ClinicalTrials.gg
WithdrawnNCT05195762Updated May 28, 2024

12-week Study of NFX-179 Gel in Subjects With Epidermal Nevi

A Phase 2 interventional study of NFX-179 Gel 1.50% in Epidermal Nevi and Nevus Sebaceus, sponsored by Albert Chiou. Withdrawn at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-05-28.

Sponsored by Albert Chiou · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was withdrawn
Sponsored declined to proceed
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study of NFX-179 is an open-label study, evaluating safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamic activity, and the clinical effect in subjects with Epidermal Nevus(ENS). NFX-179 is formulated as a gel for topical administration. NFX-179 has been shown in animal studies and in human extracts to suppress p-ERK with systemic absorption of NFX-179 following topical application to be extremely low, based on serum values observed in animal studies.

Primary objectives:

  • To determine the pharmacodynamic activity of NFX-179 Gel as defined by suppression of phospho-ERK (p-ERK) levels in Target EN in treatment group after 12 weeks of once-daily (QD) application
  • To determine the safety and tolerability of treatment with NFX-179 Gel 1.50% applied QD for 12 weeks.

Secondary objectives:

-Clinical effect of NFX-179 Gel 1.5% defined as the percent change in EN volume after 12 weeks of QD application

Read the detailed description

This is a 12-week clinical study to determine safety, tolerability, and clinical effect of NFX-179 Gel 1.50% Gel in subjects with EN.

At Visit 1 (Screening), the Investigator will select 1 Target EN lesion for treatment that meet the inclusion criteria. A biopsy tissue sample of the Target EN will be taken for histological confirmation of an EN diagnosis if required, to assess p-ERK levels and for genetic testing.

Subjects will be seen at Visit 2 for management of the Visit 1 biopsy wounds.

At Visit 3 (Baseline) eligible subjects will be provided study medication and start the 12-week, QD treatment period. Target EN assessments will be collected.

Subjects will be seen for treatment period visits, Visits 4-7, when Target EN assessments will be collected.

At Visit 8, subjects will be seen for the final treatment period visit. Target EN assessments, a biopsy sample for genetic testing and p-ERK levels will be. Subjects will start a 4-week no-treatment follow-up period.

Subjects will be seen at Visit 9, for management of the Visit 8 biopsy wound.

At Visit 10 (end of study), subjects will be seen for the final study visit and will be discharged from the study.

02

Conditions studied

  • Epidermal Nevi
  • Nevus Sebaceus
03

In context

Lead sponsor

This is the only study on the registry with Albert Chiou as lead sponsor.

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

04

Who can participate

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

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, all of the following criteria must be met:

  1. Subject is at least 18 years of age
  2. Subject must provide written prior to any study procedures
  3. Subject has a Target Epidermal Nevi for treatment that:

    • Is a documented, proven, keratinocytic epidermal nevi (KEN) or nevus sebaceous (NS) or has a 3mm punch biopsy taken for histologic examination to determine KEN or NS status
    • Is a discrete lesion surrounded with at least 5mm of non-involved skin
    • Is not irritated
    • Does not have an active cutaneous infection
    • Has a Length ≥15mm
    • Has a surface area ≤100cm2
    • Has an Investigator's Lesion Assessment grade ≥2
    • Is located at an anatomical site that the subject can reach to apply the study medication
    • Has never been surgically treated
  4. Subject is willing to have hair in the area surrounding the Target EN shaved, if necessary, to obtain photographs
  5. Subject is willing to minimize exposure of the Target EN to natural or artificial ultraviolet radiation
  6. Subject is willing to abstain from application of non-study topical prescription and over the counter medications to the Target EN during the study
  7. Subject is willing to forego treatment of the Target EN, except protocol specified therapy, during the study
  8. Female subjects who are women of must have a negative urine pregnancy test result and be willing to use a protocol approved, method for the duration of the study.
  9. Subject is willing and able to follow all study instructions and to attend all study visits.

No waivers to the inclusion criteria are permitted.

Exclusion Criteria A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  1. Subject has applied any of the following topical products in the previous 30 days on or in proximity to the Target EN that, in the investigator's opinion, impairs evaluation of the Target EN or which exposes the subject to an unacceptable risk by study participation:

    • Topical steroids
    • Topical retinoids (e.g., tazarotene, tretinoin, adapalene)
    • > 5% of an alpha-hydroxy acid (e.g., glycolic acid, lactic acid)
    • Fluorouracil
    • Imiquimod
  2. The Target EN has ever been treated with a topical MEK inhibitor or a topical BRAF inhibitor
  3. The Subject has used any of the following systemic medications in the noted time period:

    • Systemic retinoids (e.g., etretinate, isotretinoin) in the previous 90 days
    • Systemic MEK inhibitors in the previous 180 days
    • Systemic BRAF inhibitors in the previous 180 days
  4. Subject has a history of to any of the ingredients in the study medications
  5. Subject has any know intercurrent illness or physical condition that would, in the investigator's opinion, impair evaluation of the Target EN or which exposes the subject to an unacceptable risk by study participation
  6. Subject has, in the Investigator's opinion, a history of liver disease, including viral hepatitis, current alcohol abuse, or cirrhosis
  7. Subject has a history of disease, or active cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, Stage I cervical cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, or Stage 0 chronic lymphocytic lymphoma) within the previous 5 years
  8. Subject has any condition (e.g., other skin conditions or diseases, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination findings, clinical laboratory findings) or situation (e.g., vacation, scheduled surgery) that would, in the Investigator's opinion, impair evaluation of the Target EN or which exposes the subject to an unacceptable risk by study participation
  9. Subject has participated in an drug trial in which administration of an investigational study medication occurred within the previous 30 days No waivers to the exclusion criteria are permitted.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(9)

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.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

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.

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.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Patients receiving NFX-179 Gel

    NFX-179 Gel 1.50% applied QD for 12 weeks

    Drug: NFX-179 Gel 1.50%

Interventions

  • Stanford University (Stanford) is studying a selective mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor (NFX-179) that has been chemically engineered for topical application to treat epidermal nevus syndromes (ENS). Preclinical studies evaluating topical application of NFX-179 to human nevus sebaceous explants demonstrated that NFX-179 can penetrate the tissue and suppress the p-ERK biomarker. It was also determined that NFX-179, when incubated with the tissues in medium, also suppressed ERK phosphorylation in human keratinocytic epidermal nevi. This clinical study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and clinical effect of NFX-179 Gel in Subjects with Epidermal Nevi.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. The frequency of dermal safety and tolerability assessments including pain/burning, pruritus, erythema, edema, scabbing/crusting, and vesiculation/erosion

    To determine the safety and tolerability of treatment with NFX-179 gel applied QD for 12 weeks of treatment.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  2. The frequency of adverse events and serious adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0

    To determine the safety and tolerability of treatment with NFX-179 gel applied QD for 12 weeks of treatment.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in ILA (Investigator's Lesion Assessment)

    Change in Investigator's Lesion Assessment after 12 weeks of QD application, assessed at screening, baseline, treatment period at week 2, 3, 4, and 8, and end of treatment at week 12.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  2. Percent change in EN volume

    Percent change in EN volume after 12 weeks of QD application as determined based on EN size derived from ruler measurements, and/or digital images from standardized photography performed at screening, baseline, treatment period at week 2, 3, 4, and 8, and end of treatment at week 12.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Stanford University
    Redwood City, California 94063, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — We will only be sharing participant data with the sponsor, Nflection Therapeutics.

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 May 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
NCT05195762
Lead sponsor
Albert Chiou
Collaborators
NFlection Therapeutics, Inc.
Responsible party
Albert Chiou (Clinical Associate Professor, Stanford University) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Jan 19, 2022
Start date
Jun 2023 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jun 2024 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2024 (estimated)
Last update
May 28, 2024

Study contacts

Albert S Chiou, MD, MBA
principal investigator · Stanford University

Oversight

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

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This study is withdrawn, as verified in May 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Studies of the drug tested here: Nedometinib

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