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PsoriasisPhase 2NCT05295979

Chinese Medicine for Patients With Psoriasis

A Phase 2 study testing Inflammatory skin disease formula in people with Psoriasis, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease with huge negative impact on the quality of life of the patients, and has an overall prevalence of 2% to 3% in the general population. Plaques psoriasis is the most common type of the disease and presents red, well demarcated, and silvery plaques mainly localized in the… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Psoriasis
What is being tested?
Inflammatory skin disease formula
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteHong Kong
Study dates
20 Mar 2023to 27 Mar 2026
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Mild to moderate chronic plaque psoriasis (PASI score 3 to 12).
  • Willingness to give informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Pustular or generalized erythrodermic psoriasis.
  • Psoriatic arthritis with syndrome of spleen-kidney yang deficiency according to Chinese medicine theory.
  • Systemic therapy for psoriasis 6 months prior to baseline.
  • Use topical medications for psoriasis 14 days prior to baseline such as retinoids, corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues, tazarotene and tacrolimus.
  • Has taken any antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics 30 days prior to baseline.
  • UV light therapy 30 days prior to baseline.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Clinically significant laboratory abnormality in blood, liver or renal functions (≥1.5 times the upper limit of reference range).
  • History of allergy to Chinese herbs.
  • Unwillingness to comply with study protocol.
  • Any other condition that in the opinion of the investigators could compromise the study.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Hong Kong1 site
  • Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine

    Hong Kong

Other trials in Hong Kong

About this study

Official title: Development of a Novel Chinese Medicine Formula for the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Trial

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease with huge negative impact on the quality of life of the patients, and has an overall prevalence of 2% to 3% in the general population. Plaques psoriasis is the most common type of the disease and presents red, well demarcated, and silvery plaques mainly localized in the umbilical and lumbosacral area as well as in the elbows, knees, and scalp.

Currently, pharmacological treatments such as retinoids, corticosteroids, vitamin D analogs and biologics remain the main options for most psoriasis patients. However, side effect and high cost barred many ordinary psoriasis patients.

Read more

A Chinese medicine formula "Inflammatory skin disease formula (ISDF)" was prescribed by Prof. Lin for many years and observed to be effective in relieving atopic dermatitis and psoriasis patients' clinical manifestations.

In this study, subjects with psoriasis will be randomized into treatment group of "ISDF" or placebo group for 12 weeks.

Read the detailed description

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease with huge negative impact on the quality of life of the patients, and has an overall prevalence of 2% to 3% in the general population. Plaques psoriasis is the most common type of the disease and presents red, well demarcated, and silvery plaques mainly localized in the umbilical and lumbosacral area as well as in the elbows, knees, and scalp. The major histological features of psoriasis include epidermal hyperplasia with aberrant keratinocyte differentiation, pronounced inflammatory cell infiltration and increased vascularization. Currently, pharmacological treatments such as retinoids, corticosteroids, and vitamin D analogs remain the main options for most psoriasis patients. However, the efficacy of conventional drugs is limited because of adverse side effects and the development of pharmacoresistance. Recently, biologics have become available for the treatment of acute and subacute plaque psoriasis with excellent response rate. However, the high costs involved with the biologics have barred many ordinary psoriasis patients from benefiting from this new class of anti-psoriatic medication. Natural products are valuable sources in novel drug development. Inflammatory skin disease formula (ISDF) is an empirical formula of the Principal Investigator (Prof. Zhi-Xiu Lin), a highly experienced Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Chinese medicine dermatologist working at the School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. ISDF has been prescribed in clinic in Hong Kong for many years and observed to be effective in relieving atopic dermatitis and psoriasis patients' clinical manifestations. ISDF contains nine Chinese herbal medicines, including Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang) 20.0 g, Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Chiyao) 10.0 g, Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) 10.0 g, Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) 10.0 g, Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao) 12.0 g, Plantaginis Semen (Cheqianzi) 10.0 g, Vignae Semen (Chixiaodou) 10.0 g, Dictamni Cortex (Baixianpi) 10.0 g and Kochiae Fructus (Difuzi) 10.0 g. Among them, Rehmanniae Radix is frequently used for the treatment of psoriasis in Chinese medicine. Paeoniflorin, the major active ingredients of Paeoniae Radix Rubra, has been reported to inhibit imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis in mice by regulating Th17 cell response and cytokine secretion. Baicalin, the active components of Scutellariae Radix, was able to improve the psoriasis-like skin lesions induced by IMQ or 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNCB) in mice. Berberine, the main alkaloid of Phellodendri Cortex, could inhibit IMQ-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions and upregulation of CDC6 and p-STAT3 in mice.

Recent study demonstrated that ISDF (named SZF in the study) markedly decreased the epidermal thickening and infiltration of mast cells in the ears and dorsal skin of the DNCB-treated mice via inhibition of inflammation through inactivation of NF-κB p65 pathway. The ISDF was found to contain baicalin (4.92%, w/w), berberine (2.90%, w/w), paeoniflorin (0.26%, w/w) and phillyrin (0.10%, w/w). Recent preliminary data revealed that ISDF significantly improved the psoriatic-like symptoms and reduced the epidermal thickening in the dorsal skin of IMQ-stimulated mice via inhibition of the inflammation response. The results on its acute toxicity demonstrated that ISDF at up to the dose of 37.8 g/kg, which was the maximum tolerable dose of ISDF in mice, did not exert any overt toxicity. Based on these positive findings of pilot study, the investigators therefore hypothesize that ISDF is an effective herbal formula with anti-psoriatic effects. In Chinese medicine (CM) theory, psoriasis may be classified into different subtypes or "syndromes", including syndrome of wind-heat and blood heat, which is also known as blood heat syndrome or syndrome of wind-heat and blood dryness; syndrome of blood deficiency and wind-dryness; syndrome of blood stasis in the skin; and dampness-heat syndrome. Each of these syndromes represents a different pathogenesis in CM and corresponds to a different stage or manifestation of psoriasis. ISDF is composed of herbal medicines that can clear heat to cool the blood, clear heat and dry dampness, clear heat and drain dampness, disperse wind-heat, and is suitable for treating psoriasis with wind-heat, blood heat or dampness-heat. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of ISDF on psoriasis patients. Clinical evidence for the anti-psoriatic effects of ISDF, and is a necessary step towards developing this Chinese medicine formula into an anti-psoriatic pharmaceutical agent.

Conditions
Psoriasis
Being tested
Inflammatory skin disease formula, Placebo
Medical subject headings
Psoriasis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Inflammatory skin disease formulaDrug

    Also called ISDF

    ISDF granules (10.85g twice daily) for 12 weeks

  • PlaceboDrug

    Placebo granules (10.85g twice daily) for 12 weeks

Study groups in NCT05295979
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Inflammatory skin disease formula (ISDF)ExperimentalSubjects will receive ISDF granules (10.85g twice daily) for 12 weeks.
Receives: Drug: Inflammatory skin disease formula
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorSubjects will receive placebo granules (10.85g twice daily) for 12 weeks.
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)

    The change in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score will be assessed. PASI scores include area involved, erythema, induration and scaling. It will be scored on a scale of 0 to 4 (0, meaning none; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, severe; and 4, very severe). It will be performed by 2 blinded assessors who have been trained. Four main areas were assessed for calculation of the PASI scores: the head, the trunk, the upper extremities, and the lower extremities, corresponding to 10%,20%,30%, and 40% of the total body area, respectively. The maximum score for PASI is 72.

    Measured: Week 12

  2. Static Physician Global Assessment score (sPGA)

    Participants are requested to expose their skin thoroughly before the photographs are taken at each visit. The sPGA is an investigator-rated assessment of overall disease severity to be evaluated on a 5-point scale, where 0=clear and 4=severe. The severity of erythema, scaling, and plaque are considered for assessment. It will be performed by 2 blinded assessors who have received training.

    Measured: Week 12

Secondary outcomes (14)
  1. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)

    The change in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score will be assessed. PASI scores include area involved, erythema, induration and scaling. It will be scored on a scale of 0 to 4 (0, meaning none; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, severe; and 4, very severe). It will be performed by 2 blinded assessors who have been trained. Four main areas were assessed for calculation of the PASI scores: the head, the upper extremities, the trunk, and the lower extremities, corresponding to 10%,20%,30%, and 40% of the total body area, respectively. The maximum score for PASI is 72.

    Measured: Week 6

  2. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)

    The change in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score will be assessed. PASI scores include area involved, erythema, induration and scaling. It will be scored on a scale of 0 to 4 (0, meaning none; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, severe; and 4, very severe). It will be performed by 2 blinded assessors who have been trained. Four main areas were assessed for calculation of the PASI scores: the head, the upper extremities, the trunk, and the lower extremities, corresponding to 10%,20%,30%, and 40% of the total body area, respectively. The maximum score for PASI is 72.

    Measured: Week 18

  3. Static Physician Global Assessment score (sPGA)

    Participants are requested to expose their skin thoroughly before the photographs are taken at each visit. The sPGA is an investigator-rated assessment of overall disease severity to be evaluated on a 5-point scale, where 0=clear and 4=severe. The severity of erythema, scaling, and plaque are considered for assessment. It will be performed by 2 blinded assessors who have received training.

    Measured: Week 6

  4. Static Physician Global Assessment score (sPGA)

    Participants are requested to expose their skin thoroughly before the photographs are taken at each visit. The sPGA is an investigator-rated assessment of overall disease severity to be evaluated on a 5-point scale, where 0=clear and 4=severe. The severity of erythema, scaling, and plaque are considered for assessment. It will be performed by 2 blinded assessors who have received training.

    Measured: Week 18

  5. Impact of Psoriasis Questionnaire (IPSO)

    The change in Impact of Psoriasis Questionnaire (IPSO) score will be assessed. IPSO is a validated 16-item psoriasis-specific instrument for quality of life of psoriasis patients. The IPSO is intended predominantly to assess the psychosocial impact of psoriasis on patient's lives. The IPSO uses an ordinal rating scale, with responses of 'none', 'some', 'moderately', 'quite a bit' and 'extremely' scored 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The scores for item 4 were reversed. The higher the summed score, the greater the impact experienced due to psoriasis.

    Measured: Week 12

  6. Short Form 36 survey (SF36)

    The change in the score of quality of life using Short Form 36 survey (SF36) will be assessed. SF36 is generic instrument to measure general health status that is complementary to those derived from dermatological questionnaires. It will be used to assess the patient's health status using 8 different dimensions including vitality, physical functioning, bodily pain, general health perceptions, role limitations due to physical health, role limitations due to emotional health, social role functioning and mental health. The possible score ranges from 0 to 100 points whereby 0 points represent the greatest possible limitation of health, while 100 points represent the absence of health restrictions.

    Measured: Week 12

  7. Use of rescue therapy

    The frequent use of rescue therapy during study period

    Measured: Up to Week 18

  8. Adverse events

    Adverse events related to study treatment

    Measured: Up to Week 18

  9. Serum markers (IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23, CRP and BD-2)

    The changes in levels of serum markers [IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Beta-Defensin 2 (BD2)].

    Measured: Week 12

  10. Oral and Gut microbiota composition in saliva and stools

    The changes in the oral and gut microbiota composition in saliva and stools

    Measured: Week 12

  11. Psoriasis Itch Visual Analog Scale (Itch VAS)

    Psoriasis itch VAS is a validated tool to assess treatment benefit of plaque psoriasis. It was developed to measure itch intensity within the last 24 hours. A horizontal line with a length of 100mm is to be used to represented the range of itch intensity from 0 (no itch at all) to 100 (worst itch you can imagine). Subjects rated the maximal intensity of itch during the previous 24 hours by putting a vertical mark through the horizontal line at the the spot he/she felt best reflected their maximal itch intensity.

    Measured: Week 12

  12. Psoriasis-involved body surface area (BSA)

    BSA represents the affected skin surface. It is an objective measure of psoriasis severity. The head, the upper extremities, the trunk, and the lower extremities, corresponding to 10%,20%,30%, and 40% of the total body area, respectively. The range of BSA is 0-100. It will be performed by 2 blinded assessors who have received training.

    Measured: Week 6

  13. Psoriasis-involved body surface area (BSA)

    BSA represents the affected skin surface. It is an objective measure of psoriasis severity. The head, the upper extremities, the trunk, and the lower extremities, corresponding to 10%,20%,30%, and 40% of the total body area, respectively. The range of BSA is 0-100. It will be performed by 2 blinded assessors who have received training.

    Measured: Week 12

  14. Psoriasis-involved body surface area (BSA)

    BSA represents the affected skin surface. It is an objective measure of psoriasis severity. The head, the upper extremities, the trunk, and the lower extremities, corresponding to 10%,20%,30%, and 40% of the total body area, respectively. The range of BSA is 0-100. It will be performed by 2 blinded assessors who have received training.

    Measured: Week 18

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Mar 2022
  2. Study start20 Mar 2023
  3. Primary completion27 Mar 2026
  4. Study completion27 Mar 2026

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05295979
Sponsor's protocol ID
Psoriasis study
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
24 Feb 2022
Last updated
27 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Inflammatory skin disease formula in people with Psoriasis, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (time frame: Week 12). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Jul 2026.

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