Safety, Efficacy and PK/PD of QGE031 vs. Placebo in Patients With Active Bullous Pemphigoid Despite Oral Steroid Treatment

Safety, Efficacy and PK/PD of QGE031 vs. Placebo in Patients With Active Bullous Pemphigoid Despite Oral Steroid Treatment

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Group Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of QGE031 in the Treatment of Patients With Bullous Pemphigoid With Disease Refractory to Oral Steroid Treatment

This study was stopped after Part 1 completed and was terminated because the predefined criteria of efficacy was not reached ( >50% better then placebo)

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of QGE031 versus placebo in patients with bullous pemphigoid. Efficacy will be assessed as a reduction of disease activity. How QGE031 is broken down by the body and the impact it has on different blood and tissue markers will also be explored.

This study was planned to be divided into 2 distinct parts. Part 1 was a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy, safety, PK and PD of multiple, subcutaneous doses of QGE031 in the treatment of patients with BP with disease refractory to oral steroid treatment. Patients were treated with QGE031 or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. Part 2 of this study was planned to be a multi-center, open label, dose range finding study evaluating the efficacy, safety, PK and PD of multiple, subcutaneous doses of QGE031 in the treatment of patients with BP with disease refractory to oral steroid treatment. This study was stopped after Part 1 completed and was terminated because the predefined criteria of efficacy was not reached ( >50% better then placebo)

QGE031 will be evaluated at various dose levels and regimens, based on the impact on disease of the next highest dose level and regimen.

Clinical Global Assessment of Change (CGA-C) responder rate was the responder rate at 12 weeks based on the CGA-C in bullous pemphigoid (BP). A patient with a CGA-C score of 3 or 4 indicating 'at least marked improvement from baseline' at 12 weeks was considered a responder. The CGA-C is an investigator assessment of change from baseline and is scored as follows: -4 = Very marked worsening (100% worsening); -3 = Marked worsening (67-99% worsening); -2 = Moderate worsening (34-66% worsening); -1 = Slight worsening (1-33% worsening); 1= Slight improvement (1-33% improvement); 2 = Moderate improvement (34-66% improvement); 3 = Marked improvement (67-99% improvement); 4 = Complete clearance (100% improvement)

Clinical Global Assessment of Change (CGA-C) responder rate was the responder rate at 6 weeks based on the CGA-C score in bullous pemphigoid (BP). A patient with a CGA-C score of 3 or 4 indicating marked improvement from baseline at 6 weeks was considered a responder. The CGA-C is an investigator assessment of change from baseline and is scored as follows: -4 = Very marked worsening (100% worsening); -3 = Marked worsening (67-99% worsening); -2 = Moderate worsening (34-66% worsening); -1 = Slight worsening (1-33% worsening); 1= Slight improvement (1-33% improvement); 2 = Moderate improvement (34-66% improvement); 3 = Marked improvement (67-99% improvement); 4 = Complete clearance (100% improvement)

Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) - (scale of 0 to 4, where 0=clear, 1=almost clear, 2=mild, 3=moderate and 4=severe)

Inclusion Criteria: Patients diagnosed with bullous pemphigoid Stable dose of prednisone at or above 10mg per day but no greater than 1 mg/kg/day Weigh between 40-120kg total IgE level up to 5000 IU/mL Exclusion Criteria: Use of rituximab within 1 year Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply