Assessment of the Vehicle for Roflumilast Cream Compared to a Ceramide-Containing Moisturizing Cream in Mild Eczema.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory dermatologic conditions suitable for topical treatments benefit from a hydrating vehicle that improves the skin barrier without irritation. OBJECTIVE: This research was designed to assess skin barrier effects and aesthetic attributes of the vehicle for topical roflumilast cream (vehicle) vs a currently marketed ceramide-containing moisturizing cream (moisturizer). METHODS: This was a single-site, randomized, intraindividual, double-blind, controlled study conducted over 17 days. Patients (aged 18 years or older) with mild, symmetric asteatotic eczema of the lower extremities were enrolled to receive lower leg applications of the vehicle on one leg and moisturizer on the other. The primary efficacy endpoint was a change in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) from baseline to day 15. Secondary efficacy endpoints included change from baseline in TEWL at other study visits, change from baseline in hydration as assessed via corneometry, and patient- and investigator-rated assessments of the products. Safety and tolerability were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients enrolled in the study. The primary efficacy endpoint was met for both treatments. A statistically significant difference in TEWL on day 1 favored the moisturizer, but no difference was seen between vehicle and moisturizer at any other timepoint. Both vehicle and moisturizer also met the secondary efficacy endpoint of change from baseline in hydration. LIMITATIONS: The sample size was small. CONCLUSIONS: The vehicle for roflumilast cream performed similarly to a leading, currently marketed, dermatologist-recommended, ceramide-containing moisturizer across all patient- and investigator-rated assessments of efficacy, tolerability, and aesthetic properties in patients with mild asteatotic eczema. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(10):834-840. doi:10.36849/JDD.7958  .

Skin Penetration and Permeation Properties of Transcutol® in Complex Formulations.

Percutaneous delivery is explored as alternative pathway for addressing the drawbacks associated with the oral administration of otherwise efficacious drugs. Short of breaching the skin by physical means, the preference goes to formulation strategies that augment passive diffusion across the skin. One such strategy lies in the use of skin penetration and permeation enhancers notably of hydroxylated solvents like propylene glycol (PG), ethanol (EtOH), and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (Transcutol®, TRC). In a previous publication, we focused on the role of Transcutol® as enhancer in neat or diluted systems. Herein, we explore its' role in complex formulation systems, including patches, emulsions, vesicles, solid lipid nanoparticles, and micro or nanoemulsions. This review discusses enhancement mechanisms associated with hydroalcoholic solvents in general and TRC in particular, as manifested in multi-component formulation settings alongside other solvents and enhancers. The principles that govern skin penetration and permeation, notably the importance of drug diffusion due to solubilization and thermodynamic activity in the vehicle (formulation), drug solubilization and partitioning in the stratum corneum (SC), and/or solvent drag across the skin into deeper tissue for systemic absorption are discussed. Emphasized also are the interplay between the drug properties, the skin barrier function and the formulation parameters that are key to successful (trans)dermal delivery.

Trial of Roflumilast Cream for Chronic Plaque Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Systemic oral phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE-4) inhibitors have been effective in the treatment of psoriasis. Roflumilast cream contains a PDE-4 inhibitor that is being investigated for the topical treatment of psoriasis. METHODS: In this phase 2b, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned adults with plaque psoriasis in a 1:1:1 ratio to use roflumilast 0.3% cream, roflumilast 0.15% cream, or vehicle (placebo) cream once daily for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome was the investigator's global assessment (IGA) of a status of clear or almost clear at week 6 (assessed on a 5-point scale of plaque thickening, scaling, and erythema; a score of 0 indicates clear, 1 almost clear, and 4 severe). Secondary outcomes included an IGA score indicating clear or almost clear plus a 2-grade improvement in the IGA score for the intertriginous area and the change in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score (range, 0 to 72, with higher scores indicating worse disease). Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: Among 331 patients who underwent randomization, 109 were assigned to roflumilast 0.3% cream, 113 to roflumilast 0.15% cream, and 109 to vehicle cream. An IGA score indicating clear or almost clear at week 6 was observed in 28% of the patients in the roflumilast 0.3% group, in 23% in the roflumilast 0.15% group, and in 8% in the vehicle group (P<0.001 and P = 0.004 vs. vehicle for roflumilast 0.3% and 0.15%, respectively). Among the approximately 15% of patients overall who had baseline intertriginous psoriasis of at least mild severity, an IGA score at week 6 indicating clear or almost clear plus a 2-grade improvement in the intertriginous-area IGA score occurred in 73% of the patients in the roflumilast 0.3% group, 44% of those in the roflumilast 0.15% group, and 29% of those in the vehicle group. The mean baseline PASI scores were 7.7 in the roflumilast 0.3% group, 8.0 in the roflumilast 0.15% group, and 7.6 in the vehicle group; the mean change from baseline at week 6 was -50.0%, -49.0%, and -17.8%, respectively. Application-site reactions occurred with similar frequency in the roflumilast groups and the vehicle group. CONCLUSIONS: Roflumilast cream administered once daily to affected areas of psoriasis was superior to vehicle cream in leading to a state of clear or almost clear at 6 weeks. Longer and larger trials are needed to determine the durability and safety of roflumilast in psoriasis. (Funded by Arcutis Biotherapeutics; ARQ-151 201 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03638258.).

Roflumilast Cream Improves Signs and Symptoms of Plaque Psoriasis: Results from a Phase 1/2a Randomized, Controlled Study.

Background: Roflumilast cream (ARQ-151) is a highly potent, selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor in development for once-daily topical treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of once-daily roflumilast cream 0.5% and 0.15% in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Methods: This phase 1/2a study enrolled a single-dose, open-label cohort (Cohort 1: 0.5% cream applied to 25 cm² psoriatic plaques), and a 28-day, double-blinded cohort (Cohort 2: 1:1:1 randomization to roflumilast cream 0.5%, 0.15%, or vehicle). Patients had chronic plaque psoriasis of >6 months' duration with ≤5% body surface area involvement. Outcomes included safety (adverse events) and efficacy (percentage change in the Target Plaque Severity Score [TPSS] × Target Plaque Area [TPA]) at week 4. Results: For Cohorts 1 (n=8) and 2 (n=89), adverse events (all mild/moderate; none severe or serious) were similar between active arms and vehicle. Treatment-related events were confined to the application site, without differences between drug and vehicle. No patient discontinued treatment due to adverse events. The primary efficacy endpoint was met for both roflumilast cream doses: TPSS×TPA improvement at week 4 was statistically significant for roflumilast 0.5% (P=0.0007) and 0.15% (P=0.0011) versus vehicle; significance was reached as early as 2 weeks. For both roflumilast cream doses, 66%-67% improvement from baseline was observed at week 4, without reaching a plateau, versus 38% improvement for vehicle. Conclusion: Roflumilast cream was safe and highly effective at doses of 0.5% and 0.15% and represents a potential novel once-daily topical therapy for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03392168. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(8): doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5370.

Skin Penetration and Permeation Properties of Transcutol®-Neat or Diluted Mixtures.

A heightened interest in (trans)dermal delivery is in part driven by the need to improve the existing skin therapies and also the demand for alternative routes of administration, notably for pharmaceutical actives with undesirable oral absorption characteristics. The premise of delivering difficult actives to the skin or via the skin however is weighed down by the barrier function properties of the stratum corneum. Short of disrupting the skin by physical means, scientists have resorted to formulation with excipients known to enhance the skin penetration and permeation of drugs. A vehicle that has emerged over the years as a safe solubilizer and enhancer for a broad range of drug actives is the highly purified NF/EP grade of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGEE) commercially known as Transcutol®. Whereas numerous studies affirm its enhancing effect on drug solubilization, percutaneous absorption rate, and/or drug retention in the skin, there are few publications that unite the body of the published literature in describing the precise role and mechanisms of action for Transcutol®. In view of the current mechanistic understanding of skin barrier properties, this paper takes on a retrospective review of the published works and critically evaluates the data for potential misses due to experimental variables such as formulation design, skin model, skin hydration levels, and drug properties. The goal of this review is to mitigate the incongruence of the published works and to construct a unified, comprehensive understanding of how Transcutol® influences skin penetration and permeation. Graphical Abstract Transcutol has affinity for the hydrophilic head groups of the stratum corneum structures.

Pharmacokinetics of Roflumilast Cream in Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: Data from Phase I to Phase III Studies.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with chronic plaque psoriasis receive topical treatment; however, available options lack a balance of efficacy with long-term safety and tolerability. Roflumilast cream 0.3% is a highly potent phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor approved by the US FDA for treatment of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to define the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of roflumilast delivered topically from a phase I maximal usage study and data from phase II and phase III studies. METHODS: PK data for roflumilast and the active metabolite, roflumilast N-oxide, were determined from a phase I PK and safety maximal usage study of roflumilast cream 0.3% applied once daily for 14 days in patients with plaque psoriasis affecting body surface area (BSA) ≥20% (N = 26). Serial plasma samples were obtained on Days 1 and 15 to determine maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC). Plasma concentrations were also assessed at Weeks 3, 4, and 5 for terminal half-life (t½). Concentrations of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide in skin were assessed at Day 28 for 14 patients with psoriasis in a phase I/IIa study of once-daily roflumilast cream 0.5% and 0.15% for 28 days. Systemic exposure (Ctrough and AUC) of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide in two phase III trials (DERMIS-1, n = 245; DERMIS-2, n = 250) of roflumilast cream 0.3% for 8 weeks was assessed at Weeks 4 and 8. RESULTS: Bioavailability of roflumilast cream 0.3% after topical administration was 1.5%. Unlike after oral dosing, the plasma concentration-time curve was flat, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 1.2. Roflumilast N-oxide concentrations were eightfold higher than roflumilast concentrations. The t½ in adult patients was 4.0 days for roflumilast and 4.6 days for roflumilast N-oxide following the last dose administered. Steady state was reached by Day 15. Concentrations of roflumilast in skin were, on average, 126- and 61.8-fold higher than corresponding mean plasma Ctrough following administration of roflumilast cream 0.15% and 0.5% daily for 28 days. Roflumilast N-oxide was quantifiable in only one skin sample (N = 27). Following 8 weeks of treatment in DERMIS-1, mean plasma Ctrough of roflumilast was 1.78 ng/mL, and 9.86 ng/mL for roflumilast N-oxide. In DERMIS-2, mean plasma Ctrough was 1.72 ng/mL and 10.2 ng/mL, respectively. In the maximal usage study (mean BSA: 27.5%), eight patients (30.8%) experienced adverse events (AEs) and all were mild or moderate, with no reports of diarrhea, headache, insomnia, or application-site pain; no patients discontinued treatment due to an AE. CONCLUSION: Topical administration of roflumilast cream 0.3% results in concentrations in skin 126- and 61.8-fold higher relative to plasma, which are much higher than expected to be achievable with oral dosing. PDE4 inhibition in the skin is likely due to roflumilast as compared with its active metabolite, as there is no significant conversion to roflumilast N-oxide in the skin. Consistent with reservoir formation and retention of drug in the stratum corneum, roflumilast is slowly released from the skin (t½ 4 days) and peak-to-trough ratio is 1.2. GOV IDENTIFIERS: NCT04279119, NCT03392168, NCT04211363, NCT04211389.

Gel formulation containing mixed surfactant and lipids associating with carboplatin.

The interaction of amphiphilic molecules such as lipids and surfactants with the hydrophilic drug carboplatin was investigated to identify suitable self-assembling components for a potential gel-based delivery formulation. (1) H-NMR Studies in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (aerosol-OT, AOT)-based reverse micelles show that carboplatin associates and at least partially penetrates the surfactant interface. Langmuir monolayers formed by dipalmitoyl(phosphatidyl)choline are penetrated by carboplatin. Carboplatin was found to also penetrate the more rigid monolayers containing cholesterol. A combined mixed surfactant gel formulation containing carboplatin and cholesterol for lymphatic tissue targeting was investigated for the intracavitary treatment of cancer. This formulation consists of a blend of the surfactants lecithin and AOT (1 : 3 ratio), an oil phase of isopropyl myristate, and an aqueous component. The phases of the system were defined within a pseudo-ternary phase diagram. At low oil content, this formulation produces a gel-like system over a wide range of H(2) O content. The carboplatin release from the formulation displays a prolonged discharge with a rate three to five times slower than that of the control. Rheological properties of the formulation exhibit pseudoplastic behavior. Microemulsion and Langmuir monolayer studies support the interactions between carboplatin and amphiphilic components used in this formulation. To target delivery of carboplatin, two formulations containing cholesterol were characterized. These two formulations with cholesterol showed that, although cholesterol does little to alter the phases in the pseudo-ternary system or to increase the initial release of the drug, it contributes significantly to the structure of the formulation under physiological temperature, as well as increases the rate of steady-state discharge of carboplatin.

Cremophor-free intravenous microemulsions for paclitaxel I: formulation, cytotoxicity and hemolysis.

Two cremophor-free microemulsions, lecithin:butanol:myvacet oil:water (LBMW) and capmul:myvacet oil:water (CMW) for paclitaxel (PAC) were developed for intravenous (i.v.) administration. Six surfactants and four oils were screened with various combinations for maximal water incorporation and PAC solubility. Microemulsion regions were subsequently determined in ternary phase diagrams. Cytotoxicity in an MDA-M231 human breast cancer cell line and hemolytic potential were assessed in these systems compared to Taxol (cremophor EL:ethanol, 1:1, 6 mgPAC/ml). The maximal water incorporation into the lecithin:butanol surfactant blend was greater than that incorporated into capmul when combined with the oils screened. PAC solubility in myvacet oil was increased 1389-fold over its aqueous solubility. LBMW had a larger microemulsion region (46.5% of total ternary phase diagram) than that seen with CMW (18.6%). The droplet size of the dispersed phase was 111.5 (4.18)nm for LBMW and 110.3 (8.09)nm for CMW. Cytotoxicity of PAC was in decreasing order of: Taxol>LBMW>CMW. The IC50 values for LBMW and CMW ranged from 4.5 to 5.7 and >10 microM, respectively, as compared to that of Taxol (1.3 to 1.8 microM). Eighty-three percent, 68%, and 63% of red blood cells remain unlysed at a formulation volume to blood ratio of 0.035 in LBMW, CMW and Taxol. Promising microemulsions, LBMW and CMW were developed that can incorporate approximately 12 mg/g of PAC, substantially higher than its aqueous solubility (10.8 microg/ml) and that in the Taxol vehicle (6 mg/ml). PAC retained its cytotoxicity in the LBMW and CMW and was less likely to cause hemolysis compared to Taxol. This higher drug loading results in a smaller vehicle volume in required doses of these formulations and potentially less vehicle-related side effects are anticipated.

Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether: an emerging solvent in topical dermatology products.

BACKGROUND: The solvent diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGEE) is currently used in over 500 cosmetic products and has enabled the formulation of a topical 5% dapsone gel for the treatment of acne. It is anticipated that this common cosmetic ingredient will be a component in numerous future prescription topical products approved for the US market. Dermatologists are already treating patients that apply products containing 5-40% of this solvent multiple times each day. AIMS: To provide dermatologists a review of this solvent's safety and tolerance in addition to describing how it interacts with the stratum corneum, sebum, and resident microflora. METHODS: To critically review technical and patent literature that provides insight into this novel solvent. RESULTS: Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether when used in a 99.9+% pure pharmaceutical grade is safe and well tolerated. Up to half of the applied solvent crosses the skin's barrier and becomes systemic. For certain drug actives, this solvent provides for an intracutaneous depot. This solvent has not demonstrated any inherent antimicrobial properties but was found to be mildly inhibitory toward Propionibacterium acnes. CONCLUSIONS: This safe, well-tolerated solvent is already used in many cosmetics and will become an ingredient in an increasing number of prescription products. Its ability to modify the skin delivery of actives it is formulated with (or formulation components that are applied just shortly before or after) make it important for dermatologists to have an understanding of this emerging solvent.