An interventional study of Tacrolimus and Crisaborole 2% Top Oint in Atopic Dermatitis, sponsored by Foundation University Islamabad. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 2 Years to 20 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-09.
Sponsored by Foundation University Islamabad · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This randomized controlled trial compares the effectiveness and safety of topical tacrolimus 0.03% and crisaborole 2% in patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis over 8 weeks. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting quality of life, and steroid-sparing treatments are increasingly preferred due to adverse effects of long-term corticosteroid use. Tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, and crisaborole, a PDE-4 inhibitor, are both effective alternatives, though tacrolimus may offer greater efficacy while crisaborole has better tolerability. The study will include 70 patients aged 2-20 years, randomized into two groups receiving either treatment. Outcomes will be assessed using EASI score reduction and adverse effects. Data will be analyzed statistically to determine significance. The study aims to generate local evidence to guide treatment decisions and improve management strategies for atopic dermatitis in the Pakistani population.
This randomised controlled trial is designed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness and safety of two commonly used steroid-sparing topical therapies-tacrolimus 0.03% and crisaborole 2%-in patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis over an 8-week period. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory condition marked by itching, dryness, and recurrent eczematous lesions, often resulting from a combination of impaired skin barrier function and immune dysregulation. While topical corticosteroids are widely used, their long-term adverse effects have led clinicians to increasingly rely on alternative agents such as calcineurin inhibitors and PDE-4 inhibitors. In this study, patients aged 2 to 20 years meeting the inclusion criteria will be enrolled and allocated into two treatment groups through randomization. One group will receive tacrolimus 0.03% ointment, while the other will receive crisaborole 2%, both applied twice daily. Baseline data including demographic details, disease duration, EASI score, and pruritus severity will be recorded, followed by reassessment at weeks 4 and 8. The primary measure of effectiveness will be the reduction in EASI score, while safety will be evaluated based on the frequency and type of adverse effects such as burning or irritation. Statistical analysis will be conducted using appropriate tests to compare outcomes between groups. The study aims to generate locally relevant evidence to guide clinical decision-making, with the expectation that tacrolimus may demonstrate superior efficacy, while both treatments maintain acceptable tolerability profiles.
1,591 studies on the registry are indexed under Dermatitis, Atopic; 286 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 72 is below the median of 82 across 1,246 interventional studies indexed under Dermatitis, Atopic.
Browse Dermatitis, Atopic studies →Foundation University Islamabad is the lead sponsor of 255 studies on the registry; 142 are open to participants now.
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Age 2-20 years Clinically diagnosed mild to moderate AD EASI score ≤21
Exclusion Criteria:
Severe AD (EASI >21) Use of topical/systemic within 2 weeks Secondary infection Known drug state
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.
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.
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.
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.
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will apply tacrolimus 0.03% ointment twice daily to affected areas for 8 weeks. Tacrolimus is a topical calcineurin inhibitor that reduces T-cell activation and inflammatory cytokine release, improving eczema severity. Outcomes-including EASI score, pruritus VAS, and adverse effects-will be assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8. Describe the intervention(s) to be administered. For drugs use generic name and include dosage form, dosage, frequency and duration.
Drug: Tacrolimus
Participants will apply crisaborole 2% ointment twice daily to affected areas for 8 weeks. Crisaborole is a topical phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor that modulates inflammatory pathways and restores skin homeostasis. Outcomes-including EASI score, pruritus VAS, and adverse effects-will be assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8.
Drug: Crisaborole 2% Top Oint
Tacrolimus 0.03% ointment applied twice daily to affected areas for 8 weeks. Tacrolimus is a topical calcineurin inhibitor that reduces T-cell activation and inflammatory cytokine release, improving eczema severity. Outcomes (EASI score, pruritus VAS, adverse effects) assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8.
Also known as: calcineurin inhibitor
Crisaborole 2% ointment applied twice daily to affected areas for 8 weeks. Crisaborole is a topical phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor that modulates inflammatory pathways and restores skin homeostasis. Outcomes (EASI score, pruritus VAS, adverse effects) assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8.
Also known as: phosphodiesterase 4 inibitor
mean reduction In EASI score.
Change in EASI score from baseline to Week 8. Greater reduction indicates better disease control.
Time frame: baseline to 8 weeks
Safety / Tolerability
Frequency of treatment-related adverse effects such as burning, stinging, erythema, or local irritation.
Time frame: throughout 8 weeks
Plan to share: No
Start is estimated for Jun 2026; primary completion for Nov 2026, 5 months later.
Of 113 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Dermatitis, Atopic, half reached primary completion within 20 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 9 and three quarters within 43. This study's planned 5 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 182 studies reached it within 15 months; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 34.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Tacrolimus
Foundation University Islamabad →