ClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT04957446Updated Aug 11, 2021

Histology Study of Biostimulatory Activity of Injectable Poly-L-Lactic Acid (Sculptra Aesthetic)

An interventional study of Sculptra Aesthetic and Placebo in Nasolabial Fold and Facial Wrinkles, sponsored by Sadick Research Group. Status unknown at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 30 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-08-11.

Sponsored by Sadick Research Group · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Jun 2021), so the status shown — last known as Recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
10
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
30 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The study device, Sculptra, is an injectable implant formulation of poly-L-lactic acid microbeads, approved by the FDA for treatment of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy of HIV disease). It is being used off-label by dermatologists to treat dermal defects, as a biologically active filler. Anecdotal evidence suggests that subjects' skin quality may improve as a result of poly-L-lactic acid injection. While this is not the primary goal of such treatments it is often seen and described as so called "Sculptra glow". Based upon the study doctor's experience global skin quality improvement includes radiance, smoothness and pigment uniformity as well as a decrease in skin redness and pore size. In this study we evaluate the existence of histopathological (microscopic examination of tissue) evidence that can explain the observed improvement of skin quality after poly-L-lactic acid injections. Specifically, we will use histopathologic techniques to investigate effects of Sculptra injections into human skin with regard to restoring skin health and epidermal thickness.

Read the detailed description

Sculptra is a formulation of poly-L-lactic acid microbeads, approved by the FDA for treatment of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy of HIV disease). It is being used off-label by dermatologists to treat dermal defects, as a biologically active filler. Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients' skin quality may improve as a result of poly-L-lactic acid injection. While this is not the primary goal of such treatments it is often seen and described as so called "Sculptra glow".

Based upon the investigator's experience global skin quality improvement includes radiance, smoothness and pigment uniformity as well as a decrease of erythema index and pore size. In this study we evaluate the existence of histopathological evidence that can elucidate the observed improvement of skin quality after poly-L-lactic acid injections. Specifically we will use histopathologic techniques to investigate effects of Sculptra injections into human skin with regard to dermal remodeling and epidermal thickness.This is a randomized, controlled, double-blind single-center study. The treatment phase will consist of a baseline visit, visits at 4-week and 8-weeks during which eligible subjects will receive injections of 5 cc of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) for the treatment group or saline for the control group into both sides of the face.

Seven eligible subjects will receive injections of 5 cc of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) for the study treatment group and 3 subjects will receive saline for the control group into both sides of the face.

The biopsy portion of the study, a punch biopsy will be collected at 4 timepoints throughout the study: at baseline prior to study treatment one, 4 weeks post study treatment one, 48 hours post study treatment three, and 18 weeks post study treatment.

Participation is up to 28 weeks and will attend approximately 6 study visits. The subject participation period includes a screening period of up to 2 weeks, three injections at 4-week intervals, and a follow-up visit at 48 hours and 18 weeks after the last injection.

to evaluate the histological effect and the "duration" of repeated subcutaneous injections of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) on skin quality. As skin SRG-PLLA-02 quality improvement the histopathological analysis with assess expression of procollagen 1, CD31 (vessels), SMA (myofibroblasts), CD163 (macrophages), CD117 (mast cells), \& Elastin.

02

Conditions studied

  • Nasolabial Fold
  • Facial Wrinkles

Keywords

  • nasolabial fold
  • facial wrinkles
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Sadick Research Group is the lead sponsor of 6 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
30 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Subjects who are able to give voluntary, written to participate in this study and from whom consent has been obtained including HIPAA authorization
  • Healthy females an males between 30 and 65 years of age
  • Subjects with Fitzpatrick photo skin types I-IV
  • Subjects with shallow to deep nasolabial fold contour deficiencies or other facial wrinkles
  • Subjects who agree not to have any procedures affecting facial wrinkles (e.g. filler, botulinum toxin, radiofrequency, laser, IPL, ultrasound) for the duration of the study
  • Subjects who do agree not to have any other procedures affecting skin quality (microdermabrasion, peels, acne treatments, etc.) for the duration of the study
  • Subjects who understand this study and are able to follow study instructions and are willing to attend the required study visits
  • Subjects who agree to be photographed for research reasons and their identity may not be concealed in these photographs

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding. A urine pregnancy test will be done to rule out pregnancy
  • Subjects of who are not using an approved method of (oral contraceptives, IUD, contraceptive implant, barrier methods with spermicide or abstinence). Females of non-childbearing potential are defined as (absence of menstrual bleeding for one year), hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy.
  • Subjects who cannot understand or are not willing to comply with the requirements of the study
  • Subjects who have a known allergy to poly-L-lactic acid, carboxymethylcellulose, non-pyrogenic mannitol or any anesthetic
  • Subjects who have taken any NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.) within 7 days before treatment
  • Subjects who have taken acetaminophen 24 hours before treatment
  • Subjects who have had fillers or botulinum toxin in the treatment area in the past 12 months
  • Subjects who have had treatments with poly-L-lactic acid in the face at any time
  • Subjects who have had any kind of facial dermabrasion, chemical peel, laser, or IPL treatment including superficial treatments for aesthetic reasons in the past 6 months or for the duration of the study
  • Subjects who does not agree to avoid using tanning beds or intensive exposure to the sun 2 two weeks prior to each office visit.
  • Subjects who have any dermatologic conditions including acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, actinic keratosis, severe sun damage, infection or scars within the treatment area
  • Subjects who have an active inflammatory process (skin eruptions such as cysts, pimples, rashes or hives) or infection within the treatment area
  • Subjects who have any known cancer including skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma)
  • Subjects who have had systemic therapy in the past 6 months or for the duration of the study
  • Subjects with a known history of poor wound healing
  • Subjects with a known history of keloids (excessive scarring)
  • Subjects who are positive
  • Subjects who have an existing medical condition that the Investigator considers may put the subject at risk or compromise their participation in the study
  • Subjects who have participated in another research study in the past 30 days
  • Subjects who are currently involved in any injury litigation claims
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(6)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Postmenopausal

Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
10 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Group 1

    Subjects will receive 3 treatments of 1mL Poly-L-Lactic Acid (Sculptra Aesthetic)

    Device: Sculptra Aesthetic

  • Placebo comparator
    Group 2

    Subjects will receive 3 treatments of 1mL Saline solution.

    Other: Placebo

Interventions

  • DeviceSculptra Aesthetic

    Injectable implant containing microparticles of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)

  • OtherPlacebo

    Saline solution

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Histological effect

    The primary outcome measure is defined as the degree of improvement in skin quality based on the expression of tissue markers measured by a blinded histopathologist.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Skin Improvement

    The secondary outcome measure is defined as the degree of improvement in skin quality measured by a blinded, trained evaluator using standardized pictures as well as live evaluations rated by a blinded investigator and the subjects.

    Time frame: 18 weeks

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Michelle Malanga
    New York, New York 10075, United States
    Recruiting
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 11, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04957446
Lead sponsor
Sadick Research Group
Collaborators
Galderma R&D
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jul 12, 2021
Start date
Aug 9, 2021
Primary completion
Jul 1, 2022 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 1, 2022 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 11, 2021

Study contacts

Michelle Malanga, MPA
Contact
mmalanga@sadickdermatology.com
2112-772-7242 ext. 2
Neil Sadick, M.D.
principal investigator · Sadick Research Group

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

This study is status unknown, as verified in Jun 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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