An Exploratory Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Secukinumab in the Treatment of Extensive Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is a medical condition, in which the hair falls out in patches. The hair can fall out on the scalp or elsewhere on the face and body. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune skin disease, which means that the immune system is recognizing the hair follicles as foreign and attacking them, causing round patches of hair loss. It can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis). The scalp is the most commonly affected area, but the beard or any hair-bearing site can be affected alone or together with the scalp. Alopecia areata occurs in males and females of all ages, and is a highly unpredictable condition that tends to recur. Alopecia areata can cause significant distress to both patients and their families. Aim: To assess the effects of a new treatment called secukinumab in patients with alopecia areata. A total of 30 patients will be included in the study, which will run for a total of 28 weeks.
• Male or female subject at least 18 years of age
• If female, the subject is not pregnant or nursing
• Subject is able to provide written informed consent and comply with the requirements of this study protocol.
• Subjects who are women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening and must be practicing an adequate, medically acceptable method of birth control for at least 30 days before Day 0 and at least 6 months after the last study drug administration. Acceptable methods of birth control include intrauterine device (IUD); oral, transdermal, implanted or injected hormonal contraceptives (must have been initiated at least 1 month before entering the study); tubal ligation; abstinence and barrier methods with spermicide. Otherwise, if not of childbearing potential, subjects must: have a sterile or vasectomized partner; have had a hysterectomy, a bilateral oophorectomy or be clinically diagnosed infertile; or be in a menopausal state for at least a year.
• Subject with AA (unequivocal cases of AA), affecting at least 60% of the scalp, and present for at least 6 months.
• Tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) or QuantiFERON TB-Gold test (QFT) negative at the time of screening, or if patient has a history of positive PPD or QuantiFERON, he/she has completed the appropriate prophylaxis.
• Subject is judged to be in good general health as determined by the principal investigator based upon the results of medical history, laboratory profile, and physical examination.