Efficacy & Safety Study of Nasalfent (Fentanyl Citrate Nasal Spray) for Treatment of Breakthrough Cancer Pain in Patients Taking Regular Opioids

Phase 3

Completed

• Conditions: Cancer Pain
• Interventions: Drug: Fentanyl (Nasalfent, Fentanyl Citrate Nasal Spray)

• Registration Number: NCT00459277
• Lead Sponsor: Archimedes Development Ltd

Brief Summary

Cancer patients taking regular medication for their pain often still have episodes of severe pain that 'break through' despite their background pain treatment. Fentanyl is a strong, short-acting pain killer often used to treat this 'breakthrough' pain. Nasalfent contains fentanyl in a patented drug delivery system called PecSys and is given via a simple nasal spray. This study will test the efficacy and safety of Nasalfent in the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain.

Detailed Description

Current treatments for breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) work too slowly to meet the fast onset of most BTCP episodes, they continue to act longer than the episode of pain lasts and so can have unwanted side effects due to this 'over treatment' of the pain episode. In addition most cancer patients have oral problems which make taking pain relief medication by mouth uncomfortable for the patient. Nasalfent is administered via the nose as a simple spray and can be taken by patients or given by their carers. The nasal route is a common way to administer medication for example in the treatment of migraine or allergy. At any time during the study the patient may take their regular treatment for BTCP should they so wish.

This study will compare the time of onset and degree of pain relief of Nasalfent to that of Placebo. The safety of the two treatments groups (Nasalfent, Placebo) will also be examined.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-12
• Study First Submitted: 2007-04-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-04-10
• Study First Posted: 2007-04-11
• Primary Completion: 2008-07
• Study Completion: 2008-08
• Status Verified: 2010-01
• Disposition First Submitted: 2010-01-20
• Disposition First Submitted QC: 2010-01-20
• Disposition First Posted: 2010-01-22
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-01-20
• Last Update Posted: 2012-01-25

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 73

Inclusion Criteria

• Able and willing to give consent
• Women of childbearing potential must have a) negative urine pregnancy test b) not be breast feeding c) agree to practice a reliable form of contraception
• Diagnosis of cancer
• Taking at least 60mg oral morphine or equivalent as 24 hour treatment for cancer-related pain
• Experiencing on average 1 - 4 episodes of breakthrough cancer pain per day usually controlled by rescue pain medication
• Able (or via caregiver)to evaluate and record pain relief, assess medication performance at set times after dosing, record adverse events, record each use of the study drug or rescue medication in a diary
• Able to be up and about for 50% of the day or greater

Exclusion Criteria

• Intolerance to opioids or fentanyl
• rapidly increasing/uncontrolled pain
• pain that is not cancer related

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Nasalfent, Fentanyl Citrate Nasal Spray	Fentanyl (Nasalfent, Fentanyl Citrate Nasal Spray)	-
Placebo Spray	Fentanyl (Nasalfent, Fentanyl Citrate Nasal Spray)	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Summed pain intensity difference at 30 min	30 min after dosing

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
SPID, Pain intensity, Pain intensity difference, Pain relief and Total pain relief	Various timepoints

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Beth Israel Medical Center; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States