A Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability and Preliminary Effectiveness of Single Administration Intradiscal rhGDF-5 for the Treatment of Early Stage Lumbar Disc Degeneration

Phase 1

Completed

Brief Summary: Study to show the safety, tolerability and preliminary effectiveness of Intradiscal rhGDF-5 in subjects with early lumbar disc degeneration.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Persistent low back pain with at least 3 months of non-surgical therapy at one or two suspected symptomatic lumbar levels (L3/L4 to L5/S1)

a. The recruiting physician will use their standard clinical and radiological practice to determine the one/two disc level(s) be treated, i.e., but not limited to a combination of MRI, CT and/or Technetium bone scans, functional x-rays, input from a spinal injection program (targeting facet joints and/or epidural space) and discography (a discogram performed within 12 months of the anticipated study treatment date is acceptable, as long as the subject has not had an accident or re-injury).
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for low back pain of 30 or greater
Low Back Pain score greater than or equal to 4 cm as measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at Visit 1 Baseline
Male or Female 18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria

Persons unable to have an MRI
Abnormal neurological exam at baseline (e.g., chronic radiculopathy)
Persons with neurological or radiographic evidence of active radicular pain due to anatomical compression such as stenosis or disc herniation (persons with somatic referred pain are allowed)
Suspected symptomatic facet joints and/or severe facet joint degeneration at the index level(s) or adjacent segments
Suspected symptomatic sacro-iliac joint

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intradiscal rhGDF-5	Intradiscal rhGDF-5	The API is recombinant human growth and differentiation factor-5 (rhGDF-5), a recombinant version of human GDF-5. GDF-5 is a member of the transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b) superfamily and the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) subfamily, and is known to influence the growth and differentiation of various tissues, including the intervertebral disc. In vitro experiments have shown that rhGDF-5 can stimulate gene expression and synthesis of the extracellular matrix proteins type II collagen and aggrecan. In vivo experiments in rabbit models of disc degeneration have shown that intradiscal injections of rhGDF-5 can stimulate an increase in disc height and hydration.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Neurological Assessment for Motor Function and Reflexes/Sensory	12 months	Neurological Assessment for Motor Function and Reflexes/Sensory- Number of patients with Clinically Significant Abnormal results at 12 months. For Motor Function, Clinically Significant Abnormal results are determined by the surgeon investigator and are further classified by grade: 0= No Movement, 1= Flicker/trace of contraction, 2=Active movement when gravity removed, 3= Active movement against gravity, 4= Active Movement against gravity and resistance. For Reflexes/Sensory, Clinically Significant Abnormal results are determined by the surgeon investigator and are based on exams of the Knee, Ankle, L3-L5 Dermatone, and S1 Dermatome. Tension signs are evaluated with a straight leg raise to determine at which point, if any, sciatic pain occurs.
Treatment Emergent Adverse Events- Relationship to Study Drug	Through a 12 month period and annual telephone contact at 24 and 36 months for subject health status follow-up.	Number of patients with Treatment Emergent Adverse Events that were designated as related or possibly related to Study Drug.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Function Assessed by Oswestry Disability Index Change at 12 Months From Baseline	12 months	The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a 10-category (Pain Intensity, Personal Care, Lifting, Walking, Sitting, Standing, Sleeping, Sex Life, Social Life, Traveling) disability measurement scale with a graded response from 0 to 5, with 0 being the best score (no impairment) to 5 being the worst score (significant impairment). ODI score for a subject is calculated by adding the scores and converting the score to a 100 point scale.
Change in Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 12 Months From Baseline.	12 months	The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score asks the subject to place a vertical mark on a horizontal line (that is approximately 10 cm long) with 'No Pain' (score of 0 = 0 cm) listed on the left and 'Very severe pain' (score of 10=10cm) labeled on the right. The subject is instructed to indicate the amount of pain they feel in their back.
Change in Physical Component Summary of Quality of Life Measure Assessed by Short-Form 36 at 12 Months From Baseline.	12 Months	The 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) is a patient reported outcome survey that evaluates functional health and well-being. The survey is converted into two summary measures (the Physical Component - PCS and Mental Component- MCS) that are scored from 0 to 100 (where 100 indicates the highest level of health).

Locations (3): St. George Private Hospital
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Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia
Hunter Clinical Research
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Broadmeadow, New South Wales, Australia
BrizBain & Spine, The Wesley Hospital
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Auchenflower, Queensland, Australia