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Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Lenabasum, a Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 Agonist, in Patients with Dermatomyositis with Refractory Skin Disease: Follow-Up Data from a 3-Year Open-Label Extension Study

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare autoimmune condition involving skin manifestations often resistant to standard treatments such as immunosuppressants and antimalarials. Biopsies show elevated inflammatory cells such as CD4+ T cells, dendritic cells, and cytokines. Lenabasum, a selective cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist, has demonstrated significant benefits in treating autoimmune skin diseases. OBJECTIVES: This study utilizes data from the open-label extension (OLE) phase of the lenabasum phase 2 trial and additional post-OLE follow-up data. Key aims include evaluating the drug's long-term effectiveness and assessing disease manifestation recurrence. METHODS: The phase 2 lenabasum trial enrolled patients with treatment-resistant, skin-predominant DM. The OLE consisted of a 3-year period during which 20 patients were on the drug for the entire duration, with assessments every 8 weeks to evaluate drug safety and efficacy. Subsequently, a follow-up retrospective chart review was performed on patients who completed the OLE as well as on control subjects with DM who did not participate in the lenabasum trial. RESULTS: = .035), with 41.7% not experiencing flares compared with 91.6% of controls. In addition, 50% of patients reported sustained pruritus improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Data from OLE and subsequent follow-up periods demonstrate lenabasum's efficacy in maintaining disease stability, reducing flares, and improving DM symptoms, suggesting that it is a promising option for patients with treatment-resistant skin-predominant DM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, with NCT02466243. Study registration was first submitted on June 2, 2015.

Source: JID Innovations

DOI: 10.1016/j.xjidi.2024.100311