Arcutis Starts Phase 3 Trials of Topical Roflumilast Cream for AD

The Company anticipates topline data in the second half of 2022.

Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. is starting their pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating topical roflumilast cream (ARQ-151) as a potential treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD). 

Roflumilast cream is a once daily topical formulation of roflumilast, a highly potent and selective phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor (PDE4), which the Company is developing for plaque psoriasis and AD. If approved, roflumilast cream would be the first once-a-day topical nonsteroidal treatment for AD.

The “INterventional Trial EvaluatinG roflUMilast cream for the treatmENt of aTopic dermatitis” 1 and 2 (or INTEGUMENT-1 and -2) are identical Phase 3, parallel group, double blind, vehicle-controlled trials in which roflumilast cream 0.15% or vehicle is applied once daily for 4 weeks to subjects 6 years of age and older with mild to moderate AD involving ≥3% body surface area.

In each trial, approximately 650 subjects are planned to be randomized 2:1 to either roflumilast cream 0.15% or matching vehicle cream. The primary endpoint of both trials is Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) Success, defined as a Validated Investigator Global Assessment - Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD) score of ‘clear’ or ‘almost clear’ plus a 2-grade improvement from baseline at Week 4. Multiple secondary endpoints will also be evaluated, including itch as measured by the Worst Itch-Numerical Rating Scale (WI-NRS) as well as the proportion of subjects who attain at least a 75 percent reduction in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75) at Week 4. After completing INTEGUMENT-1 or -2, subjects may be eligible to enroll in a 12‑month, open label extension study (INTEGUMENT-OLE) evaluating once daily roflumilast cream. The Company anticipates topline data from INTEGUMENT-1 and -2 in the second half of 2022.

Arcutis also plans to initiate a third pivotal Phase 3 study, the “INterventional Trial EvaluatinG roflUMilast cream for the treatmENt of aTopic dermatitis in PEDiatric patients” (or INTEGUMENT-PED) shortly to evaluate roflumilast cream in subjects 2 to 5 years of age with mild to moderate AD.

“We believe topical roflumilast has the potential to eliminate the need to compromise between safety, efficacy, and tolerability, and we look forward to reporting topline data in the second half of 2022," says Patrick Burnett, M.D., Ph.D., FAAD, Arcutis’ Chief Medical Officer, in a news release.  “We are excited to begin our pivotal Phase 3 trials in patients with atopic dermatitis.”