Phase 1 Study of LUT017 Gel to Evaluate Safety and Wound Healing in Adults With Venous Leg Ulcers and Chronic Non-Healing Skin Wounds

Summary

This research study is investigating a new topical medication called LUT017, which is being developed to help heal chronic skin wounds, particularly those known as venous leg ulcers (VLUs). VLUs are open sores that commonly occur on the lower legs due to poor blood flow in the veins. These wounds can be painful, slow to heal, and difficult to treat, especially in older adults and people with conditions like diabetes or obesity.

LUT017 is a gel that will be applied directly to the surface of these wounds. The goal of the study is to find out if the gel is safe and well tolerated when applied once a week for up to 8 weeks. The researchers will also look for early signs of whether the gel helps the wounds heal more quickly or completely. The gel contains a medicine that has been shown in animal studies to activate natural skin repair processes and promote cell growth, potentially speeding up the healing process.

The study will involve between 12 and 18 adult participants who have had a chronic leg wound for at least 4 weeks. All participants will go through a screening process to make sure they are eligible. If they qualify, they will first complete a two-week "run-in" phase where their wound will be treated with standard medical bandages. This phase helps ensure that only participants whose wounds are not healing with normal care are included.

If participants remain eligible after this period, they will start the treatment phase. During this phase, they will come to the clinic once a week for 8 weeks to receive the LUT017 gel treatment directly on their wound. Each visit will include a physical exam, vital signs, wound evaluation, photographs of the wound, and blood tests to monitor safety.

After the 8-week treatment period, participants will return for two follow-up visits-one at 3 months and one at 6 months after their first treatment. These visits will help the researchers understand how long any benefits of the treatment might last and monitor for any delayed side effects.

In total, participants will be involved in the study for about 6.5 months and will have approximately 12 to 14 visits to the clinic. Participation is entirely voluntary, and individuals can withdraw at any time. The research team is committed to ensuring participant safety and privacy throughout the study.

Conditions

• Venous Leg Ulcer
• Chronic Non-Healing Cutaneous Wounds
• VLU

Interventions

DRUG

LUT017 gel

LUT017 gel is a topical formulation of a small-molecule BRAF inhibitor developed to induce paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway in BRAF wild-type keratinocytes. The gel is administered once weekly for up to 8 weeks directly to a designated venous leg ulcer or chronic non-healing cutaneous wound. Three concentrations (0.03%, 0.1%, and 0.25% w/w) are evaluated sequentially using a 3+3 dose-escalation design. The formulation is an aqueous-based gel containing organic solvents to optimize dermal penetration while minimizing systemic absorption. Treatment is applied in clinic by qualified investigators following a 14-day run-in period of standardized wound care.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Antoni Ribas

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Antoni Ribas, M.D., PhD · University of California, Los Angeles

• Steven Farley, M.D. · University of California, Los Angeles

• Aksone Nouvong, MD · University of California, Los Angeles

• Jessica O'Conell, MD · University of California, Los Angeles

• Vincent Rowe, MD · University of California, Los Angeles

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Months

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-03-02

Primary Completion

2027-02-28

Completion

2027-06-30

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations