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Official title: Daily Topical Rapamycin Therapy for the Treatment of Vitiligo
Brief Summary: In current Dermatology practice, options for vitiligo remain limited. The purpose of this study is to determine if once daily dosed topical rapamycin is effective for the treatment of patients with vitiligo. Participants will apply either 0.1% topical rapamycin or 0.001% topical rapamycin for six months to a lesion on one side of the body, and topical placebo to a corresponding lesion on the opposite side of the body. The study also aims to evaluate patient satisfaction and identify any adverse effects on these dosing regimens.
While rapamycin is not approved for the treatment of vitiligo, it has been found to be efficacious in stopping disease progression in animal models. Another recent study in humans showed that doses of 0.5cc daily of 0.001% of the topical formulation are able to achieve improvement in hypopigmented lesions of the skin at both the clinical and histological level. At this dose, improvement in cell function was observed regarding maintenance of proliferative potential and prevention of senescence, with avoidance of total inhibition of cell growth as has been seen at higher potencies used for immunosuppression.
Rapamycin is an immunosuppressant that works by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) leading to inhibition of the cell cycle and antibody production. It has also been shown to promote expansion of Treg populations. Although studies evaluating alternative dosing for vitiligo are limited, topical rapamycin has previously been used to treat angiofibromas related to Tuberous Sclerosis, vascular malformations such as port-wine stains, and inflammatory lesions such as plaque psoriasis. In a 2019 meta-analysis, 38 out of 40 reports included used topical formulations of 1% or lower potency rapamycin; the majority of publications were focused on the treatment of Tuberous Sclerosis, where the median concentration of mTOR inhibition was 0.1% dosed twice daily.
Other Name: Sirolimus, rapamune
Actual Study Start Date: July 28, 2022
Estimated Study Completion Date: August 1, 2023
https://beta.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05342519
FAQOther Questions
- Is it Bitiligo? Vitaligo? Veteligo?
There are so many different ways that people try and spell or even pronounce Vitiligo. Here are some common mis-spellings: bitiligo, vitigo, vitaligo, vitilago, vitiglio, vita...
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Vitiligo is NOT contagious. It cannot be passed on or caught from touching someone with vitiligo, shaking hands, swimming in the same pool, sharing towels, sitting next to someo...
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