Completed

SMARTValidation of a Novel Composite of Skin Biomarkers as a Primary Outcome Measure for Evaluating the Safety of Treatments for Atopic Dermatitis: a Randomized Controlled Trial (Phase 2) Comparing the Effects of Crisaborole 2% Ointment to Betamethasone Valerate 0.1% Cream on Skin Structure and Function in Participants With Atopic Dermatitis.

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What is being tested

crisaborole (2%) ointment

+ betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream

Drug
Who is being recruted

Dermatitis+8

+ Dermatitis, Atopic

+ Hypersensitivity

From 18 to 65 Years
+16 Eligibility Criteria
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Other Study

Phase 2
Interventional
Study Start: November 2020
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorSheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: November 20, 2020

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The first-line drug treatment for mild-moderate AD are currently topical corticosteroids (TCS) with recognized efficacy. However, their prolonged or inappropriate use, can lead to local adverse effects. Side-effects of topical corticosteroids comprise a variety of skin changes in the sense of skin atrophy thinning of the skin and in some cases development of telangiectasia, spontaneous scars, folliculitis, striae distensae (stretch marks), contact dermatitis, acne or rosacea depending on potency, galenic formulation, patient age and body area to which the medication will be applied, exposure time. Assessing the safety (local adverse effects) of current or new treatments and new treatment approaches using existing treatments through noninvasively monitor on possible early skin (subclinical) changes associated with the local clinical adverse effects of treatment may be an effective step for an enhanced AD treatment management. Primary Aim: To further develop and validate two new non-invasive technologies for the assessment of early sub-clinical skin changes associated with adverse effects and to derive an optimum panel of safety biomarkers for use in future clinical trials of topical anti-inflammatory treatments. The safety of two topical anti-inflammatory treatments for AD will be compared in this clinical trial, with a focus on early sub-clinical signs: crisaborole 2% ointment and betamethasone valerate 0,1% cream. Step 1 involves the collection of data on the early sub-clinical skin changes using the non-invasive technologies: OCT and FTIR spectroscopy. The data from this study will then be used to identify and refine biophysical biomarkers of skin atrophy and skin barrier disruption in steps 2 and 3. Secondary Aim: To determine the relative local skin effects of crisaborole (2%) ointment compared to a potent and moderately potent TCS in participants with mild to moderate AD. The focus is on 'early biomarkers' of 'local skin changes'and not clinical efficacy, which has been established in previous trials. Rationale for selecting the two comparators are related to prescription behaviors in UK (Betamethasone valerate 0,1% cream) and with no reported TCS-like local adverse effects profile (crisaborole 2% ointment)

Official TitleValidation of a Novel Composite of Skin Biomarkers as a Primary Outcome Measure for Evaluating the Safety of Treatments for Atopic Dermatitis: a Randomized Controlled Trial (Phase 2) Comparing the Effects of Crisaborole 2% Ointment to Betamethasone Valerate 0.1% Cream on Skin Structure and Function in Participants With Atopic Dermatitis.
NCT04194814
Principal SponsorSheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Last updated: January 28, 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

37 patients to be enrolled

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

Other Study

Some studies explore topics that don't fall into a specific category. These might include innovative research, new technologies, or emerging healthcare areas.



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 18 to 65 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

DermatitisDermatitis, AtopicHypersensitivityHypersensitivity, ImmediateImmune System DiseasesCongenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and AbnormalitiesSkin DiseasesSkin Diseases, GeneticSkin and Connective Tissue DiseasesSkin Diseases, EczematousGenetic Diseases, Inborn

Criteria

5 inclusion criteria required to participate
Volunteers with AD defined according to the UK working party diagnostic criteria

Male or female aged 18-65 years old at baseline (Visit 1)

Volunteer understands the purpose, modalities and potential risk of the trial

Participants able to read and understand English

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11 exclusion criteria prevent from participating
Investigator assessment of eczema severity at the treatment (anatomical) sites is almost clear or greater (score ≥1) based on the Investigators static global assessment scale at screening and baseline. At the start of the study the skin of the test sites (forearms) will therefore be clear (0) of the signs of eczema

Participants with a condition that in the opinion of the investigator contradicts participation in the study.

Participants with a known allergy/hypersensitivity to any of the excipients of the trial preparations.

Participants with acne, suntan, birth marks, multiple nevi, tattoos, blemishes or dense body hair that obstruct the test areas.

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Study Plan

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

One single intervention group is designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

crisaborole (2%) ointment on the other forearm, twice daily application for 4 weeks (randomised site allocation) betamethasone valerate (0.1%) cream on one forearm, twice daily application for 4 weeks (randomised site allocation)

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

Sheffield Dermatology Research, University of Sheffield Medical School, The Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Sheffield, United KingdomOpen Sheffield Dermatology Research, University of Sheffield Medical School, The Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Google Maps
CompletedOne Study Center