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WithdrawnNCT04299503Updated Oct 28, 2024

Topical Crisaborole in Patients with Alopecia Areata

A Phase 2 interventional study of Crisaborole Topical Ointment and Placebo Topical Ointment in Alopecia Areata, sponsored by Tufts Medical Center. Withdrawn at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 2 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-10-28.

Sponsored by Tufts Medical Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was withdrawn
Unable to identify subjects to meet inclusion criteria
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
2 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The aim of this study is to determine whether topical crisaborole improves hair growth in alopecia areata.

Read the detailed description

Each individual will be enrolled in the study for 24 weeks. Following a 28 days screening period, eligible subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either crisaborole 2% ointment or matching placebo for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint is assessed at week 12. At the week 12 visit, all subjects will enter the open label treatment period where they will all receive crisaborole 2% ointment for an additional 12 weeks, with the last study visit taking place on week 24.

02

Conditions studied

  • Alopecia Areata
03

In context

Alopecia

609 studies on the registry are indexed under Alopecia; 131 are open to participants now.

Browse Alopecia studies →

Lead sponsor

Tufts Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 194 studies on the registry; 28 are open to participants now.

Of its 30 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 16 (53%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
2 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Signed and dated informed consent document indicating the subject has been informed of all aspects of the study.
  2. Subject is willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, study drug administration, and other study procedures.
  3. Clinical diagnosis of alopecia areata with at least one lesion 1 cm in diameter and no more than 20% of total scalp surface area.
  4. Females of child-bearing potential agree to use a reliable method of birth control or remain absent during the study and for at least 4 weeks following the last dose of the assigned treatment.
  5. If receiving concomitant medications for any reason, must be on a stable regimen and willing to stay on a stable regimen.
  6. All treatments for alopecia areata are prohibited during the course of the study. If subjects received any of the following treatments, the minimum criteria are observed:

    • Must be discontinued for at least 12 weeks prior to Baseline:

      o Any investigational or experimental therapy or procedure for alopecia areata;

    • Exception: Investigational biologics should be discussed with Sponsor to confirm period of discontinuation required. Must be discontinued for at least 8 weeks prior to Baseline:

      o Laser or light based alopecia areata treatments

    • Must be discontinued for at least 4 weeks prior to Baseline:

      • Immunomodulating or immunosuppressive oral medications (corticosteroids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, etc.) Subjects who require these medications during the study (e.g. use of corticosteroids for a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation) will be terminated from the study.
      • Injections of steroids to alopecia areata areas
      • Contact sensitization treatment
      • Oral minoxidil
      • Patients already taking finesteride for at least 3 months to treat conditions in addition to or other than hair loss (benign prostate hypertrophy, hormonal suppression, etc.) may continue on this medication so long as the dose remains stable throughout the study.
    • Must be discontinued for at least 2 weeks prior to Baseline:

      • Topical treatments that may affect alopecia areata, e.g., corticosteroids, topical tacrolimus/pimecrolimus, retinoids. Use of these medications in non-AA areas, for non-AA conditions is allowed.
      • Hair regrowth products containing minoxidil
    • Use of any prior and concomitant therapy not listed above which, in the opinion of the PI may interfere with the objective of the study, within 60 days prior to the Screening Visit is prohibited

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Other skin conditions that, in the opinion of the PI would interfere with evaluation of alopecia areata. Conditions may include other types of hair loss, including discoid lupus, lichen planus pilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, cicatricial alopecia, and trichotillomania (hair pulling).
  2. Pregnant/breastfeeding females, or females of childbearing potential not using highly effective contraception. Women of childbearing potential must test negative for pregnancy and use contraception for at least four weeks after last dose of drug.
  3. Current or recent history of clinically significant medical or psychiatric condition, which, in the judgment of the principal investigator, may increase risk associated with the study participation or drug administration. Examples include, but are not limited to, recent infections or injuries of the scalp.
  4. Have a history of infection requiring parenteral or oral or topical antimicrobial therapy within 2 weeks prior to baseline.
  5. Received a prohibited concomitant medication within 7 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to baseline visit.
  6. Subjects who have had an allergic reaction (e.g. urticarial, anaphylactic) to crisaborole will be excluded.
  7. Participated in a trial for a topical or oral JAK inhibitor. JAK inhibitors are thought to improve alopecia areata, and sometimes the effects of JAK inhibitors can last long after treatment is completed. Past treatment with these agents could confound the results of crisaborole's effectiveness for alopecia.
  8. Is currently on an oral PDE4 inhibitor or oral JAK inhibitor. PDE4 inhibitors and JAK inhibitors have been theorized to improve alopecia. Treatment with these agents could confound our results on the effectiveness of crisaborole for alopecia areata.
  9. Have participated in other research studies of investigational products within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) of the investigational product prior to baseline. Subjects cannot participate in studies of other investigational or experimental therapies or procedures at any time during their participation in this study.
  10. Subjects who are investigational site staff members or relatives of those site staff members or subjects who are Sponsor employees directly involved in the conduct of the trial.
  11. In the opinion of the investigator or Sponsor, the subject is inappropriate for entry into this study, or unwilling/unable to comply with study procedures and lifestyle guidelines.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Crisaborole

    ointment applied topically in the morning and in the evening

    Drug: Crisaborole Topical Ointment

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    ointment applied topically in the morning and in the evening

    Drug: Placebo Topical Ointment

Interventions

  • DrugCrisaborole Topical Ointment

    For every 10% of scalp affected, approximately ½ finger tip of study drug will be needed to cover the area with a thin layer. After the first application at baseline, the tubes will be weighed to determine the dose needed to cover the affected area. This will be the subject's target dose throughout the study

    Also known as: Eucrisa

  • DrugPlacebo Topical Ointment

    For every 10% of scalp affected, approximately ½ finger tip of study drug will be needed to cover the area with a thin layer. After the first application at baseline, the tubes will be weighed to determine the dose needed to cover the affected area. This will be the subject's target dose throughout the study

    Also known as: Placebo

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) Score Double-Blind Period

    percent change in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score from baseline to Week 12. The range in score is 0% (no hair loss) to 100% (complete hair loss).

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 12

  2. Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) Open-Label Period

    percent change in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score from baseline to Week 24. The range in score is 0% (no hair loss) to 100% (complete hair loss).

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 24

Secondary outcomes

  1. Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT)50 Response Double-Blind Period

    Greater than or equal to 50% reduction in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score response in terminal hair at Week 6 and Week 12. The range in score is 0% (no hair loss) to 100% (complete hair loss).

    Time frame: Week 6 and Week 12

  2. Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT)50 Response Open-Label Period

    Greater than or equal to 50% reduction in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score response in terminal hair at Week 24. The range in score is 0% (no hair loss) to 100% (complete hair loss).

    Time frame: Week 24

  3. Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT)90 Response Double-Blind Period

    Greater than or equal to 90% reduction in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score response in terminal hair at Week 6 and Week 12. The range in score is 0% (no hair loss) to 100% (complete hair loss).

    Time frame: Week 6 and Week 12

  4. Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT)90 Response Open-Label Period

    Greater than or equal to 90% reduction in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score response in terminal hair at Week 24. The range in score is 0% (no hair loss) to 100% (complete hair loss).

    Time frame: Week 24

  5. alopecia areata Physician Global Assessment (aaPGA) Double-Blind Period

    achieving an alopecia areata Physician Global Assessment (aaPGA) score of 3 or above at Weeks 6 and 12; (0 =no regrowth; 1 = \<25% of regrowth; 2 = 25%-49% of regrowth; 3 = 50%-74% of regrowth; 4 = 75%-99% of re- growth; 5 = 100% of regrowth)

    Time frame: Week 6 and Week 12

  6. alopecia areata Physician Global Assessment (aaPGA) Open-Label Period

    achieving an alopecia areata Physician Global Assessment (aaPGA) score of 3 or above at Week 24; (0 =no regrowth; 1 = \<25% of regrowth; 2 = 25%-49% of regrowth; 3 = 50%-74% of regrowth; 4 = 75%-99% of re- growth; 5 = 100% of regrowth)

    Time frame: Week 24

  7. Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale (AASIS) Double-Blind Period

    percent change from Baseline in the Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale (AASIS) at Week 6 and Week 12

    Time frame: Week 6 and Week 12

  8. Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale (AASIS) Open-Label Period

    percent change from Baseline in the Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale (AASIS) at Week 24

    Time frame: Week 24

  9. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Double-Blind Period

    Percent change from Baseline in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at Week 6 and Week 12

    Time frame: Week 6 and Week 12

  10. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Open-Label Period

    Percent change from Baseline in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at Week 24

    Time frame: Week 24

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Tufts Medical Center, Department of Dermatology
    Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 28, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04299503
Lead sponsor
Tufts Medical Center
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 6, 2020
Start date
Mar 6, 2020
Primary completion
Mar 2022 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2022 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 28, 2024

Study contacts

David Rosmarin, MD
principal investigator · Tufts Medical Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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