Apremilast Pediatric Study in Children With Active Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis

To join this study, children and young people need to be between 5 and under 18 years old. They must have a confirmed diagnosis of juvenile psoriatic arthritis that they've had for at least 6 months. This diagnosis means they either have both arthritis and psoriasis, or arthritis plus at least two other signs like swollen fingers or toes, changes in their nails, or a close family member who has psoriasis. Critically, their arthritis must currently be active, meaning at least three of their joints are still affected. They also need to have tried and not responded well to, or had problems with, at least one other arthritis medication (like methotrexate or biologic drugs) for at least two months.

There are also some reasons why someone might not be able to join. For example, if they have other specific types of arthritis that are not psoriatic arthritis, or other serious health conditions beyond JPsA, they would not be eligible. This includes conditions like lupus, fibromyalgia, or certain types of inflammatory joint disease.

If you decide to take part, your child would receive either the study medicine (apremilast) or a dummy pill (placebo). You wouldn't know which one they are getting until the end of the study. Your child would need to attend regular clinic visits where doctors and nurses would monitor their progress, check their symptoms, and make sure they are feeling well. These visits would likely include physical examinations, blood tests, and discussions about how your child is doing. The full length of the study, including the different treatment and follow-up periods, would be explained to you in detail by the study team. They will ensure you understand what each visit involves and how long your child would be participating overall.