A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Abatacept in Patients With Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)



Status:Completed
Conditions:Neurology, Dermatology
Therapuetic Areas:Dermatology / Plastic Surgery, Neurology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:11/2/2017
Start Date:November 2008
End Date:June 2011

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A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Abatacept in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease that involves the
skin and other internal organs for which there are few effective treatment options. We
hypothesize that treatment with abatacept, a new therapy recently approved for the treatment
of rheumatoid arthritis, may reduce the progression of skin thickening and fibrosis in people
with scleroderma.

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disease of unknown etiology
characterized by progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, vascular damage, and
autoantibody production. Although the disease is relatively rare, it is associated with
considerable morbidity and mortality. There have been improvements in survival over the past
few decades; however, this has been related to better management of vascular manifestations
of disease including renal crisis, pulmonary hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease,
and Raynaud's phenomenon. Clinical studies of disease modifying therapies for cutaneous
disease to date have been relatively unsuccessful.

Although the etiology of the disease remains unknown, several observations support the role
of activated T cells in both the blood and skin of affected patients. Abatacept, a
recombinant fusion protein that blocks T cell activation, has recently been approved by the
FDA for rheumatoid arthritis. We hypothesize that inhibition of T cell activation with
abatacept may be efficacious in the treatment of patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis.
This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of abatacept versus
placebo in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis. Changes in validated measures of skin
thickness and disease activity over 6-months of treatment will be compared between patients
receiving abatacept and those receiving placebo. Patients will be randomized 2:1 to receive
abatacept.

The protocol was amended during the study and the outcome measures "Change in Serum
Autoantibody Profile" and "Change in Serum Cytokine Profile" were changed to exploratory
outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of diffuse systemic sclerosis

- age 18 years or older

- Adequate renal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular function

- Willingness to use effective contraception for the duration of the study if subject is
of childbearing potential

Exclusion Criteria:

- Other connective tissues diseases or overlap syndromes including MCTD, SLE, RA,
eosinophilic fasciitis, and limited systemic sclerosis or morphea

- Use of disease modifying agents including methotrexate, cyclosporine,azathioprine,
mycophenolate mofetil, minocycline, doxycycline, minocycline, thalidomide,
penicillamine, tamoxifen, colchicine, or investigational agent within 90 days of
screening visit

- HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection

- use of prednisone greater than 10mg daily for 28 days prior to screening visit

- women who are breastfeeding or pregnant
We found this trial at
1
site
291 Campus Dr
Stanford, California 94305
(650) 725-3900
Stanford University School of Medicine Vast in both its physical scale and its impact on...
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mi
from
Stanford, CA
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