Well done to the Salford Royal dermatology research team who have recently recorded both a European and two UK firsts.
Trials Physician Dr Neenu Sebastian and Research Nurse Marie Durkin recruited the first participant in Europe to ADHAND, a phase 3b clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tralokinumab compared with placebo in people with moderate-to-severe hand eczema.
The antibody treatment will be given by injection during the 40-week study. It is sponsored by LEO Pharma, a research-based pharmaceutical company specialising in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and the Principal Investigator at Salford is Professor Richard Warren.
Dr Sebastian and Research Nurse Sue Caldwell then randomised the first UK patient to the ICONIC-LEAD study, a phase 3 study of an investigational treatment for people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. This was quickly followed by Dr Sebastian and Soney Dharmaprasad randomising the first UK patient to the ICONIC-TOTAL study, a phase 3 study for people with plaque psoriasis involving special areas. Prof Warren is also the local Principal Investigator for these studies.
This takes the team to seven global, European or UK firsts in the last five years – despite the pause during the pandemic – demonstrating that they have the clinical expertise and research systems in place to support cutting-edge studies that could make a huge difference to patients’ lives. As of 1 January, dermatology recruitment at NCA was ranked first in Greater Manchester and second in England with more than 400 participants involved. The NCA dermatology team are ranked first in England for recruitment to commercial studies.
Pictured from left are Dr Sebastian, Marie Durkin, Sue Caldwell, Soney Dharmaprasad and Prof Warren.