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Red Deer clinical study targets teens’ eczema symptoms

Participants sought to help assess new cream medication
18035872_web1_Bailey-Clinic-Eczema
Red Deer’s Central Alberta Research Clinic is currently seeking teens age 12 to 17 with moderate to severe eczema to join a short, Phase 2 clinical trial for a new medication (cream).

If you’ve experienced the discomfort of eczema, you know the challenges it can present, both physically and emotionally.

Also known as atopic dermatitis, the condition is characterized by patches of red, swollen, cracked lesions on the skin which are often associated with itchiness, skin infections and poor quality of sleep; when severe, they can be very uncomfortable and unsightly. While there is currently no cure, treatment can help people manage the condition’s symptoms, prevent it from worsening and improve quality of life.

Red Deer’s Central Alberta Research Clinic is currently seeking teens age 12 to 17 with moderate to severe eczema to join a short, Phase 2 clinical trial for a new medication (cream), evaluating the optimal dose and any potential side effects, explains Troy Hamilton, research manager.

Led by dermatologist Dr. Isaiah Day, the Red Deer location is one of three Canadian clinics participating in the study, along with nine in the US. Clinical trials conducted at the Central Alberta Research Clinic are vetted by Health Canada, in addition to the Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta. As a cross-boarder trial, it’s also been evaluated by the FDA.

How to participate:

Participants will apply the Delgocitinib cream twice daily for eight weeks. Twice during the study, they’ll also attend for a series of blood tests to measure the presence of the medication in the blood, Hamilton explains, noting there is no placebo group with this trial; everyone will receive the cream.

Of the several participants already registered, “one was quite severe, to the point where they wouldn’t wear a short-sleeved shirt or shorts, even in the summer,” Hamilton says. When contacted to inquire about any side effects, the teen commented that, “Unless raised self-esteem counts as a side effect, then no,” which highlights the impact eczema – and its treatment – can have.

While the current trial is only eight weeks, participants who notice a marked improvement may also find it easier to keep their eczema symptoms under control with existing treatments moving forward. A longer trial may follow as the drug moves to the next stage of testing, and those participating in this trial may also be eligible for the longer duration trial, Hamilton notes.

To learn more, including how to participate, contact the Central Alberta Research Clinic at careclinicrd.ca or call 403-343-8972, ext. 111. A study nurse can answer your questions and gather preliminary details to see if you might be a fit. A screening visit would follow.

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The Central Alberta Research Clinic, in affiliation with the Bailey Clinic, has conducted more than 160 clinical trials and has become one of Canada’s most respected clinical research centres. Focusing on internal medicine, especially diabetes, cardiovascular, weight loss, vaccines, women’s health, urology and dermatology, the clinic partners with academic centres and pharmaceutical companies to help make new treatments available for patients.