Study to Evaluate Safety and Tolerability of BF-200 ALA (Ameluz®) for Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of the Expanded Field of Actinic Keratosis on Face and Scalp

This is an interventional treatment trial for Actinic Keratosis focused on measuring Actinic keratosis, Photodynamic therapy, 5-aminolevulinic acid, Photosensitizing Agents, Dermatologic Agents, Precancerous condition, Skin Disease Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Willingness and ability of subjects to provide informed consent and sign the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) form. A study-specific informed consent and HIPAA form must be obtained in writing prior to starting any study procedures.
2. Subjects with mild to severe clinically confirmed AK lesions (according to Olsen) on the face and/or scalp. In case of severe AK lesions, a biopsy must be taken for confirmation of diagnosis. At least 8 mild to moderate AK lesions with a diameter of ≥4 mm must be present in the treatment field. The treatment field (continuous or in several patches) totaling about 60 cm2 must be located within one effective illumination area. The AK lesions should be clearly distinguishable, without restrictions on the distance between lesions. Lesions should have a minimal distance of 1 cm between the lesion margin and the border of the treatment field.
3. All sexes, ≥18 years of age.
4. Willingness and ability to comply with study procedures, particularly willingness to receive a PDT session and to undergo 2 mm punch biopsy/biopsies in case of severe AK lesion(s) at the screening visit.
5. Subjects with good general health or with clinically stable medical conditions will be permitted to be included in the study. Subjects with clinically stable medical conditions will be permitted for inclusion into the study if not using prohibited medication.
6. Willingness to stop the use of moisturizers and any other non-medical topical treatments within the treatment field at least 24 h prior to the visits.
7. Acceptance to abstain from extensive sunbathing and the use of a solarium or tanning beds during the study.
8. For female subjects with reproductive potential: Negative serum pregnancy test.
9. For female subjects with reproductive potential: Effective contraception at screening visit and throughout the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any known history of hypersensitivity to ALA, porphyrins or excipients of BF-200 ALA.
2. History of soy or peanut allergy.
3. Subjects with sunburn or other possible confounding skin conditions (e.g. wounds, irritations, bleeding or skin infections) inside or in close proximity (<10 cm distance) to the treatment field.

4. Clinically significant (CS) medical conditions making implementation of the protocol or interpretation of the study results difficult or impairing subject's safety such as:

   1. Presence of photodermatoses or porphyria
   2. Metastatic tumor or tumor with high probability of metastasis
   3. Infiltrating skin neoplasia (suspected or known)
   4. Unstable cardiovascular disease (New York Heart Association class III, IV)
   5. Unstable hematologic (including myelodysplastic syndrome), hepatic, renal, neurologic, or endocrine condition
   6. Unstable collagen-vascular condition
   7. Unstable gastrointestinal condition
   8. Immunosuppressive condition
   9. Presence of clinically significant inherited or acquired coagulation defect
5. Clinical diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, Bowen's disease, basal cell carcinoma, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, squamous cell carcinoma, other malignant or benign tumors inside or in close proximity (<10 cm distance) to the treatment field.
6. Presence of strong artificial pigmentation (e.g. tattoos) or any other abnormality that may impact lesion assessment or light penetration in the treatment field.
7. Any physical therapy such as cryosurgery, laser therapy, electrodessication, microdermabrasion, surgical removal of lesions, curettage, or treatment with chemical peels such as trichloroacetic acid inside or in close proximity (<10 cm distance) to the treatment field within 4 weeks prior to screening.

8. Any of the topical treatments defined below within the designated periods prior to screening:

   1. Topical treatment with ALA or ALA esters (e.g. methyl aminolevulinic acid (MAL)) or an investigational drug in- and outside the treatment field within 8 weeks.
   2. Topical treatment with immunosuppressive, cytostatic or cytotoxic drugs inside or in close proximity (<10 cm distance) to the treatment field within 8 weeks.
   3. Start of topical administration of a medication with hypericin or other drugs with phototoxic or photoallergic potential inside or in close proximity (<10 cm distance) to the treatment field within 4 weeks. Subjects may, however, be eligible if such medication was applied for more than 4 weeks prior to screening without evidence of an actual phototoxic/photoallergic reaction.

9. Any use of the systemic treatments within the designated periods prior to screening:

   1. Cytostatic or cytotoxic drugs within 6 months.
   2. Immunosuppressive therapies or use of ALA or ALA esters (e.g. MAL) within 12 weeks.
   3. Drugs known to have major organ toxicity within 8 weeks or an investigational drug.
   4. Interferon or glucocorticosteroids within 6 weeks.
   5. Start of intake of medication with hypericin or systemically acting drugs with phototoxic or photoallergic potential within 8 weeks prior to screening. Subjects may, however, be eligible if such medication was taken in for more than 8 weeks prior to the screening visit without evidence of an actual phototoxic/photoallergic reaction.
10. Breast feeding women.
11. Suspicion of drug or alcohol abuse.
12. Subjects unlikely to comply with protocol, e.g. inability to return for visits, unlikely to complete the study, or inappropriate in the opinion of the investigator.
13. A member of study site staff or sponsor staff directly involved in the conduct of the protocol or a close relative thereof.
14. Simultaneous participation in another clinical study.

Dosing day exclusion criteria:

At Visit 2 (baseline, PDT-1)

Subjects with sunburn or other possibly confounding skin conditions (e.g. wounds, irritations, bleeding or skin infections) inside or in close proximity (<10 cm distance) to the treatment field.