Study of Deucravacitinib for Refractory Adults With Dermatomyositis/Juvenile Dermatomyositis

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES (NIAMS) · Jun 9, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new medication called deucravacitinib for adults with dermatomyositis or juvenile dermatomyositis, which are autoimmune diseases that cause muscle weakness and skin rashes. Many patients do not respond well to current treatments, so the researchers want to see if deucravacitinib can help those whose disease hasn't improved with other therapies. The study will last 24 weeks, and participants will be monitored for how well the medication works and if there are any side effects.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be at least 18 years old and have a confirmed diagnosis of dermatomyositis or juvenile dermatomyositis that hasn't responded to standard treatments. They should be able to take oral medications and be committed to following the study procedures. Throughout the trial, participants will receive deucravacitinib and will have the option to continue taking it after the initial treatment period. This study aims to gather important information about the effectiveness and safety of the medication, which could lead to better treatment options for people with these challenging conditions.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• * INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
• • Male or female, 18 years of age or older, of any race or ethnicity.
• • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form.
• • Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
• • Ability to take oral medication and willingness to adhere to the deucravacitinib regimen.
• • Definite or probable dermatomyositis or juvenile onset dermatomyositis by ACR/EULAR criteria
• * Refractory myositis as defined by intolerance or inadequate response to at least a 12-week trial of corticosteroids and at least one other first line immunomodulatory agent. The definition of intolerance is side effect(s) that require discontinuation of the medication or an underlying condition that precludes the further use of the medication. Adequate treatment with corticosteroids or immunomodulatory drugs is defined as at least the lowest of the following doses:
• • Corticosteroids: 20mg/day for at least 4 weeks with total duration at any dose for at least 12 weeks. If there is intolerance, trial must be for at least 2 weeks.
• • Methotrexate: 15 mg/week for 12 weeks
• • IVIg: 1 g/kg/month or 60 g/month for 3 months
• • Azathioprine: 150 mg/d for at least 12 weeks
• • Mycophenolate mofetil: 1000 mg twice daily for at least 12 weeks
• • Cyclophosphamide: 500 mg/month intravenously for at least 3 months
• • Tacrolimus: 5 mg/d for at least 12 weeks
• • Cyclosporine: 2.4 mg/kg/d for at least 12 weeks
• • Rituximab: 750mg for at least 2 infusions
• • Adalimumab: 40mg SQ every other week for at least 12 weeks
• • Infliximab: 1000mg every 4 weeks for at least 12 weeks
• * Abatacept:
• • IV 10mg/kg or 750mg every 4 weeks for 12 weeks
• • SQ 125mg weekly for at least 12 weeks
• * Tocilizumab:
• • ---IV 800mg every 4 weeks for at least 12 weeks
• • SQ 162mg/dose every 2 weeks for at least 12 weeks
• • Note: Doses/Timelines may be shorter will still qualify if there is documented intolerance. Other medications can be accepted on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the safety committee.
• • Concurrent medications: Corticosteroids and non-biologic immunosuppressive/ immunomodulatory drugs can be continued on study. IVIg can also be continued on study. Study participants must be on at least one immunomodulatory medication when enrolling on this study as standard therapy.
• * Active disease based on Manual Muscle Testing (MMT-8) of \<136/150 and any 1 of the following core disease activity measures:
• • 1. Physician global activity of \>= 3.0/10.0
• • 2. Patient global activity of \>= 3.0/10.0
• • 3. Extramuscular global activity of \>= 3.0/10.0
• • 4. Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score of \>= 0.75
• • Women of child-bearing potential must be willing to undergo pregnancy testing at every on-site visit for the duration of the study.
• • For females of reproductive potential: use of highly effective contraception for at least one month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation and for an additional 8 weeks after the end of deucravacitinib administration.
• • For males of reproductive potential: use of condoms or other methods to ensure effective contraception with partner.
• • Must be English-speaking
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
• • Prior use of a JAK inhibitor.
• • Use of other investigational drugs at the time of enrollment.
• • Rituximab use within 6 months.
• • If rituximab given within 12 months, absence of detectable CD20 cells.
• • Concurrent use of any biologic agent other than IVIG.
• • Cyclophosphamide use within 12 months.
• • Prednisone dose greater than 20 mg/day.
• • Change in dose of prednisone within 4 weeks prior to the baseline timepoint.
• • Prednisone at a dose of 80 mg or more within 4 weeks prior to baseline timepoint.
• • Intravenous methylprednisolone within 8 weeks prior to baseline timepoint.
• • Change in dose of methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate, leflunomide, IVIG, cyclosporine, hydroxychloroquine, or tacrolimus within 12 weeks prior to the baseline timepoint.
• • History of hypersensitivity to the study drug or drugs of similar chemical classes.
• • Late-stage DM patients whose muscle weakness, according to the Investigator, could be attributable to muscle damage rather than myositis disease activity.
• • Patients with other types of myositis or myopathies: polymyositis, paraneoplastic myositis, inclusion body myositis, metabolic or drug induced myopathy, dystrophies.
• • Patients with history of positive anti-Jo1 or other antisynthetase autoantibodies.
• • Patients with advanced clinically symptomatic interstitial lung disease.
• • Pregnant or breast-feeding patients.
• • History of or active rapidly-progressive interstitial lung disease.
• • History of bowel rupture or inflammatory bowel diseases.
• • Evidence of latent or active tuberculosis or mycobacterial infections.
• • Recent infection requiring antibiotics in the past 4 weeks before entry of study.
• • History of any malignancy of any organ system (other than localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in situ), treated or untreated, within the past 3 years, regardless of whether there is evidence of local recurrence or metastases.
• • Evidence of any other acute or chronic infectious diseases, including hepatitis, HIV, TB, etc.
• • Have had symptomatic herpes zoster infection within 12 weeks prior to entry or during the screening period or recurrent herpes simplex infection
• • Have a history of disseminated/complicated herpes zoster (for example, multidermatomal involvement, ophthalmic zoster, central nervous system involvement, postherpetic neuralgia)
• • Have received any live or live attenuated vaccines (including varicella or measles) within 2 months prior to study enrollment.
• • Current or recent history of uncontrolled renal, hepatic, hematological, gastrointestinal, metabolic, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiac, or neurological disease.
• • Any other condition or criterion that, in the judgment of the Investigator, would either pose an unacceptable risk to the participant or interfere with the interpretation of the study results.
• • Adults who lack capacity to consent.
• • Have a history of chronic alcohol abuse or intravenous drug abuse within the 2 years prior to entry.
• • History of previous blood clot such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, or other significant increased risk for blood clots
• • Are unable or unwilling to make themselves available for the duration of the study and/or are unwilling to follow study restrictions/procedures.
• • Are currently enrolled in, or discontinued within the last 30 days from, a clinical trial involving an investigational product or non-approved use of a drug or device (other than the investigational product used in this study), or concurrently enrolled in any other type of medical research judged not to be scientifically or medically compatible with this study.
• • Have joint disease or other musculoskeletal condition including contractures or calcinosis, which precludes the ability to quantitate muscle strength.
• • Hospitalization within the past 30 days, other than scheduled infusion or procedure.
• • Total WBC count \<2500 cells/microliter; Absolute neutrophil count \<= 1000/mm3; platelets \<= 100,000/microliter; hemoglobin \<= 10gm