A Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of 7 Days Treatment With a Novel Analgesic in Subjects With Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

Phase 2

Terminated

Conditions: Neuralgia

Interventions: Drug: Matching Placebo
Drug: GRT6010
Drug: Pregabalin

Registration Number: NCT01485094

Lead Sponsor: Grünenthal GmbH

Brief Summary: The purpose of this trial is to determine whether a novel analgesic is effective in treating of neuropathic pain caused by herpetic infection, surgery, or trauma.

Detailed Description: This trial evaluates the effectiveness of a novel analgesic in peripheral neuropathic pain in a mixed patient population. Participants were treated for one week and randomly assigned to the novel analgesic, pregabalin, or placebo. Pain will be characterized before and at the end of this period. This trial required the participants to stay at the investigational site for 14 consecutive days.

The enrollment visit took place Day -28 to Day -16. Participants tapered down their existing medication from Visit 2 (Day -17 to Day -5) to Visit 3 and were given rescue medication (paracetamol/acetaminophen). At Visit 3 participants were hospitalized (Day -4). The baseline evaluation period took place from Day -3 to Day -1. Randomization to one of the three treatment arms was possible after the last assessment on Day - 1 alternatively randomization took place on Day 1. This was followed by the double-blind treatment period (Day 1 to Day 7). The participants were follow-up thereafter up to day 36 (Day 34 to 38). Participants were permitted to resume their previous medication.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: TERMINATED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 114

Inclusion Criteria

Age 18 years to 75 years
Presence of persistent neuropathic pain for at least 6 months at the time of the Enrollment Visit. Allowed reasons for neuropathic pain are: modified radical mastectomy, breast conserving surgery, or cosmetic breast surgery. [Germany: subjects after cosmetic breast surgery may not be enrolled.]
Presence of "probable" or "definite" neuropathic pain.
Presence of dynamic mechanical allodynia on the affected side, or alternatively, the mechanical pain sensitivity for any of the pinprick stimuli is higher on the affected compared to the contralateral side.
At either Visit 5 or Visit 6: Presence of an average evoked pain intensity score of >20 on the 0 100 point numeric rating scale (NRS) for at least 1 of the 3 clinical sub-tests for dynamic mechanical allodynia (i.e., standardized brush, cotton wool tip or cotton wisp). The average will be calculated as the arithmetic mean of all measurements per sub test. Alternatively, the arithmetic mean of the 5 test replicates for any of the pinprick stimuli for mechanical pain sensitivity is at least 3 times higher for the affected side compared to the contralateral side.
Presence of an average ongoing pain intensity score of >4 to <9 on the 0-10 point numerical rating scale (NRS) without the use of rescue medication within the 3 day Baseline pain intensity evaluation Period with at least 7 of 9 assessments being present.
Dissatisfaction with the current treatment (i.e., lack of efficacy or intolerable side effects) if taking an opioid or non opioid analgesic medication for the painful neuropathy before enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria

Any kind of hepatic impairment at Visit 1 or at Visit 3.
Either active hepatitis within the past 3 months or presence of chronic hepatitis irrespective of its activity status.
Estimated creatinine clearance of less than 60 mL/minute x 1.73 m2 at either Visit 1 or at Visit 3.
Clinically relevant cardiac disease (e.g., unstable angina pectoris, angina pectoris Canadian Cardiovascular Society [CCS] Grade III to IV, acute myocardial infarction within the last 3 months, cardiac insufficiency New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class III to IV).
Electrocardiogram (ECG) with clinically relevant findings at either Visit 1 or at Visit 3, including but not limited to repeated prolongation of QTc > 450 ms (Fridericia correction), or a history of additional risk factors for torsade de pointes (e.g., family history of Long QT Syndrome).
Clinically relevant pulmonary disease (e.g., Medical Research Council breathlessness scale of 2 or above).
Specific antitumor therapy within the last 6 months, e.g., adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy, biologics, or angiogenesis inhibitors.
CYP2D6 poor metabolizer phenotype as predicted by CYP2D6 genotyping.
Presence of confounding pain conditions (e.g., ulnar nerve entrapment, radial nerve injury associated with major soft-tissue or bone damage, cervico-thoracic radiculopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, or complex regional pain syndrome type I or type II).
Phantom breast or phantom limb pain.
Presence of exclusively negative symptoms of neuropathic pain (e.g., hypoesthesia or total anesthesia) in the affected area.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Matching placebo	Matching Placebo	Oral administration. Pain not sufficiently controlled may be treated with acetaminophen.
GRT6010	GRT6010	Oral administration. Pain not sufficiently controlled may be treated with acetaminophen.
Pregabalin	Pregabalin	Oral administration. Pain not sufficiently controlled may be treated with acetaminophen.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Difference Between Baseline and End-of-double-blind Treatment Ongoing Pain Intensity Scores	Baseline; Day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	The baseline pain intensity score was calculated as a mean of pain intensity scores during the Baseline Period (from Day -3 to Day -1). The ongoing pain intensity data from Day-3 to Day 7 was used. For the analysis, only pain scores on days where participants received study drug were considered. The primary efficacy analysis of the ongoing pain intensity score were analyzed in a Bayesian framework, via a mono exponential decay model, with the baseline Numeric Rating Score (NRS) as intercept. Considering the inclusion criteria of baseline pain intensity being in the range from 4 to 9, the range in ongoing pain intensity difference between baseline and end-of-double-blind treatment can be from 6 (worst possible value) to -9 (best possible value). A negative value indicates improvement whilst on the treatment.
The Difference Between Baseline and End-of-double-blind Treatment Brush-evoked Pain Intensity Scores	Baseline and day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	The difference between baseline and end-of-double-blind treatment brush-evoked pain intensity scores compared to placebo on a 0-100 point NRS (measured as part of the dynamic mechanical allodynia assessments). Each participant rated each brush-evoked pain intensity on a 0 to 100 point Numerical Pain Rating Scale, with 0 indicating 'No Pain' and 100 indicating 'most intense pain imaginable'. Lower values compared to an individual subject's baseline are an improvement in symptoms. The baseline brush-evoked pain intensity score was defined as the average of the geometric mean of all of the values obtained on Day -2 and Day -1, and compared with the scores obtained on day 6 and 7. For the analysis, only pain scores on days where participants received study drug were considered. A negative change indicates a decrease in brush-evoked pain intensity from baseline.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Area of Static Allodynia and Dynamic Allodynia From Baseline	Baseline; Day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	Allodynia is pain due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain. To measure the areas of dynamic and static allodynia, a point lying in the center of the area of maximum pain was marked at baseline (Day -2 and -1). From the baseline point, 8 radii were drawn. The area of dynamic allodynia was determined by gently stroking the skin with a standardized brush along the lines. The participant was asked to report when the sensation became unpleasant. The area of static allodynia was determined by a 128 mN (millinewton) pinprick stimulus along the lines of the 8 radii while asking the subject to report when the sensation became unpleasant. The area was calculated from the summing of the 8 triangles that are generated from the points along each of the 8 radii at which unpleasantness was reported. The larger the area in square centimeters the more allodynia. A reduction in the area of allodynia indicates improvement.
Difference in Patient's Global Impression of Change	Day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	In the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) the participant indicates the perceived change over the 7 day treatment period. The participant is requested to choose one of seven categories. Scores range from very much improved to very much worse.
Change in painDETECT Grading From Baseline (Day -1) to End of Double-blind Treatment (Day 7)	Day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	The painDETECT questionnaire was used to determine the possibility of the presence of a neuropathic pain component. It is a participant completed questionnaire. A total score is calculated between 0 and 38 for each participant. Participants with a score between 0 and 12 are graded as "negative" and having "no neuropathic pain component". Scores between 19 and 38 result in a "positive" grading, in other words having "presence of neuropathic component". Values from 13 to 18 result in participants being graded as having an "unclear" neuropathic component to their pain. The painDETECT questionnaire was first administered on Day-1 (baseline). The data reported is for before treatment start (Day -1) and the change from baseline on Day 7 (end of the double-blind period).
Change in Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory Scores on Day 7 From Baseline (Day -1)	Day -1; Day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	The Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) Score is an assessment of neuropathic pain symptoms. A participant answered 10 questions on an 11-point scale 0 (no pain) to 10 (most intense pain imaginable). The total NPSI score is the sum of all ten responses and ranges between 0 and 100. The baseline score and the mean NPSI change is reported over the double-blind treatment period. A negative mean change in score on Day 7 indicates an improvement on this 0 to 100 point scale from baseline for the total score. For pain descriptions burning, pressing, paroxysmal (pain like electric shocks or stabbing), evoked (due to touch) and paresthesia (sensation that is not unpleasant) or dysesthesia (unpleasant) subscores a negative mean change indicate an improvement on the 11 point scale. A participant will score 10 to indicates the worst imaginable symptom, e.g. worst burning imaginable. A participant will score 0 if there is no burning, i.e. the symptom is absent.
Onset of Current Pain Relief	Day 1 to Day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	Onset of current pain relief defined as the first time-point at which the participant reports a decrease of a 1-point reduction in current pain relative to baseline (day -3 to day -1), after start of treatment with study drug on Day 1. Due to the early termination of the trial this analysis was not performed.
Onset of Ongoing Pain Relief	Day 1 to Day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	Onset of ongoing pain relief defined as the first time-point at which the participant reports a decrease of more than 1-point reduction in ongoing pain relative to baseline (day -3 to day -1), after start of treatment with study drug on Day 1. Study drug intake started on Day 1. Due to the early termination of the trial this analysis was not performed.
The Difference Between Baseline and End-of-double-blind Treatment Scores for Dynamic Mechanical Allodynia and Mechanical Pain Sensitivity Compared to Placebo	Day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	Allodynia is pain due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain. Dynamic mechanical allodynia was assessed using a set of 3 light tactile stimulators as moving innocuous stimuli. Each participant gave numerical pain ratings for each of 15 stimuli at the affected side. Mechanical pain sensitivity was assessed using a set of 7 weighted pinprick stimuli to obtain the stimulus-response function for pinprick-evoked pain. The participant gave a numerical pain ratings for each of 35 pinprick stimuli at the affected site. Dynamic mechanical allodynia and mechanical pain sensitivity was calculated as the geometric mean of all numerical ratings. The values obtained on Day -2 and -1 were taken as the baseline and values on Day 6 and 7 were taken as the end of treatment. A negative change indicates an improvement on the 0 (no pain) to 100 point scale, where 100 indicates the worst imaginable pain.
Assessment of Responder Rates	Day 7 (end of double blind treatment)	The assessment was performed on Day 7. The percentage of change from baseline (Day -3 to Day -1, i.e. the 3 days in the days prior to first dose) in the daily ongoing pain intensity was calculated at Day 7. The percentage of change from baseline in the daily ongoing pain intensity was calculated at Day 7 as follows: % change = (Baseline Pain Intensity - Daily pain intensity at treatment visit) / Baseline Pain Intensity × 100 The threshold values represent an improvement in ongoing pain intensity greater than 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% as per calculation. Participants who showed a worsening in their daily pain intensity or who prematurely discontinued the trial were regarded as non-responders in terms of the respective treatment.
Difference in Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire After 7 Days of Treatment	Day 7	On the last day of the double-blind treatment period sleep was evaluated using the Leeds sleep evaluation questionnaire. This questionnaire has 10 self-rating 100 mm line analogue questions concerning sleep and early morning behavior. The higher the score, i.e. the closer the value is to 100 the worse the rating by the participant. The 10 responses are grouped into 4 subscores: * The ease of getting to sleep. * The perceived quality of sleep. * The ease of awakening from sleep. * The integrity of behavior following wakefulness.
Daily Current Pain Intensity	Baseline; Day 10	Participants recorded their current pain intensity score 3 times a day, using a 0 -10 (11 point) Numeric Rating Scale where a rating of 0 corresponded to "No Pain" and a rating of 10 to "Pain as bad as you can imagine". The daily current pain intensity reported was derived as the mean of the 3 current pain intensity assessments taken on the day from all participants in the treatment group. The lower the value on the 11 point scale the less pain was reported on a treatment.

Trial Locations

Locations (12): POL004
🇵🇱
Lublin, Poland
HUN008
🇭🇺
Szikszo, Hungary
HUN003
🇭🇺
Győr, Hungary
HUN001
🇭🇺
Miskolc, Hungary
DEU001
🇩🇪
Mainz, Germany
HUN004
🇭🇺
Esztergom, Hungary
DEU002
🇩🇪
Regensburg, Germany
POL002
🇵🇱
Gdańsk, Poland
GBR003
🇬🇧
Belfast, United Kingdom
GBR001
🇬🇧
Glasgow, United Kingdom
POL005
🇵🇱
Warszawa, Poland
GBR002
🇬🇧
Manchester, United Kingdom