Recruiting
Phase 1

ARQ-234

Sponsor:

Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Code:

NCT07453602

Conditions

Atopic Dermatitis (AD)

Eczema

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

ARQ-234

Placebo

Study Details

Brief summary:

This is a first-in-human, Phase 1, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study evaluating ARQ-234. The study is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of ARQ-234 in two populations: healthy volunteers and participants with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Healthy volunteers will participate in Single Ascending Dose (SAD) Cohorts 1-5. Participants with moderate to severe AD will be enrolled in SAD Cohorts 6-7, Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) Cohorts, and a Proof-of-Concept (POC) expansion cohort.

Conditions

Atopic Dermatitis (AD)

Eczema

Study ID

NCT07453602

Start date

Mar 2, 2026

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Apr, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Apr, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria (All Participants):

  • Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
  • Adults 18-65 years (inclusive) at consent.
  • Generally healthy at screening/baseline (no clinically significant findings on medical history, exam, vitals, ECG, or safety labs, per investigator).
  • Contraception requirements: Females of childbearing potential: negative pregnancy tests at screening and baseline and agree to use highly effective contraception (plus barrier method) during the study and for 4 months after last dose. Males if sexually active with a pregnant partner or a female of childbearing potential, agree to condom use during the study and for 4 months after last dose.
  • Body weight by study part: Part A (SAD) \& Part B (MAD): 50-100 kg (inclusive), Part C (POC): 50-125 kg (inclusive)

Inclusion Criteria for atopic dermatitis (AD) Participants (Parts A Cohorts 6-7, Part B, Part C):

  • Diagnosis of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis for ≥ 6 months prior to screening.
  • Meets minimum disease severity at baseline: Part A Cohorts 6-7: BSA ≥7%, vIGA-AD 3-4, EASI ≥10 at Baseline, Parts B and C: BSA ≥10%, vIGA-AD 3-4, EASI ≥16 at Baseline.
  • Inadequate response, intolerance, or medical inappropriateness of topical AD therapies (and/or prior systemic AD therapy failure within the last year may qualify as inadequate response).

Exclusion Criteria (All Participants):

  • Any clinically significant medical or psychiatric condition that could increase risk, interfere with participation, or confound results (per investigator).
  • Significant renal impairment or clinically significant hepatic impairment (per protocol/part-specific definitions).
  • Clinically significant cytopenias or clinically significant abnormal liver tests at screening (per protocol).
  • History of anaphylaxis/serious hypersensitivity (including significant hypersensitivity to local anesthetics).
  • History of attempted suicide or significant current risk, per investigator).
  • Chronic or significant infection history or positive screening tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, or tuberculosis (including positive QuantiFERON or history of active/latent TB).
  • Known/suspected immunosuppression or history of invasive opportunistic infections or unusually frequent/recurrent/prolonged infections (per investigator).
  • Recent herpes zoster that poses risk or may affect interpretation (per investigator).
  • Malignancy within 5 years prior to screening
  • Positive urine drug screen at screening (Part A/Part B only) or drug/alcohol abuse within 12 months, or other condition likely to impair compliance (per investigator).
  • Unable to discontinue prohibited medications/treatments per protocol.
  • Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to baseline or planned during participation.
  • Participation in another trial or receipt of investigational product within 12 weeks (or 5 half-lives, whichever longer) before baseline.
  • Prior cell-depleting therapy (e.g., rituximab) within 6 months prior to baseline (or until lymphocytes normalize, whichever longer).
  • Blood products within 4 weeks prior to baseline or planned during participation.
  • Live (attenuated) vaccines within 28 days prior to baseline or planned during the study.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy during the study or within 4 months after last dose.
  • Known/suspected allergy to ARQ-234 or its excipients.
  • Unable to communicate/understand the local language or otherwise unsuitable per investigator.
  • Family member of study staff or sponsor.

Exclusion Criteria for atopic dermatitis (AD) Participants (Parts A Cohorts 6-7, Part B, Part C):

  • Skin disease(s) other than AD that would interfere with assessments.
  • Active systemic/local infection, including actively infected AD, or infection requiring oral/IV antimicrobials within 14 days before baseline.
  • Phototherapy/tanning bed use within 4 weeks prior to baseline.
  • Biologic therapy for AD within 3 months or 5 half-lives (whichever longer) prior to baseline.
  • Expected need for rescue therapy for AD within the first 2 weeks after baseline.
  • History of eczema herpeticum within 12 months or ≥2 prior episodes.

Study Design

Enrollment

125 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Sequential

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: ARQ-234

placebo comparator: Placebo

Interventions

ARQ-234

ARQ-234 subcutaneous injectable solution

Placebo

Placebo subcutaneous injectable solution

Primary outcome measure

  • Number and percentage of participants who experience an adverse event (AE) or serious adverse event (SAE) [ Time Frame: From screening to the last follow up visit for each study part (Part A: 16 weeks, Part B: 30 weeks, Part C: 30 weeks) ]
  • Percent change from Baseline in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score, a validated measure of disease severity in atopic dermatitis. [ Time Frame: From Baseline to Week 16 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Arcutis Medical Information

1-844-692-6729medinfo@arcutis.com

Locations

Clinical Site 101

Recruiting

Fair Lawn, New Jersey, United States, 07410

Contacts

Clinical Site 102

Recruiting

College Station, Texas, United States, 77845

Contacts

More Information

Sponsor

Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Last update posted

Aug 17, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • ARQ-234

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. on 2026-08-17.