Study of Topical Donepezil Hydrochloride Cream for Safety and Effectiveness in Adult Patients with Acne Vulgaris

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What is this study about?

This study is looking at acne vulgaris, which is a common skin condition that causes pimples and blemishes on the face. The treatment being tested is called AT-004, which is a cream that contains donepezil hydrochloride as its active ingredient. Some people in the study will receive the actual AT-004 cream while others will receive a placebo cream that looks the same but does not contain the active medicine. The purpose of this study is to find out if AT-004 cream is safe to use on the skin and if it works to improve acne.

During the study, participants will apply the cream to their face for a period of 12 weeks. The study doctors will check the skin for any side effects and will count the number of pimples to see if the treatment is working. These checks will happen at the beginning of the study and then again after 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. The doctors will also take pictures of the acne at these visits to track any changes. Blood tests and other safety checks will be done to make sure the treatment is not causing any problems in the body.

The study will also look at how the treatment affects the quality of life of people with acne by using a questionnaire. In a small group of participants, the doctors will measure how much of the medicine gets into the bloodstream when applied to the skin. The study will compare results between people who use the AT-004 cream and those who use the placebo cream to determine if the treatment makes a difference in clearing acne and reducing both red, swollen pimples and blackheads or whiteheads.

1 Initial baseline visit and treatment start

At the first visit, your acne severity will be assessed using a scoring system called Investigator Global Assessment, which rates acne from mild to severe on your face.

The number of inflammatory lesions (red, swollen pimples) and noninflammatory lesions (blackheads and whiteheads) on your face will be counted.

Your vital signs (such as blood pressure and heart rate), body weight, and overall physical health will be checked.

Blood samples will be taken for laboratory safety tests.

Photographs of your acne will be taken for comparison purposes.

You will complete a questionnaire called the Dermatology Life Quality Index, which measures how acne affects your daily life.

You will receive either AT-004 1% cream containing donepezil hydrochloride or a placebo cream that looks identical but contains no active ingredient. The assignment will be random, and neither you nor the study staff will know which one you receive.

You will be instructed to apply the cream to the affected areas of your face as directed.

The application site on your skin will be examined for any reactions.

2 Week 4 assessment

You will return for an assessment at 4 weeks after starting treatment.

Your acne severity will be evaluated using the Investigator Global Assessment scoring system.

The number of inflammatory lesions and noninflammatory lesions on your face will be counted and compared to the baseline.

Photographs of your acne will be taken.

You will complete the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire again.

The application site will be checked for any skin reactions.

Any side effects or health changes will be recorded.

Your vital signs and body weight will be measured.

You will continue applying the cream as instructed.

3 Week 8 assessment

You will return for an assessment at 8 weeks after starting treatment.

Your acne severity will be evaluated using the Investigator Global Assessment scoring system.

The number of inflammatory lesions and noninflammatory lesions on your face will be counted and compared to previous visits.

Photographs of your acne will be taken.

You will complete the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire again.

The application site will be checked for any skin reactions.

Any side effects or health changes will be recorded.

Your vital signs, body weight, and physical health will be checked.

Blood samples may be taken for laboratory safety tests.

For a small group of 5 participants, additional blood samples will be collected to measure the amount of the study medication in the bloodstream.

You will continue applying the cream as instructed.

4 Week 12 final assessment

You will return for a final assessment at 12 weeks after starting treatment.

Your acne severity will be evaluated using the Investigator Global Assessment scoring system.

The number of inflammatory lesions and noninflammatory lesions on your face will be counted and compared to all previous visits.

Photographs of your acne will be taken.

You will complete the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire for the final time.

The application site will be checked for any skin reactions.

Any side effects or health changes will be recorded.

Your vital signs, body weight, and physical health will be checked.

Blood samples may be taken for final laboratory safety tests.

This visit marks the end of the treatment period.

5 Post-treatment period

After completing the treatment at week 12, you will need to continue using effective contraception for an additional 3 months if you are a woman of childbearing potential.

If you are a sexually active man with a female partner of childbearing potential, you must continue using condoms for an additional 3 months after the study ends.

Who Can Join the Study?

You must be between 18 years and 45 years old
You must have mild, moderate or severe facial acne, which means your doctor rates your acne as a score of 2 or higher on a special scale called Investigator Global Assessment or IGA, which is a way doctors measure how serious acne is
You must have at least 10 inflammatory lesions, which are red, swollen pimples, and at least 15 non-inflammatory lesions, which are blackheads or whiteheads, on your face
You must be in good enough health to safely take part in the study
You must provide informed consent, which means you agree in writing to participate after understanding what the study involves
If you are a woman who can become pregnant, you must use an effective birth control method from when you join the study until at least 3 months after the study ends
If you are a man who is sexually active with a woman who can become pregnant, you must agree to use a condom from when you join the study until at least 3 months after the study ends
If you are a male participant, you must agree to either be clean-shaven or have a neatly trimmed beard that does not get in the way of study checks from the beginning until the end of treatment
You must be willing and able to attend all required study visits and follow all study procedures
You must agree to have photographs taken of your acne at the beginning of the study and at follow-up visits at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks

Who Cannot Join the Study?

The specific exclusion criteria (reasons why patients cannot participate) have not been provided in the available study information
Generally, clinical trials for acne vulgaris (a common skin condition with pimples and blemishes) may exclude patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Patients using certain medications that could affect the skin or interact with the study treatment may not be able to participate
People with other serious skin conditions or infections in the treatment area might be excluded
Individuals who are allergic (have a bad reaction) to ingredients in the study medication typically cannot join
Patients who have used other acne treatments very recently may need to wait before participating
People with certain medical conditions that could make the study unsafe for them may not be eligible

Where you can join this trial?

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Other Sites

Site Name	City	Country	Status
Sanos A/S	Gandrup	Denmark

Trial status

Country	Status	Recruitment Start
Denmark	Not recruiting	01.11.2025

Trial locations

Investigated drugs:

Donepezil Hydrochloride

AT-004 is an experimental topical medication being tested as a cream or gel that you apply directly to your skin. In this study, it is being evaluated to see if it can help treat acne vulgaris, which is the common type of acne that causes pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads on the face and other areas. The medication is applied to the affected skin areas to see if it can reduce both the inflamed, red pimples and the non-inflamed blackheads and whiteheads that are characteristic of acne.

Placebo is an inactive treatment that looks like the real medication but contains no active medicine. It is used in this study to compare against the actual medication to help researchers determine if AT-004 truly works for treating acne. Some participants will receive the placebo instead of the active medication, but neither the participants nor the doctors will know who is receiving which treatment during the study.

Acne vulgaris – Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. This blockage creates an environment where bacteria can multiply, leading to inflammation. The condition typically appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders where oil glands are most concentrated. Acne vulgaris manifests as different types of lesions, including inflammatory lesions such as red, swollen pimples and non-inflammatory lesions such as blackheads and whiteheads. The condition often begins during adolescence due to hormonal changes but can affect people of all ages. The severity can range from mild with occasional breakouts to more severe forms with numerous inflamed lesions that may affect quality of life.

Trial ID:

2025-521510-25-00

Protocol code:

AT-004_2024

Trial Phase:

Therapeutic exploratory (Phase II)

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Study of Topical Donepezil Hydrochloride Cream for Safety and Effectiveness in Adult Patients with Acne Vulgaris

What is this study about?

Who Can Join the Study?

Who Cannot Join the Study?