Psoriasis cream could tame lupus skin flares
NCT ID NCT06661213
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early study tests whether tapinarof cream, already approved for psoriasis, can improve skin lesions in people with cutaneous lupus. Ten adults with active lupus lesions will apply the cream daily for 16 weeks. Researchers will measure changes in skin activity and study immune cells to understand how the treatment works.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- tapinarof cream (VTAMA)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new topical treatment for cutaneous lupus skin lesions.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small trial with only 10 people. It may not show clear improvement, and results may not apply to all lupus patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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About 10 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Expected to finish
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Nov 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years and older * Patients with a histopathological or clinical diagnosis of chronic and/or subacute CLE * Patients with at least one active cutaneous lupus lesion with a diameter ≥ 1cm and CLA-IGA-R score of ≥ 3 at screening and baseline Exclusion Criteria: * Unwillingness or inability to complete informed consent process or comply with the study protocol * Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding * Other dermatologic diseases whose presence or treatments would interfere with evaluation of the study drug or interpretation of participant safety or trial results * History of allergy, hypersensitivity reaction, or anaphylaxis to any component of the study drug * Application to cutaneous lupus lesion(s) being assessed of topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, or topical janus kinase inhibitors within 1 weeks of study drug initiation * Application to cutaneous lupus lesion(s) being assessed of topical tapinorof within 4 weeks of study drug initiation * Prior use of anifrolumab within the last 6 months * New initiation of systemic immunosuppressive or immunomodulating drugs (e.g. oral or injectable corticosteroids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, belimumab), antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, quinacrine), or systemic janus kinase inhibitors within 12 weeks of study drug initiation * For patients already on the following treatment(s) prior to enrollment: unstable or changing of dosing of systemic immunosuppressive or immunomodulating drugs (e.g. oral or injectable corticosteroids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, belimumab), antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, quinacrine), or systemic janus kinase inhibitors within 4 weeks of study drug initiation * Patients with active infections.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Northwestern University Department of Dermatology
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- New lupus drug candidate begins first safety tests in humans
- New pill could ease lupus skin rashes in major trial