Completed

Efficacy of Cantharidin in Molluscum Contagiosum: A Randomized, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Prospective Study

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What is being tested

cantharidin's vehicle

+ Cantharidin 0.7%

Drug
Who is being recruted

DNA Virus Infections+6

+ Infections

+ Molluscum Contagiosum

From 5 to 10 Years
+5 Eligibility Criteria
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Placebo-Controlled
Interventional
Study Start: January 2008
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: January 1, 2008

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The University of North Carolina Department of Dermatology is conducting a clinical trial to evaluate a drug called cantharidin in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum. Molluscum is a common dermatologic disorder caused by a poxvirus. Molluscum typically presents with many flesh-colored bumps on the skin. It goes away on its own, though can last several months to several years. Cantharidin is a topical medicine which is applied at the clinic visit. It is well tolerated by the majority of children.

Official TitleEfficacy of Cantharidin in Molluscum Contagiosum: A Randomized, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Prospective Study
NCT00667225
Principal SponsorUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

29 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 5 to 10 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

DNA Virus InfectionsInfectionsMolluscum ContagiosumPoxviridae InfectionsSkin DiseasesSkin Diseases, InfectiousVirus DiseasesSkin Diseases, ViralSkin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Criteria

1 inclusion criteria required to participate
Anyone aged 5-10 years with the clinical diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum.
4 exclusion criteria prevent from participating
Anyone with immunosuppression including HIV or previous organ transplantation.
Anyone taking immunosuppressive medications.
Anyone who has previously received treatment with cantharidin.
Any female who has had her first menstrual period.

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

50% chance of being blinded to the placebo group

Treatment Groups

Group I

Placebo
Subjects in this group will have topical application of cantharidin's vehicle at each visit.

Group II

Experimental
Subjects in this group will have topical application of cantharidin at each visit.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, United StatesOpen University of North Carolina in Google Maps
CompletedOne Study Center