Intervention Type: DRUG

Active Agent

Rimegepant Extension-Previously Received Placebo-Open Label

Participants who previously received placebo receive a rimegepant 75 mg tablet orally every other day for an additional 12 weeks.

Rimegepant: Active Agent

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Rimegepant

Intervention Type: DRUG

Active Agent

Interventions

Rimegepant

Active Agent

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo

Placebo Comparator

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Nurtec

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Male or female patients with at least 3% body surface are involved with psoriasis and a PASI score >5.
• Between 18 and 75 years of age.
• Documentation of a definite diagnosis of psoriasis by a dermatologist or biopsy.
• For women of childbearing potential, a negative urine pregnancy test within 48 hours of randomization. Female subjects should not have attempted to become pregnant in the month prior to exposure to rimegepant and agree not to attempt to become pregnant for 8 weeks after exposure to rimegepant.
• A valid form of contraception must be documented for men and women of child-bearing potential.

• The two methods for women of childbearing potential should include:

• One barrier method (for example, Diaphragm with spermicidal gel, condom with spermicidal gel, cervical caps or intrauterine devices placed for at least four weeks before sexual intercourse); AND
• One additional method. The other method could include hormonal contraceptives, or second barrier method as listed above.
• The two options for men of childbearing potential should include:

• Simultaneous use of male condom, and for the female partner, hormonal contraceptives (for example, birth control pills, implants, patch, depot injection, used since at least 4 weeks) or intra-uterine contraceptive device (placed since at least 4 weeks) before sexual intercourse; OR simultaneous use of male condom, and for the female partner, diaphragm with intravaginally applied spermicide.

Exclusion Criteria

• Any ongoing medical illness or condition that places the participant at higher risk for adverse outcomes or inability to complete study procedures in the opinion of the study investigator.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Known autoimmune disorders other than psoriasis.
• Current use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications (for any reason).
• Immunodeficiency diseases.
• Use of any biologic agent/monoclonal antibody within 5 half-lifes prior to baseline.
• Ultraviolet light treatment, cyclosporine, oral corticosteroids, methotrexate, oral retinoids, mycophenolate mofetil, thioguanine, hydroxyurea, sirolimus or azathioprine within the 4 weeks prior to baseline or had topical psoriasis treatment within the previous 2 weeks prior to baseline.
• Participation in another clinical trial involving an investigational drug within the last 30 days prior to baseline.
• Inability for woman of child-bearing potential to use an effective form of contraception if sexually active.
• Use of any medication that is a strong or moderate inhibitor of CYP3A, a strong or moderate inducer of CYP3A, or an inhibitor of glycoprotein (P-gp) or Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP). Please see Section 7.8 for more information.
• Subject history with current evidence of uncontrolled, unstable or recently diagnosed cardiovascular disease, such as ischemic heart disease, coronary artery vasospasm, and cerebral ischemia. Subjects with myocardial infarction (MI), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), cardiac surgery, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) during 6 months (24 weeks) prior to screening.
• Uncontrolled hypertension or uncontrolled diabetes (however, subjects can be included who have stable hypertension and/or diabetes for 3 months (12 weeks) prior to screening). Blood pressure greater than 150 mm Hg systolic or 100 mm Hg diastolic after 10 minutes of rest is exclusionary
• Subjects with an active episode of major depressive episode within the last 6 months are ineligible. Subjects with major depressive disorder or any anxiety disorder are eligible only if they are on stable medication for each disorder for at least 3 months prior to the Screening visit.
• Subject has a history or diagnosis of Gilbert's Syndrome or any other active hepatic or biliary disorder
• Hematologic or solid malignancy diagnosis within 5 years prior to screening. Subjects with a history of localized basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer are eligible for the study if they are cancer-free prior to the screening visit in this study.
• Subject has current diagnosis of major depressive disorder requiring treatment with atypical antipsychotics, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder.
• History of gallstones.
• Subject has current diagnosis of major depressive disorder requiring treatment with atypical antipsychotics, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder.
• The use of CGRP antagonists (biologic [e.g. Aimovig™, Emgality® and Ajovy™, VyeptiTM] or small molecule [ e.g. Ubrelvy™ {ubrogepant]]) other than rimegepant is prohibited during the study.
• Concomitant use of atypical antipsychotics such as Abilify (aripiprazole), Zyprexa (olanzapine), Seroquel (quetiapine), Geodon (ziprasidone), or Risperdal (risperidone).
• Depakote/Depakene (divalproex/valproic acid/valproate) is prohibited during the study.
• Concomitant use of LAMICTAL (lamotrigine) is prohibited during the study.
• Concomitant use of Modafinil (PROVIGIL®) is prohibited during the study.
• Exclusionary screening lab test findings:

• Serum bilirubin (Total, Direct or Indirect) > 1 x ULN (Only abnormal values of between 1-1.5x ULN may be repeated once for assessment of eligibility prior to randomization)
• AST or ALT > 1 x ULN (Only abnormal values of between 1-1.5x ULN may be repeated once for assessment of eligibility prior to randomization)
• Neutrophil count ≤ 1000/μL (or equivalent)
• HbA1c > 6.5%

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Pfizer

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Richard D Granstein, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Locations

Weill Cornell Medicine

New York, New York, United States

Sadick Dermatology

New York, New York, United States

Countries

United States

References

Rajguru JP, Maya D, Kumar D, Suri P, Bhardwaj S, Patel ND. Update on psoriasis: A review. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 Jan 28;9(1):20-24. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_689_19. eCollection 2020 Jan.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 32110559 (View on PubMed)

Takeshita J, Grewal S, Langan SM, Mehta NN, Ogdie A, Van Voorhees AS, Gelfand JM. Psoriasis and comorbid diseases: Implications for management. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Mar;76(3):393-403. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.07.065.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 28212760 (View on PubMed)

Greb JE, Goldminz AM, Elder JT, Lebwohl MG, Gladman DD, Wu JJ, Mehta NN, Finlay AY, Gottlieb AB. Psoriasis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016 Nov 24;2:16082. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.82.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 27883001 (View on PubMed)

Kaushik SB, Lebwohl MG. Review of safety and efficacy of approved systemic psoriasis therapies. Int J Dermatol. 2019 Jun;58(6):649-658. doi: 10.1111/ijd.14246. Epub 2018 Sep 23.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 30246393 (View on PubMed)

Racz E, Prens EP. Phototherapy of Psoriasis, a Chronic Inflammatory Skin Disease. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;996:287-294. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-56017-5_24.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 29124709 (View on PubMed)

Farber EM, Lanigan SW, Boer J. The role of cutaneous sensory nerves in the maintenance of psoriasis. Int J Dermatol. 1990 Jul-Aug;29(6):418-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1990.tb03825.x.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 2397964 (View on PubMed)

Zhu TH, Nakamura M, Farahnik B, Abrouk M, Lee K, Singh R, Gevorgyan A, Koo J, Bhutani T. The Role of the Nervous System in the Pathophysiology of Psoriasis: A Review of Cases of Psoriasis Remission or Improvement Following Denervation Injury. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2016 Jun;17(3):257-63. doi: 10.1007/s40257-016-0183-7.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 26935938 (View on PubMed)

Perlman HH. Remission of psoriasis vulgaris from the use of nerve-blocking agents. Arch Dermatol. 1972 Jan;105(1):128-9. doi: 10.1001/archderm.1972.01620040088028. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 5009614 (View on PubMed)

Aschenbeck KA, Hordinsky MK, Kennedy WR, Wendelschafer-Crabb G, Ericson ME, Kavand S, Bertin A, Dykstra DD, Panoutsopoulou IG. Neuromodulatory treatment of recalcitrant plaque psoriasis with onabotulinumtoxinA. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Dec;79(6):1156-1159. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.07.058. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 30420008 (View on PubMed)

Ostrowski SM, Belkadi A, Loyd CM, Diaconu D, Ward NL. Cutaneous denervation of psoriasiform mouse skin improves acanthosis and inflammation in a sensory neuropeptide-dependent manner. J Invest Dermatol. 2011 Jul;131(7):1530-8. doi: 10.1038/jid.2011.60. Epub 2011 Apr 7.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 21471984 (View on PubMed)

Reich A, Orda A, Wisnicka B, Szepietowski JC. Plasma concentration of selected neuropeptides in patients suffering from psoriasis. Exp Dermatol. 2007 May;16(5):421-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2007.00544.x.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 17437485 (View on PubMed)

He Y, Ding G, Wang X, Zhu T, Fan S. Calcitonin gene-related peptide in Langerhans cells in psoriatic plaque lesions. Chin Med J (Engl). 2000 Aug;113(8):747-51.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 11776062 (View on PubMed)

Riol-Blanco L, Ordovas-Montanes J, Perro M, Naval E, Thiriot A, Alvarez D, Paust S, Wood JN, von Andrian UH. Nociceptive sensory neurons drive interleukin-23-mediated psoriasiform skin inflammation. Nature. 2014 Jun 5;510(7503):157-61. doi: 10.1038/nature13199. Epub 2014 Apr 23.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 24759321 (View on PubMed)

Kashem SW, Riedl MS, Yao C, Honda CN, Vulchanova L, Kaplan DH. Nociceptive Sensory Fibers Drive Interleukin-23 Production from CD301b+ Dermal Dendritic Cells and Drive Protective Cutaneous Immunity. Immunity. 2015 Sep 15;43(3):515-26. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2015.08.016.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 26377898 (View on PubMed)

Ding W, Stohl LL, Xu L, Zhou XK, Manni M, Wagner JA, Granstein RD. Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide-Exposed Endothelial Cells Bias Antigen Presentation to CD4+ T Cells toward a Th17 Response. J Immunol. 2016 Mar 1;196(5):2181-94. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500303. Epub 2016 Feb 1.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 26829986 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

20-07022368

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id