Apremilast for oral ulcers in active Beh cet’s disease

Apremilast is in development as an oral treatment for oral ulcers in people with active Beh cet’s disease. Beh cet's disease (or Beh cet's syndrome) is a rare and poorly understood condition that results in inflammation of the blood vessels and tissues. The condition is characterised by flare-ups (relapses) followed by periods where the symptoms disappear (remission). The cause of Beh cet’s disease is thought to be an interaction between genetics and environmental factors. As Beh cet’s disease affects multiple systems it has various symptoms such as mouth or genital ulcers, painful eyes and blurred vision, acne-like spots and painful joints. The most commonly reported symptoms are oral and genital ulcers.
Apremilast works by suppressing the activity of inflammatory pathway caused by molecules such as interleukins and tumour necrosis factors. In turn this reduces inflammation. Currently, specific curative treatment options for Beh cet’s disease are very limited and treatment relies on controlling symptoms and relieving pain. Apremilast has shown promise in targeting oral ulcers in patients with Beh cet’s disease, and if licensed it could be an effective treatment option for this patient group.