Living with Vitiligo?

Learn more about ongoing clinical trials evaluating a new investigational drug which may improve the disease and expand treatments for patients with vitiligo.

About Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a chronic (long-term) autoimmune disease that causes the skin to lose its color (also called skin depigmentation). In vitiligo, the immune system, which normally protects your body from infection, does not work properly and destroys the melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells in the skin that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for the color of your skin. When melanocytes are destroyed, they stop producing melanin which leads to the appearance of white (or light) patches on the skin1-2.

Vitiligo affects 65-100 million people worldwide,3 although this number may be higher as vitiligo is often misdiagnosed or under-reported. Vitiligo can occur at any age, but most patients have the first white patches appear before the age of 304-6. Vitiligo affects about the same number of men and women but happens slightly more in females5,6. People with vitiligo are more likely to have other autoimmune diseases, thyroid diseases being the most common7-9. Vitiligo negatively impacts mental health (anxiety and depression are the most commonly reported disorders), as well as emotional and behavioral well-being10-13.

What are the symptoms?

The primary symptom of vitiligo is the appearance of white spots on the skin. These can be located on any part of the body, but most commonly are on the face, neck, hands, and in skin folds. They can even occur inside of the mouth or nose 14-15.

What causes the disease?

Vitiligo is caused by a combination of several factors like environmental triggers, genetics, defects in skin cells, and dysregulated immune response. 

Find a Vitiligo Trial Near You

About the investigational drug povorcitinib

Researchers at Incyte are looking for new ways to treat vitiligo. In these clinical trials, researchers are studying an investigational drug called povorcitinib (po-vor-sih-tih-nib). Povorcitinib is an oral inhibitor of JAK1, which is a molecule involved in the development of vitiligo20-22. Treatments that block JAK1 may stop the autoimmune destruction of melanocytes and help bring back the color of the skin over time in some people with vitiligo.

If you are looking for investigational treatment options for vitiligo, learn more about Incyte STOP-V clinical trials.

References:

  1. Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K. J Dermatol. 2021;48:252-270. 
  2. Frisoli ML, et al. Annu Rev Immunol. 2020;38:621-648.
  3. VR Foundation. Accessed Apr 2024. https://vrfoundation.org/about_vitiligo.
  4. Bibeau K, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022; 36:1831-1844.
  5. Gandhi K, et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2022; 158:43-50.
  6. Hamzavi IH, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2023. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad245.
  7. Hadi A, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82:628-633. 2.
  8. Dahir AM, et al. Int J Dermatol. 2018;57:1157-1164.
  9. Yuan J, et al. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;9:803.
  10. Ezzedine K, et al. Am J Clin Derm. 2021; 22:757-774.
  11. Bibeau K, et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2023: e232787.
  12. Bae JM, et al. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2021; 37:3-11.
  13. Picardo M, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36:1507-1523.
  14. Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K. Dermatology. 2020;236:571-592.
  15. Van Geel N, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023. doi: 10.1111/jdv.19451.
  16. Katz EL, Harris JE. Front Immunol. 2021;12:624517.
  17. Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K. J Dermatol. 2021;48:252-270. 
  18. Spritz RA, et al. J Invest Dermatol. 2021;141:265-273. 
  19. Spritz RA, Andersen GH. Dermatol Clin. 2017;35:245-255. 
  20. Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K. J Dermatol. 2021;48:252-270.
  21. Smith P, et al. Pharmaceutics. 2021;13:1044.
  22. Frisoli ML, et al. Annu Rev Immunol. 2020;38:621-648.

Explore our STOPv Trials

A study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Povorcitinib in Participants With Nonsegmental Vitiligo (STOP-V1)

Vitiligo
Recruitment Complete

A study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Povorcitinib in Participants With Nonsegmental Vitiligo (STOP-V2)

Vitiligo
Recruitment Complete

Incyte's Research in Vitiligo

Efficacy of Povorcitinib for the Treatment of Vitiligo by Patient Demographics and Baseline Clinical Characteristics: Week 52 Subgroup Analysis From a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2b Clinical Trial

Efficacy and Safety of Povorcitinib for Extensive Vitiligo: 52-Week Results From a Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Phase 2b Study

Efficacy and Safety of Povorcitinib for Extensive Vitiligo: 52-Week Results From a Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Phase 2b Study

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Informed Consent?

Before you start participating in a clinical trial, you must first provide “consent”, which means you agree to participate . You will receive detailed information about the trial to help you decide. The informed consent process is designed to protect patient safety. It is designed to ensure that all potential trial participants have enough information to make an informed decision about whether or not to take part. During this process, the purpose of the clinical trial should be explained, including what your role might be, how the trial will work, as well as the benefits and risks of participation and any alternatives to the trial. You will also learn about your rights as a participant. This includes the right to decide whether or not to take part in the trial and the right to withdraw at any time, even if the trial is not complete.

How can I learn more about my condition?

At Incyte, we are researching many conditions in our clinical trials. However, the information on this website is not a substitute for a discussion with a healthcare provider. If you decide to participate in a clinical trial, you may learn additional information about your condition, but it is important to remember that a healthcare provider is the single best source of medical advice regarding your health. Please consult a healthcare provider if you have any questions about your condition.

What is an observational study?

An observational study collects information about you and your medical care. The focus of this type of study is on usual or routine medical care. This is the care or treatment routinely given by a doctor for a certain condition or illness.

What is the difference between a clinical trial and an observational study?

A clinical trial is one of two main types of clinical studies. A clinical trial uses people to test out an intervention, which could be a drug, device, activity, or procedure. It is also referred to as an interventional clinical study.

The other main type of clinical study is an observational study. In an observational study, researchers observe participants on their current (or “usual”) treatment plan and track them over time to observe how they respond to a treatment. Observational studies help investigators observe and evaluate a specific question or health outcome in human participants. Participants may receive medical products such as drugs, devices, or procedures as part of their routine medical care. However, unlike in a clinical trial, the participants are not assigned to specific interventions by the investigator.

What will help me prepare for a clinical trial?

In order to be prepared for a clinical trial, it’s important to do your own research first. Learn about as a clinical trial volunteer/participant and be sure to talk to your healthcare provider. Plan ahead and write down your questions to ask. Ask a friend or relative to come along for support and to hear responses to the questions. You should ask about the benefits and risks of the study, as well as what will be expected of you. Empowering yourself with knowledge can help you make an informed decision about whether or not a specific study is right for you.

This website provides you with an overview of the clinical trials process and allows you to search for Incyte clinical trials currently in progress.

Is my personal information protected if I decide to participate in a clinical trial?

Every clinical trial in the United States must be approved and monitored by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), which requires protection of patient personal information. Our priority at Incyte is to protect patient privacy and confidentiality. If you participate in a clinical study, your name and personal health information will not appear or be disclosed. All of your personal details will be linked to numbers so that you remain anonymous throughout the study. This continues even after the study is complete, when results are published in scientific journals.

How do I find a study specific to my condition?

You can enter your condition and search our clinical trials from this website or search all of our trials to find one that may be right for you. All Incyte Clinical Trials are registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the US National Institutes of Health. You can find other trials by searching clinicaltrials.gov.

What if I am interested in an investigational medicine?

There are situations in which people may seek access to investigational medicines before they are reviewed and approved by a regulatory authority, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At Incyte, we sponsor clinical trials and, in some cases, offer expanded access to our investigational medicines.

How are participants protected?

Medical research done in people must follow strict rules. Every clinical trial has a plan called a “protocol”. The protocol is a set of instructions that everyone in the trial must follow. It is the plan for how the trial will be conducted.

It describes what is being studied, how treatments will be administered and why each part of the trial is necessary.

Before it begins, a trial must be approved by a government department and other organizations including an Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Different countries require different approvals. Approvals ensure that trial participants will be treated well, and risks are managed as carefully as they can be.

Is there an independent group that approves and oversees clinical trials?

Yes. Every clinical trial must be approved and overseen by an “Institutional Review Board”, also called an “IRB”. An IRB is an independent group that makes sure a clinical trial is safe enough to be worth any risk to participants. These group can also be called an “Independent Ethics Committee”, or an “IEC”.

The group can include doctors, statisticians, community advocates, and others. They review and approve the trial plan, called a protocol, and the materials that might be given to the participants. They also make sure that the participants are treated well while they are in the trial.

Do participants still see their primary care doctor while in a clinical trial?

Yes. Participants should still see their primary care doctor. Most clinical trials only give treatment for one condition over a short time. They do not give other medical care like primary care doctors. Primary care doctors can work with the research team to make sure that a participant’s other medications and treatments will not conflict with the clinical trial protocol.

Is a clinical trial the same as "standard of care”?

No. “Standard of care” is a treatment that has already been tested and approved by the government. Standard of Care will be used for comparing the investigational drugs safety and efficacy in many trials, so a patient may receive Standard of Care in a blinded trial.

What is a “placebo”?

A placebo looks like a treatment but does not have any real treatment. In clinical trials, investigational treatments are often compared with placebos. Some participants are given a placebo instead of a treatment. This helps make sure that any effects are actually caused by the treatment being studied.

Who is part of the clinical trial team?

Clinical trials involve a team of people who have different responsibilities. Each person has an important role.

The principal investigator, also called a PI, is responsible for organizing and leading the trial as well as recording and studying the data. The PI provides direction to the team and follows a playbook which is called the trial or study “protocol”. The protocol is a set of instructions on how the study will be conducted.

The research staff members assist the PI in following the protocol. The clinical research coordinator handles the day-to-day activity at the research site. He or she has easy access to the PI and is the main contact for participants. If you have questions about the trial or your health, ask the clinical research coordinator.

What are side effects and adverse reactions?

Side effects are any undesired or unintended actions or effects of drug or treatment. Negative or adverse effects may include headache, nausea, hair loss, skin irritation, or other physical problems. Experimental treatments must be evaluated for both immediate and long-term side effects.

Do participants get paid to be in a clinical trial?

Some trials pay for the participants’ travel costs, time and commitment. Not all do. The amount paid varies. You should read the informed consent and ask the study doctor for this information for a specific clinical trial.

Will my insurance need to cover any visits?

The role of personal insurance can vary by region and by trial and will be discussed with each participant before they enroll in a trial.

Do clinical trial participants have specific rights and responsibilities?

Yes, all people who participate in clinical trials have specific rights and responsibilities. The doctors and nurses involved in the trial are required to make sure people know these rights and responsibilities before deciding whether or not to participate in a trial.

All clinical trial participants have the right to:

  • Clearly understand the risks, possible benefits, tests that will be done, and other information about the trial that is in the consent form
  • Receive a signed and dated copy of the informed consent form
  • Ask the doctors and nurses any questions about the trial at any time
  • Leave the trial at any time and for any reason
  • Ask to receive the results of the trial after it is done

All clinical trial participants have the responsibility to:

  • Provide truthful answers to the questions that the study teams ask
  • Follow the rules of the clinical trial that are explained in informed consent

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